Word: melchior
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Wagner: Love Duet and Liebestod from Tristan, Brünnhilde's Immolation from Götterdämmerung (San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Edwin McArthur conducting, with Kirsten Flagstad and Lauritz Melchior; Victor: ten sides). Souvenir of a great operatic team which may soon be heard no more (TIME, Jan. 22). Conductor McArthur's shyly reticent accompaniment keeps it from being as good as it should...
First, massive Tenor Lauritz Melchior publicly denounced Leinsdorf's wayward tempos and lack of experience, found him "not yet ready to be senior conductor of the finest department of the greatest opera house in the world." Next, famed Diva Kirsten Flagstad, who was staying away from the opera house with grippe, hinted to friends that she might not go back unless Conductor Leinsdorf was replaced. It was no secret to the Manhattan music world that Diva Flagstad was backing a favorite young maestro of her own: U. S.-born Conductor Edwin McArthur, who had been conducting all her performances...
When it was announced, after all this fuss & feathers, that both Conductor Leinsdorf and Tenor Melchior would perform last week in Gotterdammerung, operagoers jammed the Metropolitan to see the fun. Tenor Melchior was so nervous that he got his eagle-winged Norse warrior's helmet on backwards, but he sang as though he was out to bust his buttons. At the end of the act the audience clapped coldly for Tenor Melchior, gave Conductor Leinsdorf an ovation...
...week's end it looked as though General Manager Johnson had quelled the mutiny. It was announced that Diva Flagstad would be back to sing Walkure on Feb 8. Massive Tenor Melchior had apologized. Said Impresario Johnson: "The Metropolitan Opera is bigger than any individual. . . . Let's not bother with a tempest in a teapot...
Though he lives in Germany and sings in the U. S., tenants of the Ansonia do not need to be reminded that Heldentenor Melchior is a Dane. Melchior himself never forgets it either. On his island castle in Germany he always flies the Danish flag. And on the door of his Manhattan apartment is a sign. It reads: "Lauritz Melchior, singer to the Royal Court of Denmark...