Word: milanov
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Kirsten Flagstad (Victor). Lieder by Schubert, Brahms, Strauss, both gentle and dramatic, sung with the melting grace and liquid power that few singers can match. An interesting comparison can be made with A Milanov Recital (also Victor), in which the Metropolitan Opera soprano pours her opulent tones into a pair of the same tunes (among others), but makes them sound like Verdi...
Metropolitan Opera (Sat. 2 p.m., ABC). La Gioconda, with Milanov, Rankin, Baum, Warren...
Metropolitan Opera (Sat. 2 p.m., ABC). Verdi's Masked Ball, with Peters, Milanov, Tucker...
Overanxious. Although one of the Met's most imposing casts surrounded Contralto Anderson, the performance was full of flaws. Tenor Richard Tucker growled out notes that were too low for him, Soprano Zinka Milanov let her voice swoop and squawk through Act II, and when she flipped a disguising shawl over her face, she looked so much like an animated teacozy that the audience snickered. Only Roberta Peters' pearly coloratura and pert presence were thoroughly pleasant. But for Marian Anderson the evening was a soaring personal triumph. There were eight curtain calls. "Anderson! Anderson!" chanted the standees...
Angel-voiced Soprano Milanov, as Chénier's aristocratic amour, and archangel-voiced Baritone Warren, as a servant turned revolutionary, helped make the Met's Chenier a solid success, but the hit of the evening was Tenor Mario Del Monaco, in the powerful title role. When his time came, he stood back, heaved an enormous breath, spread his arms and let fly with a stunning high B flat that he held until it began to sound as if a phonograph needle was stuck in the groove...