L'Elisir d'Amore of April 1974 Is April 6, 2024, Saturday Broadcast

Summary: The April 7, 1956, Saturday matinee broadcast of L'Elisir d'Amore replays April 6, 2024, as 18th of the 2023-2024 season's 27 Saturday radio matinees.

In Met Opera's 1973-1974 season, German maestro Max Rudolf conducted all 12 performances of the fifth revival of Nathaniel Merrill's production of Gaetano Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore; (right) official Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra portrait of Max Rudolf by Fulda, Germany-born American portraitist Carin Hebenstreit, Music Hall, Upper Level, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, southwestern Ohio: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, via Facebook Feb. 6, 2020

Met Opera's April 7, 1956, Saturday matinee broadcast of Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore replays April 6, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time as the 18th of 27 Saturday radio matinees in the 2023-2024 season.

L'Elisir d'Amore by Italian composer Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848) received 12 performances in the 1973-1974 season. The first through sixth performances, offered in autumn, took place Thursday, Sep. 20, 1973; Saturday, Sep. 29; Saturday, Oct. 13; Friday, Oct. 19; Friday, Oct. 26; and Halloween, Wednesday, Oct. 31. The seventh performance occurred Monday, Feb. 25, 1974, as the opera's only winter performance. The eighth through 12th, closing performances, held in the spring, were given on Tuesday, March 5; Wednesday, March 13; Thursday, March 21; Tuesday, March 26; and Saturday broadcast matinee, April 6.

Max Rudolf (June 15, 1902-Feb. 28, 1995) conducted all 12 performances. The German maestro had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, March 2, 1946, in the opera company's 104th performance of Der Rosenkavalier by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sep. 8, 1949). He had made his first appearance at Met Opera Sunday, Jan. 13, 1946, in a Gala Program.

Luciano Pavarotti (Oct. 12, 1935-Sep. 6, 2007) appeared in the third through 12th, closing performances as (fake) elixir-inspired Nemorino. The Italian operatic tenor had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, Nov. 23, 1968, as Rodolfo in the opera company's 680th performance of La Bohème by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924).

Judith Blegen (born April 27, 1943) sang Adina, successfully courted by (fake) elixir-inspired Nemorino, in the ninth, 11th and 12th, closing performances. The American lyric coloratura soprano had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Jan. 19, 1970, as Papagena in the opera company's 179th performance of Die Zauberflöte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

John Reardon (April 8, 1930-April 16, 1988) appeared in the 10th through 12, closing performances as Nemorino's graciously losing rival, Belcore. The American baritone had made his Met Opera debut Tuesday, Sep. 28, 1965, as Count Tomsky in the opera company's fifth performance of The Queen of Spades by Russian late Romantic era composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (May 7, 1840-Nov. 6, 1893).

Ezio Flagello (Jan. 28, 1931-March 19, 2009) appeared in the fourth through 12th, closing performances as Dr. Dulcamara, a quack potion seller surprised by unexpected success. The American bass had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, Nov. 9, 1957, as the Jailer in the opera company's 371st performance of Puccini's Tosca.

The Metropolitan Opera's staging of L'Elisir d'Amore marked the fifth of 10 revivals of the new Nathaniel Merrill-directed production that had received its Met Opera debut Friday, Nov. 25, 1960, in Met Opera's 77th performance of Donizetti's love-themed comedy. The American opera and stage director had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, Nov. 3, 1956, as stage director in the opera company's 527th performance of La Bohème by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924).

The new production followed its debut with its first revival in the next, 1961-1962 season. The second through fourth revivals were offered in seasons 1965-1966, 1967-1968 and 1971-9172. The sixth through 10th, closing revival were held in seasons 1977-1978, 1979-1980, 1980-1981, 1987-1988 and 1988-1989.

Nathaniel Merrill's production team comprised American set designer Robert O'Hearn (July 19, 1921-May 26, 2016) and American choreographer Todd Bolender (Feb. 27, 1914-Oct. 12, 2006). Both members of the production team made their Met Opera debuts in Merrill's new L'Elisir production.

Johann Strauss's Die Fledermaus airs April 13 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time as the 19th of the 2023-2024 season's 27 Saturday matinee broadcasts. The April 13 radio matinee celebrates the opera's 150th anniversary with an airing of the opera's New Year's Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1986, telecast performance.

Puccini's La Rondine broadcasts April 20 at 1:00 p.m. as the 20th of the 2023-2024 season's lineup of 27 Saturday radio matinees. The 2023-2024 season's performances of La Rondine mark the second revival of Nicolas Joël's 2008-2009 season-debuting new production.

In addition to opera, Luciano Pavarotti's interests included painting; image of one of Modenese operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti's paintings (entitled Portofino, per Classic FM @ https://www.classicfm.com/artists/luciano-pavarotti/pictures/pavarottis-greatest-moments-gallery-highlights/pavarotti-painter/), now displayed in Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti (Luciano Pavarotti Home Museum), Modena, province of Modena, central Emilia-Romagna region, northern Italy: Luciano Pavarotti, via Facebook April 22, 2023

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

In Met Opera's 1973-1974 season, German maestro Max Rudolf conducted all 12 performances of the fifth revival of Nathaniel Merrill's production of Gaetano Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore; (right) official Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra portrait of Max Rudolf by Fulda, Germany-born American portraitist Carin Hebenstreit, Music Hall, Upper Level, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, southwestern Ohio: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, via Facebook Feb. 6, 2020, @ https://www.facebook.com/CincySymphony/posts/pfbid02C7q2h6TtLn6SyjDG2fYQXURUyvyqtStXFwWLheTgQiDiimDXeGMkHrp5hR2unWLxl

In addition to opera, Luciano Pavarotti's interests included painting; image of one of Modenese operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti's paintings (entitled Portofino, per Classic FM @ https://www.classicfm.com/artists/luciano-pavarotti/pictures/pavarottis-greatest-moments-gallery-highlights/pavarotti-painter/), now displayed in Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti (Luciano Pavarotti Home Museum), Modena, province of Modena, central Emilia-Romagna region, northern Italy: Luciano Pavarotti, via Facebook April 22, 2023, @ https://www.facebook.com/pavarottiofficial/posts/pfbid023Pe6pxubBpdnpBuudbQgyy3PRPVh66jXy5j1nmd6ovJZBPXnyNeMEJbWQaeWVAzol

For further information:

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Available via Facebook Feb. 6, 2020, @ https://www.facebook.com/CincySymphony/posts/pfbid02C7q2h6TtLn6SyjDG2fYQXURUyvyqtStXFwWLheTgQiDiimDXeGMkHrp5hR2unWLxl
Available via Facebook Feb. 6, 2020, @ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10156771316818388&set=pb.100053453315612.-2207520000

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Available @ https://www.classicfm.com/artists/luciano-pavarotti/pictures/pavarottis-greatest-moments-gallery-highlights/pavarotti-painter/

"Debut: Dino Formichini, Robert O'Hearn, Todd Bolender." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 186320 New Production L'Elisir d'Amore Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, November 25, 1960. Debut: Dino Formichini, Robert O'Hearn, Todd Bolender. L'Elisir d'Amore (77) Gaetano Donizetti / Felice Romani
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0371829

"Debut: Edith Mathis, Judith Blegen, Ivanka Myhal." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 220210 Die Zauberflöte Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, January 19, 1970. Debut: Edith Mathis, Judith Blegen, Ivanka Myhal. Die Zauberflöte (179) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / Emanuel Schikaneder.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0374223

"Debut: Enzo Sordello, Nathaniel Merrill." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 173050 La Bohème Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, November 3, 1956. Debut: Enzo Sordello, Nathaniel Merrill. La Bohème (527) Giacomo Puccini / Luigi Illica / Giuseppe Giacosa.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0370864

"Debut: Ezio Flagello." MetOpera Database [Met Performance] CID: 176100 Tosca Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, November 9, 1957 Matinee. Debut: Ezio Flagello. Tosca (371) Giacomo Puccini / Luigi Illica / Giuseppe Giacosa.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0371102

"Debut: John Reardon, Gene Boucher." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 204010 New Production The Queen of Spades Metropolitan Opera House, Tue, September 28, 1965. Debut: John Reardon, Gene Boucher. In English The Queen of Spades (5) Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0373048

"Debut: Luciano Pavarotti." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 216690 La Bohème Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, November 23, 1968 Matinee. Debut: Luciano Pavarotti. La Bohème (680) Giacomo Puccini / Luigi Illica/Giuseppe Giacosa.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0373986

"Debut: Luciano Pavarotti." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 216690 La Bohème {680} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/23/1968. (Debut: Luciano Pavarotti Review). Metropolitan Opera House. November 23, 1968 Matinee.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=216690

"Debut: Max Rudolf." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 141050 Der Rosenkavalier Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, March 2, 1946. Debut: Max Rudolf. Der Rosenkavalier (104) Richard Strauss / Hugo von Hofmannsthal.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0368717

"Debuts: Enzo Sordello, Nathaniel Merrill." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 173050 La Bohème {527} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/3/1956. (Debuts: Enzo Sordello, Nathaniel Merrill). Metropolitan Opera House November 3, 1956.
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Available @ http://www.musicincincinnati.com/site/news_2011/Reuben_Would_Be_Proud_printer.html

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Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/pavarottiofficial/posts/pfbid023Pe6pxubBpdnpBuudbQgyy3PRPVh66jXy5j1nmd6ovJZBPXnyNeMEJbWQaeWVAzol
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"New Production: L'Elisir d'Amore." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 186320 New Production L'Elisir d'Amore Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, November 25, 1960. Debut: Dino Formichini, Robert O'Hearn, Todd Bolender. L'Elisir d'Amore (77) Gaetano Donizetti / Felice Romani
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