Ernani Finale - Leontyne Price, Franco Corelli, Cesare Siepi (and Milton Cross!) 

The other day they played it on Sirius-and I had probably never heard it before. I say probably because I may have heard it on the original broadcast back then, but have no conscious memory of it. Part of the reason is that I am not an Ernani fan-having listened to it a few times-never really warmed up to it. Sorry I didn't think more of it when this cast was singing it-I would have tried to go. I was most impressed with the performance, glad you at least had this available-I needed to check my perceptions. You seem to have a better recording than Sirius used? What stood out at this relatively early point in his Met career were not the 'regular" Corelli attributes-the voice itself still in youthful bloom, and the top notes, held a bit too long-but the diversity and subtlety of his singing. The diversity of attacks, the shadings, the palette of colors, the spectrum of his dynamic range-the use of these qualities to create a character. How he is mentioned along with del Monaco always puzzles me.

Whatever happened to Italian opera? There were giants on the stage of the Met once ... nobody today could hold a candle to the sheer grandeur of these three

Corelli and Price in Ernani: what better could one wish for? Two sensational artists.

Truly beautiful singing with Price, Corelli, Siepi

Two of the most astonishing voices, Price and Correlli, I guess, ever recorded.

Golden age singing! Siepi is phenomenal!

Ce trio est absolument exceptionnel! La grandeur et le talent de Verdi servit par des interpretes au sommet de leur art!! Un des plus beaux finals d'opera!! Corelli the best for ever e Price the grande diva of 20eme century

Che terzetto. Da brividi.Evviva i grandi interpreti

They don't come like this anymore. Awesome!

Once, in my teen years, I found myself being a spear carrier in a production of Tosca with Leontyne Price. While she was waiting to go onstage, she was sitting on a stool in the wings and I knew I had enough time to ask a question before she let out with "Mario! Mario! Mario!" I asked "Is your name Lee-ontyne or Lee-onteen?" She smiled gracefully and, instead of shooing the teenage pest away, said "Lee-onteen." Just as I was turning to leave, a middle aged white man about 6'5" walked up to her and presented a calling card, saying to her "call me... you'll never regret it." Then the pompous being walked away, nose in the air. I cannot possibly describe the thrill of having Ms. Price singing a few feet from me, while I tried to control the shivers yoyoing on my spine. It's but one of the priceless (pardon the pun), unforgettable vignettes in my memory bank.

Тhank you..Beatifull cast

Golden age! Siepi is phenomenal!

I remember listening to this broadcast and Corelli nearly blowing out the speaker in my small radio!

I have no words! Unforgettable Franco! Adore you!

Voices straight from Heaven. I am already madly in love with Siepi and now adore Corelli too. 💖 Of course Price is...wow! To have all these greats together in one performance must have been out of this world. I love reading the comments of others' experiences hearing them live...thank you!!!!

¡Què regalo para los oìdos ! Maravillosas voces pero claro està..., lo mejor" Franco Corelli !!!!

Моя самая любимая опера Верди. Слушаю и плачу😭💓💓💓💓💓

Corelli, forever and ever.

Como é possível tanta beleza? De arrepiar! Emoção! Não dá para parar de ouvir.

Stunning performance ❤️🙏👑

So much pain and suffering expressed with the utmost beauty and strength by all singers. Thank you for this rare exposure of Franco at his best and Leontyne... all wonderful.

Incredibile!!!!che voci

And how wonderful to hear the cultured tones of Milton Cross!!!

This was the first opera saw at the Old Met (23 March 1965) with the same cast. It was mind boggling!!! Not only were all the singers great, Schippers was the best conductor of Verdi operas going. Still go to the Met, just don't enjoy it as much anymore and listening to this reminds me why.

I am speechless........................

Siepi, Price e Corelli. Dire strepitosi è come usare un diminutivo. Tutto l'oro del mondo per aver potuto assistere alla rappresentazione.

Such great voices that we'll never hear again. Bravo!!!

Thank you Roberta' , To me Ermani is so closely related to IL Trovatore musicly etc. When Madame Price sings with Corellii especially in duets ,trios, Her style is so distinctive 💙. We feel in love with Madame Price when we heard her live in 1974 💢💥💞. Early Madame Price is dare I say It PRICELESS 👑. And of course Sirs. Corelli & Del Monaco are truly the epitome of OPERA. The most Increble art form in the world. Because like my Dear Dad said to me once when I was around 12 yrs old. That to me music is like breathing. At that time in my life he would carefully let me choose musict that was sooo diverse just like my Dad & my dear Daughter Danielle💔💦. Please be safe my friend. Sincerly Arnold Bourbon Amaral 💚 Olbrgado

No se puede cantar mejor!!!!!

Such a dear pleasure to hear the applause. .

how i miss his wonderful voice..he gave opera the sound of passion and story...that was the met

Bravo ! Such great voices . The Metropolitan Opera house has morphed into something else these days -It's all about the productions , crazy stage directors ,and young conductors who don't have a clue about the musical traditions in opera . The singers of today are good musicians and actors ,but their voices are not great for opera - It's almost like they are trained to sing without emotion , often singing the wrong repertore for their light voices .It seems that Mr. Gelb hears with his eye's only ! In his world Joan Sutherland , Birgit Nilsson , etc would not have a chance because of their size !!! It's time to get back to the basics -Opera is all about the voice first !!!!

Mamma mia trio incredibile

Italian opera forever!

ERNANI,è una parte drammatica a tratti eroica che si addice alle voci grandi tipo Del Monaco ,che è un fuoriclasse del ruolo...tuttavia riconosco un valido ERNANI, anche Corelli,almeno in questo finale,eseguendolo in modo splendido...bravissima Elvira della signora Price...Siepi altro fuoriclasse del ruolo ...grazie

Simply magnificent.

Lord, what memories - and what artists ! i remember hearing this broadcast when i was still in high school. Thank you for posting this.

Corelli was and is still the best for me!!

Just imagine what voices could have been produced if Price and Corelli married and had children. Then, if those children decided opera were their genre of music. I can dream can't I?

Voices of such splendor are few nowadays. Having them under the same roof on a weekly base belongs to another era.

This is an amazing find for me. I grew up in New York and went to the Met many times. My most vivid memory is of this Ernani, this cast, though probably a different performance. I say that because I remember being very disappointed with Corelli but enchanted with Price and absolutely floored by Siepi. That night, Siepi gave the greatest single performance I ever remember from my days and nights at the Met! Could it really be 50 years ago?

Infinito dramatismo, agonico y celestial que nos colma de dulzura

Che peccato non avere i filmati!!!!!!

Amazing performance

Meravigliosi!!!!ma Corelli lo sentite? Sublime !!!!!! Tutti bravi ma quando canta lui.........

BELLEZA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would give a lot to hear such voices today. The tenors generally are a poor lot with only a very few exceptions and so are the basses & baritones . Henry Webb

Bravi tutti!

Amazing! Thank you, dear Roberta.

Mamma mia che terzetto!!!!

Oh to have a video recording of this great performance; I would pay handsomely for it.

Corelli and Price are obviously tremendous here, but hey: Cesare Siepi's Silva is fantastic! I love Hines in that role too, but Siepi remains my favorite. Back then, when you needed talent to be on scene...

Класс.

L' entrata in scena di Corelli è strepitosa e gli altri due sono ugualmente spettacolari.

Just fabulous especially with the commentary at the end!! Thank you!

💖💖💐💐

Three forces of nature.

Hoorah!

People continuously call Corelli and Nilsson ‘youthful’ in their early Met performances. They were both 40 when they debuted in NY.

How absolutely wonderful to hear the narration at the end of the performance! It makes the listening experience all the more immediate. Thank you so much! I can almost feel I am there...

Są cudowni .the are betfool.

Lindas v oces

Singing like this is not heard any longer.

I miss Uncle Miltie.

My goodness, Leontyne Price had SO much clarity in these early years!! Such a shame it became so muddied and woofy within a decade.

Dios padre, Cristo y la Virgen María y Judas, al parecer en este cuarteto... Es celestial.

Price's Italian is a b o m i n a b l e. She ruins the great performance of Corelli and Siepi.