Richard Tucker & Gilda Cruz-Romo - Teco io sto (1973 live) 

Tucker here is sensational, just two years before he died, both in wonderful voice and he manages here at age 59 and singing live, the high C ending.

One of Tucker's signature roles.

I remember hearing this live broadcast. After this duet, I thought my radio was going to explode. To this day the best BALLO I have ever heard (and I've heard them all), or hope ever to hear again. These two were on fire that day. An effortless, unending pouring forth of pure vocal gold.

meravigliosi entrambi .

Thanks for posting this. I have it, but am so happy it is now available on youtube. Tucker is amazing at 60, or any age!!

Thank you very much for this! I worked with Miss Cruz-Romo in an Attila in Philadelphia. She could sing Verdi!

This had to be a great performance. They are both magnificent. Thank you for sharing, Theo.

Wow! What a duo. Such a spirited performance, they really bring it alive. And talk about cream on the top having Milnes in the baritone role - not too many had a mastery of Verdi like he did. Thanks for posting :)

Que sorpresa,gilda cruz romo y este inmortal tenor heroico.gilda en un momento increíble y un papel extraordinario y muy joven y so voz ,para mi desconocida esta grabación y que bien gran voz no puedo decir más que ,que gran papel y vickers como siempre muy profesional pero estoy sorprendido del canto y pasión de nuestra gilda cruz romo.

@jmccracken1963 As a matter of fact, the BOHEME and BALLO broadcasts were on consecutive Saturdays - BOHEME on 1/20/1973 and BALLO on 1/27/1973. I suspect that the contretemps over the AIDA broadcast is what led the Met to add an extra broadcast NOT on the original schedule to the end of the 1973-1974 broadcasts - that being TURANDOT on 4/27/1974, the Saturday matinee performance of the Met's first tour stop in Boston.

:)

Whoever is writing about the story behind the Aida bdcst. is wrong Tucker indeed did want to be given the broadcast for Caruso's 100th birthday. He was disappointed when this broadcast was given to Corelli. The night before the Aida broadcast Tucker was to sing a recital at Brooklyn College. I arrived at about 7, and saw a sign that Tucker was indisposed and would not sing. I called the Tuckers and they told me that Corelli canceled the broadcast and the Met asked Richard to sing. He sang!!

@SHICOFF1 Sorry, but Corelli was NOT indisposed for the 2/24/1973 AIDA broadcast. All of the "American Caruso" press from over the years had apparently gone to Tucker's brain, and, as that broadcast was to commemorate the centennial of Caruso's birth, Tucker demanded that broadcast as well as the BOHEME and BALLO broadcasts in January which Mr. Bing had assigned him, as HE was the "American Caruso," not Corelli. And as Mr. Chapin had no real power given him to say "No," he gave in.....