Carmen Metropolitan Opera Feb 1936

In response to a request, here is about an hour of extracts from the first ever Met broadcast of Carmen in February 1936. Although regular matinee broadcasts had started in 1931 it took nearly five years for Carmen to make the schedule. Clearly it was a popular choice, because the opera was broadcast twice more that season, in March and May 1936, and twice more the following season, in January and April 1937. Acts one and two fair better than acts three and four, but it is opportunity to hear Rosa Ponselle in her signature role. The 1937 broadcasts offer better sound, if you want to hear Ponselle in the complete opera. Also notable is Charles Kullman as Don Jose, and this is the only preservation to pair him with Ponselle. Later broadcasts with Gladys Swarthout and Lily Djanel in the 1940s preserve Kullman's complete Don Jose.



Metropolitan Opera House
February 1, 1936 Matinee Broadcast


CARMEN {333}

Carmen..................Rosa Ponselle
Don José................Charles Kullman
Micaela.................Susanne Fisher
Escamillo...............Ezio Pinza
Frasquita...............Thelma Votipka
Mercédès................Helen Olheim
Remendado...............Marek Windheim
Dancaïre................Angelo Badà
Zuniga..................Louis D'Angelo
Moralès.................George Cehanovsky
Dance...................Ruthanna Boris
Dance...................Betty Eisner
Dance...................Madeline Leweck
Dance...................Anatol Vilzak

Conductor...............Louis Hasselmans

https://rapidshare.com/files/959512340/1936Carmen_.mp3