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
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| John Charles Thomas |
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Here is a rare chance to hear the famous American baritone, John Charles Thomas, as Falstaff. Thomas was best known for his concert work and for his popular recordings, but he also performed on the operatic stage. Met broadcasts have preserved him Barber of Seville, Traviata, Aida and Faust but not in this role. Just under half an hour of the last act of this broadcast from Chicago has survived, and the sound is pretty good for the period.
Broadcast by WGN (AM) and W59C (FM) Chicago, 10-11pm & WOR New York, 11.15-11.45pm (WOR is probably the source here, though the opening announcement shows that this is a later rebroadcast)
Falstaff, part of last act (27 mins)
November 24, 1941
Falstaff – John Charles Thomas
Mistress Ford – Dusolini Gianini
Nanetta – Virginia Haskins
Mistress Page – Herta Glaz
Ford – Hugh Thompson
Fenton – Felix Knight
c.Laszlo Halasz
https://rapidshare.com/files/447834714/1941FalstaffChicago.mp3
