Le Nozze di Figaro, Metropolitan Opera 1947

Hjördis Schymberg

This performance is notable for two reasons. It was the last broadcast of Figaro to feature the great Ezio Pinza in the title role, and indeed Pinza would feature in just one more Met broadcast, Don Giovanni in December 1947. The other reason this broadcast is worth hearing is for the Susanna of Swedish soprano Hjördis Schymberg. Schymberg sang just four performances at the Met, two Figaros and two Rigolettos in the Spring of 1947. She is perhaps most famous as the partner of Jussi Bjorling at the Stockholm Royal Opera and complete recordings of them in Traviata and Romeo et Juliette exist. Schymberg died in 2008 at the venerable age of 99. About an hour of this performance exists, from an aircheck in fair to middling sound. Act 1 does best, with about 40 minutes, Act two has the rest. 








Metropolitan Opera House
March 15, 1947 Matinee Broadcast


LE NOZZE DI FIGARO {98}

Figaro..................Ezio Pinza
Susanna.................Hjördis Schymberg [Last performance]
Count Almaviva..........John Brownlee
Countess Almaviva.......Eleanor Steber
Cherubino...............Jarmila Novotna
Dr. Bartolo.............Salvatore Baccaloni
Marcellina..............Hertha Glaz
Don Basilio.............Alessio De Paolis
Antonio.................Lorenzo Alvary
Barbarina...............Mimi Benzell
Don Curzio..............John Garris
Peasant.................Thelma Altman
Peasant.................Maxine Stellman
Dance...................Julia Barashkova
Dance...................Lola Michel
Dance...................William Sarazen
Dance...................Josef Carmassi

Conductor...............Fritz Busch
https://rapidshare.com/files/3363119124/1947Figaro.mp3