Metropolitan Opera Inaugural Season: Extraordinary Met Performances CD

METROPOLITAN OPERA / INAUGURAL SEASON: EXTRAORDINARY MET PERFORMANCES - On September 16, 1966, the new Metropolitan Opera House opened in Lincoln Center with the world premiere of Barber's Antony and Cleopatra, with Leontyne Price and Justino D?az in the title roles. That first season in the Met's new home not only ushered in a new age of theatrical possibility, it also featured an embarrassment of vocal riches, with such incomparable artists as Birgit Nilsson and Franco Corelli facing off in an unforgettable Turandot; Joan Sutherland delivering a Lucia di Lammermoor mad scene for the ages; and Jon Vickers making a historic role debut in Peter Grimes. Now, ten performances from that inaugural season-plus a bonus CD of highlights-have been collected and remastered in this essential milestone set, also featuring such legends as Grace Bumbry, Mirella Freni, Christa Ludwig, Anna Moffo, Roberta Peters, Leonie Rysanek, Renata Tebaldi, Carlo Bergonzi, Robert Merrill, and Richard Tucker, among others.

1. Barber: Antony and Cleopatra 2. Schippers; Price, D?az, Thomas 3. Puccini: Turandot 4. Mehta; Nilsson, Corelli, Freni, Giaiotti 5. R. Strauss: Die Frau Ohne Schatten 6. B?HM; Rysanek, Ludwig, Dalis, King, Berry 7. Donizetti: Lucia Di Lammermoor 8. Bonynge; Sutherland, Tucker, Colzani, Ghiuselev 9. Britten: Peter Grimes 10. Davis; Vickers, Amara, Evans 11. Verdi: Aida 12. Schippers; Price, Bergonzi, Bumbry, Merrill 13. Mozart: Die Zauberfl÷te 14. Krips; Raskin, Peters, Shirley, Uppman, MacUrdy 15. Verdi: Otello 16. Mehta; McCracken, Caball?, Gobbi 17. Puccini: Madama Butterfly 18. Molinari-Pradelli; Scotto, Casei, Shirley, Bottcher 19. Verdi: Rigoletto 20. Gardelli; MacNeil, Peters, Gedda, Giaiotti 21. Bonus Disc: 22. Highlights of the Met's 1966-67 Season