I sit here thinking back to the Barbieri career and wanted to mention
some more of the experiences I had hearing her in the olden days at
the old and new Met.
I recall the very first moment I laid eyes on her, staring
into the flames as the curtain opened on act two Trovatore.She wore a
kind of purple dress as I recall,and even 50 years ago,I do remember
that organ-like "Stride la Vampa"echoing through the house. Shortly
after,around 1952, I recall an Aida with Delia Rigal and Mario del
Monaco in which I was shocked that Fedora actually took the
word "Anatema" at the very end of the Judgement Scene IN CHEST! You
know how HIGH that is????? Just before the "su voi!" Maybe that is
why some top notes tended toward flatness, but who cared?
Then came that incident at the end of the Act Three Trovatore
Encampment Scene,on Feb.22,1954,where her famous insane burst of tone
at the "DEH rallentati,o barbari"tore the roof off the theatre. (NO
recording does that moment justice)and Warren refused to allow her to
come out for a solo, resulting later in Bing stopping solos entirely.
(This was also related to the various "Booing-Baum" incidents of the
same year.)
I made some tapes for Fedora in 1976,and visited her backstage
after a Suor Angelica/Schicchi, reminding her of the above incident.
She proceeded to launch into the exact same moment backstage! What a
cwazy lady!!!!!
Again, last October, when she appeared at Manhattan School of
music for a master class, I repeated the same story, presenting her
with CD's of the Barcelona Azucena from 1966 (voice pretty much
worn,but still insane!). The next day was the Licia Gala,and as I
said before she sang "Dicitincello vuie" to the audience in total
chest voice a capella, and told us how she loved all of us..and then
outside signed photos,not sparing the vocalization!
I now can recall so very fondly these Fedora experiences..how
full of life she was..and so those memories can sustain me a bit at
this time of sadness at her loss.
I love Stignani and Cossotto and Simionato and Elmo as great Italian
mezzos, but Fedora still made the most impression on me and I am glad
I caught her at almost the very end of her glorious life!
Gee.that Feb.22,1954 cast is all gone
now....Milanov,Warren (the meanie),Penno (loudest top I ever heard in
my life),Moscona, and McCracken (the messenger!), and dear Fedora has
joined them. I wonder what she will say to Warren....(Unrepeatable in
any language!!!!)
Carlo