We’ll turn to a classic recording of a much-loved opera on this week’s Sunday Opera (4/30 3:00 p.m.) and a 1958 recording of Giacomo Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West” featuring a stellar cast that truly doesn’t get enough air play today.
Minnie, the “girl” of the title, is Renata Tebaldi, Mario Del Monaco is the bandit-in-disguise Dick Johnson (a.k.a. Ramerez) with whom she falls in love much to the consternation of Sherriff Jack Rance sung by Cornell MacNeil, and she saves Ramerez’s life by cheating at poker to “win” him.
The cast also features Giorgio Tozzi as the blind ballad singer Jake Wallace along with Piero di Palma, Giorgio Giorgetti, Enzo Guangni, Virgilio Carbonari, and Silvio Maionica.
Franco Capuano conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia. Following the opera, we’ll continue with the music of Puccini and a ballet adaptation of his score for “Madama Butterfly” arranged and conducted by John Lanchbery along with a special “treat” in a charming adaptation of another famous aria by Puccini. Join host Michael Kownacky for an afternoon of romance, beautiful melodies, and a bit of fun.