The Lyric Stage: April 1 - Gino Bechi, Claudia Muzio and Richard Tauber

  This Sunday Night at eight o'clock (04-01-18), three singers from the early and middle parts of the twentieth century take center stage. Gino Bechi (1913-1993) was not well known outside of Italy, but his interpretation of Verdi was on a par with Robert Merrill, Leonard Warren and EttoreBastianini. Claudia Muzio (1889-1936) easily was one of the finest sopranos of the first half century, and Richard Tauber (1891-1948) is still the touchstone for how to sing operetta, although he had an extensive career in opera as well. He will sing both Puccini and Lehar this week, Becchi will sing Verdi and Rossini, and Muzio will display her impressive talent with arias from Cavalleria Rusticana, Mefistofele, Il Trovatore and La Traviata.