Menotti: The Medium, The Telephone, Amelia al Ballo, etc.

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Music reviews of Menotti: The Medium, The Telephone, Amelia al Ballo, etc.

Music Review: MENOTTI AT HIS CREATIVE PEAK
Rating: 5 Stars

Although many women have tried, none, to my mind, have succeeded in the title role as well as Marie Powers who starred in the "original cast" production and on its vinyl recording. I use the term "original cast" because this opera, along with Menotti's short comic piece THE TELEPHONE actually first appeared on Broadway instead of in a concert hall or opera house. It received very mixed reviews, played for over 200 consecutive performances but lost money for its investors.

Long out of print and never transferred to CD til now, here are those two terrific musical theatre pieces (which were called "dramatic" and "a taut tingling killer-diller" and "courageous," "geniune" and "eerie" by the original newspaper critics) as they were meant to be performed and heard.

This two CD set also generously provides other pieces by Menotti including a suite from his ballet SEBASTIAN, excerpts from his first opera AMELIA GOES TO THE BALL and a few, less famous works. There are other CD performances of THE MEDIUM (including the film soundtrack which co-starred Anna Maria Alberghetti) but this one is definitely the one to buy.

The various conductors are all first rate and include Eugene Ormandy and Dmitri Mitropoulos.

Usually dismissed by "serious music" critics and adored by the public, Menotti is still active, hopefully composing. His most famous work THE CONSUL was just successfully revived by the Washington Opera during their 2000-2001 season. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Description of Menotti: The Medium, The Telephone, Amelia al Ballo, etc.

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