A gala evening to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Metropolitan Opera, New
York. This was the first time that superstars
Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo appeared on the same bill in an American opera house, the Italian as the Duke of Mantua in Act 3 of Verdi's Rigoletto with Cheryl Studer as Gilda and Leo Nucci as Rigoletto, the Spaniard as the Moor in Act 3 of Verdi's Otello with Mirella
Freni as Desdemona and Justino Diaz as lago.
Both Pavarotti and Domingo made their Met debuts in 1968 though Domingo has been by far the most consistent performer there, singing in every season since - 325 performances of 32 different roles. Also on the bill is the Party Scene from
Johann Strauss 's Die Flederrnauswith Hermann Prey and Frederica von Stade among the guests. Director Brian Large
Executive producer PeterGelb ● STEREO
● MUSIC AND ARTS over Christmas and the New Year: page 11