Tune in to WHRO-FM 90.3 this Saturday at 1 p.m. for a special broadcast of “La Gioconda,” presented in celebration of the 150th anniversary of its premiere in April 1876.
Ponchielli’s score is perhaps best-known today for its ballet “Dance of the Hours,” but the opera’s soaring melodies and searing drama made it a popular offering at the Met throughout the 20th century. With its powerful melodies and grand theatrical scale, “La Gioconda” was a staple of the operatic stage, and this broadcast offers a chance to rediscover its full impact.
This historic 1968 Metropolitan Opera performance stars Renata Tebaldi in the title role of the passionate street singer Gioconda, alongside Carlo Bergonzi as her beloved Enzo. The exceptional cast also includes Fiorenza Cossotto, Cornell MacNeil, Mignon Dunn, and Bonaldo Giaiotti. Fausto Cleva conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus in this richly dramatic score.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear a golden-age Met performance of “La Gioconda.” Join us this Saturday at 1 p.m. on WHRO-FM 90.3, or listen online.
