La Cieca s old, old, old friend Sanford writes: On May 15th, 1976, The Met was on tour with Le Nozze di Figaro, starring: Figaro: Justino Díaz Susanna: Loretta Di Franco Count Almaviva: John Reardon Countess Almaviva: Lucine Amara Cherubino: Huguette Tourangeau Dr. Bartolo: Andrew Foldi Marcellina: Shirley Love Don Basilio: Andrea Velis Antonio: Richard Best Barbarina: Alma Jean Smith Don Curzio: Robert Schmorr Peasant: Linda Mays Peasant: Dorothy Shawn Conductor: Steuart Bedford Of course our JJ recalls that afternoon s performance, if not exactly with the vividness associated with that night s Trittico (with Renata Scotto, for those of you who have been following along at home). His main recollection, JJ tells La Cieca, is that he mistook the starting time for the Figaro (which, in fact, began at 1:30) and so he had to sprint the distance of about half a mile from his motel to the Dallas State Fair Music Hall, arriving breathless and sweaty just as Mozart s charming overture commenced. Your doyenne has enjoyed the occasional breathless and sweaty evening at the opera in the 32 years since that fateful double-header, and she is delighted to inform her cher public that our Sanford has once again performed his cut-and-paste wizardry to create another vocal identification quiz for your delight and possible financial gain. In honor of that long-ago Figaro, this quiz is based on La Cieca s favorite aria from the opera, Susanna s Deh vieni non tardar. Eight artists sing segments of the aria; it is your task to recognize all eight and then email La Cieca at lacieca@parterre.com with your solution. The sender of the first email received with all eight correct answers will win an amazon.com gift card. The Susanna Quiz Oh, JJ also remembers that Lucine wore a yellow dress in Act 3. After all, that s not the sort of thing you would tend to forget, is it?
