Opera in the Park San Francisco 1989 (Upgraded sound)

Conducted by Maurizio Arena
05:14 La Gazza Ladra overture
15:49 Ebben, ne andro lontana (Pilar Lorengar)
20:22 Regnava nel Silenzio (Ruth Ann Swenson)
29:22 Au fond du temple saint (John David De Haan and J. Patrick Raftery)
35:39 Habanera (Marilyn Horne)
40:09 Sulla tomba (Ruth Ann Swenson and Dennis O'Neill)
52:54 Intermission features
01:14:35 L'Amico Fritz - Intermezzo
01:19:55 Largo al factotum (J. Patrick Raftery)
01:25:32 O du, mein holder Abendstern (Thomas Stewart)
01:31:17 Dunque io son (Ruth Ann Swenson and J. Patrick Raftery)
01:37:12 Nessun Dorma (Dennis O'Neill)
01:41:16 Cruda sorte (Marilyn Horne)
01:46:51 Libiamo

[@emiliosalman6740]

This is Beyond the Beyond. Never heard before Pilar Lorengar what a wonderfull voice !!!!

[@edwardcaulfield67]

Marilyn brought me here, I thank you sincerely for that

[@BellaFirenze]

J. Patrick Raftery is gorgeous. He also aspirates all the runs in the pieces he chose. Wonderful Marilyn Horne, this was her thin year.

[@ScoopNemeth]

Opening festivities with our salute to our flag and country, and closing them with Drinking song from Verdi's La Traviata, what a combo!

[@cadoh8143]

Thank you so much.

[@chatbud]

The surprise find here is the 30yo Ruth Ann Swenson! The only Ruth Ann Swenson I'd ever heard was a tired-sounding older singer when she had joined the Met. But here she is, fresh-voiced with a tone full of lustre. The vibrato is perfect! The high notes are completely free from strain. The Lucia cabaletta poses almost no challenge to her. This is the Ruth Ann Swenson that should have been recorded! Sample this: 48:09

[@scrivener6450]

It was this Swenson who was recorded. All three of her CDs were recorded early in her career, at the very height of her powers. The album Endless Pleasure has the Lucia aria. For my money, she had the best voice of the era.

[@magicmonkichi]

Thank you for sharing! Also, it's Horne singing the Cruda sorte ;)

[@nir0bateman]

Oooh, my bad, fixed it.

[@samueljaramillo4221]

Great music, great singing 👏👏

[@Shahrdad]

I had never seen Marilyn Horne so slim! She wrote in her autobiography that when Pavarotti saw her after she lost weight he complimented her by telling her she looked very f**kable!

[@papagen00]

she was on Ozempic.

[@clefnoteproductions6695]

Ruth Ann does beautiful ornaments in the Lucia aria.

[@papagen00]

Only a few weeks before the big 1989 earthquake

[@peteradaniel]

Are you telling me that orchestra is out there without any cover?!?! 1 million dollars worth of instruments just exposed to the elements?! Yikes. I could never!

[@giselamarch1994]

The Baritone's dress was inappropriate for this event.

[@iggyreilly2463]

Probably the last time the national anthem was played in San Fran.

[@chatbud]

Pilar Lorengar is way past her prime here

[@thorvonoden5879]

This is so bad, except Marilyn Horne. Where did they find these singers???????