Ero e Leandro: Performance History
First performed in a concert version at England's Norwich Festival in 1896,
and staged in Madrid the following year, Ero e Leandro was produced in
America at the Metropolitan Opera House, March 10, 1899, and again in March of
1903, both times with the composer conducting. The cast members for the first
U.S. prodction were Emma Eames as Hero, Albert Saléza as Leandro, and Pol
Plançon as Ariofarno. In the 1903 Met production, Johanna Gadski was the
soprano, Emilio De Marchi sang the tenor rôle, and the villain was
portrayed by Edouard De Reszke.
Although this opera has evidently not
been revived since its two seasons in New York, a portion of the Act II finale
and the opening to Act III may be heard as recorded (on cylinders) in March,
1903 at the Met, by Lionel Mapelson, transcriptions of which are available
through the New York Public Library. Selections from the opera were recorded
in Italy by RAI in the 1950's.
Monday, 08-Dec-2003 21:45:33 PST