In November of 1963, just a few days before attending a Metropolitan Opera performance for the first time, I saw my first-ever MADAMA BUTTERFLY when the New York City opera brought it on tour to Syracuse, New York. Julius Rudel, the Company’s stalwart maestro, was on the podium, and the cast included singers I would see many times in the ensuing years: people like Beverly Evans, Frank Porretta, Ron Bottcher, and Spiro Malas. In the title role, Maria di Gerlando (photo above)made an especially fine impression; but,though she continued to be a regular at NYC Opera for several more years, I never saw her again. Still, the memory of her beautiful singing as Cio-Cio-San lingered in my mind.
Many seasons later, when YouTube began making hundreds of recordings of live opera performances available, I would periodically search the di Gerlando name in hopes of finding more recordings of her in the Italian repertoire so as to have a souvenir of a soprano who has remained dear to me.
Just days ago, a concert performance of Verdi’s OTELLO given in Washington DC in 1960 popped up. In excellent sound, the cast includes one of James McCracken’s earliest renderings of the title-role role, which would become closely identified with him. The conductor is Paul Calloway. And there, immediately grabbing my attention, was the name Maria di Gerlando.
I immediately listened to the performance…twice. The soprano is indeed an excellent Desdemona, sometimes putting me (and other listeners) in mind of the beloved Italian soprano Licia Albanese.
Listen to the OTELLO here, and read about Maria di Gerlando’s career here.
Oberon's Glade 