Various
Shirley Verrett at the Met
One of her generation’s most captivating talents, Shirley Verrett first arrived on the Met stage in 1961, when she was a winner in the National Council Auditions. She made her official debut seven years later in the title role of Bizet’s Carmen, before headlining nearly 130 performances over the course of the next two decades. Celebrated for her remarkable versatility, Verrett triumphed in both soprano and mezzo-soprano roles in a wide variety of repertoire, including Norma and Adalgisa in Bellini’s Norma, the title character of Puccini’s Tosca, and Azucena in Verdi’s Il Trovatore. She was also present during some of the Met’s most historic moments, appearing in the company premieres of Berlioz’s Les Troyens (when she sang both Cassandre and Didon in the same evening), Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle, and Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites—as well as in the United States premiere of Rossini’s L’Assedio di Corinto, a portion of which is included in this stunning new playlist.
Performance Info
Performance Date
May 27, 2021
Composer
Various
Librettist
Various
Run Time
1 HRS 49 MIN
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus