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By Matthew Westphal
20 Jan 2007
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| A scene from the 1957 NBC Opera Theatre broadcast of Dialogues of the Carmelites. |
Francis Poulenc's opera Dialogues des Carmélites had its world premiere 50 years ago next week, on January 26, 1957 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Today, to celebrate the work's golden anniversary, the Museum of Radio and Television in New York City offers a free screening of two legendary telecasts of the opera, with panel discussions featuring cast members following each one.
To begin the celebration at 12:30 p.m., the Museum will present the 1957 NBC Opera Theatre telecast of Dialogues — sung in the language of the audience (here, English), as Poulenc wished. Following the two-hour screening will be an interview with cast and creative team members including Elaine Malbin (Blanche de la Force), Rosemary Kuhlmann (Mother Marie), David Lloyd (Chaplain), and Kirk Browning (director), moderated by Eric Myers. Other cast members in this made-for-television production include Leontyne Price (Mme. Lidoine, the New Prioress), Patricia Neway (Mme. de Croissy, the Old Prioress), and Judith Raskin (Sister Constance).
At 3:30 p.m., the Museum will screen the final 90 minutes of PBS's 1987 Live from the Met telecast of John Dexter's renowned Metropolitan Opera staging of Dialogues. The performance (again, sung in English) stars Maria Ewing (Blanche), Régine Crespin (the Old Prioress), Florence Quivar (Mother Marie), Betsy Norden (Sister Constance), and Jessye Norman (the New Prioress). Afterwards there will be an in-person interview with Norman, moderated by Cori Ellison.
This event is free with Museum admission (suggested donation $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students). The Museum of Television and Radio is located at 25 W. 52nd St. in midtown Manhattan. For more information, visit www.mtr.org.
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| A scene from the 1957 NBC Opera Theatre broadcast of Dialogues of the Carmelites: from left, Elaine Malbin (Blanche de la Force), Rosemary Kuhlmann (Mother Marie), and Patricia Neway (Mme. de Croissy, the Old Prioress).
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