La Gioconda - Ponchielli - Grace Bumbry - Carlo Bergonzi - Bruna Baglioni - New York 1979 Act IV

[@dantewalston2755]

Bumbry really dug into this role, people criticize her soprano work, many sopranos are terrified to approach some of the repertoire that she sang.

[@matthewbrown17]

Between the Salome and Nabucco and Gioconda I really can’t understand all the controversy. Only complaint I have is that she didn’t do even more Wagner because the central tessitura would give her more “juice” for the high notes.

[@dantewalston2755]

@@matthewbrown17 I agree, she spoke in an interview about Lotte Lehmann wanting her to enter the Wagner rep, Kundry, Isolde, I would've enjoyed hearing her tackle this. I wish she took on the Immolation Scene, at least in concert!

[@matthewbrown17]

@@dantewalston2755 We have a few recordings of her Liebestod!

[@dantewalston2755]

@@matthewbrown17 she waited late in the career for them, they are wonderful, but with her temperament the Immolation Scene would’ve been something, I base that off her Gioconda and Nabucco singing

[@matthewbrown17]

@@dantewalston2755 Oh really? I consider her success in Les Troyens a closer baseline due to stamina and Wagner already being compared to Berlioz so often.

[@jlb9368]

I love this sound! What a glorious sheen! And a hint of that extraordinary Amneris seeps into Gioconda and the effect is magnificent!

[@courtneybaritone0136]

Gioconda was hands down Bumbry's best soprano role, second only to her Lady Macbeth.

[@matthewbrown17]

She said in interview, “I wish I had done more Giocondas in the United States. That role was like hand in glove.” She never particularly cared for Lady Macbeth but got asked to sing it a lot for over 20 years

[@dramaturge231]

Was this @ the Met? What an intriguing voice Bumbry had!

[@matthewbrown17]

Yes! Bumbry only sang Gioconda one time in the United States, I believe. This 1979 production at the Met. There is full video of her singing it in Barcelona a few years later. Her pianissimo was even better developed in the 1980s

[@GarthAstrology]

@@matthewbrown17 She sang the role in Newark in 1974 with Richard Tucker.

[@matthewbrown17]

@@GarthAstrology I found this out later when I was doing research to interview Grace Bumbry earlier this year. Feel free to check it out on the BlackMusicArchive channel - we discuss her Gioconda and Norma extensively!

[@jameslevister153]

The Bumbry/ Tucker Gioconda from Newark is available on private label and is on fire.

[@dramaturge231]

@@jameslevister153 Thanks for the info!