The Covent Garden Opera's first performance was on January 14, 1947, marking the beginning of a decade of significant achievements.
Interpretation
Covent Garden's policy in the 1950s was to perform operas in English, but the 1955 production of Verdi's Otello was sung in Italian with an international cast.
Recording & Production
This collection features twelve performances, half of which are from the latter half of the 1950s, a period when Covent Garden gained international recognition.
Historical Context
The full-time opera company at Covent Garden was established only after World War II, with a manifesto in 1945 aiming to make it an independent international opera house.
Historical Context
Rafael Kubelík, a symphonic specialist, became Musical Director at Covent Garden after self-exiling from Czechoslovakia following the communist takeover in 1948.
Performer Biography
Karl Rankl, Covent Garden's first Musical Director, is remembered more for his determination in building the ensemble from scratch than for his conducting performances.
Recording & Production
All recordings in this collection were produced and broadcast by the BBC, and digitally remastered by Re:Sound UK Ltd.
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