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Gian Carlo MENOTTI The Medium • Also Available ARLO ME C NO N T IA T G I

1 s 947 Recording 8.111360-61 8.111364 Marie Powers • Evelyn Keller • Beverly Dame Marilyn Cotlow • Catherine Mastice • Frank Rogier Orchestra conducted by Emanuel Balaban

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MENOTTI CENTENARY EDITION

Gian Carlo MENOTTI (1911-2007) Also Available The Medium in Two Acts – Libretto by the Composer

Monica ...... Evelyn Keller (soprano) Madame Flora (Baba) ...... Marie Powers () Mrs. Gobineau ...... Beverly Dame (soprano) Mr. Gobineau ...... Frank Rogier (baritone) Mrs. Nolan ...... Catherine Mastice (soprano) Toby, a mute ......

Orchestra conducted by Emanuel Balaban

Recorded in New York City, October 1947 Matrix Nos.: XCO 39195 through 39208 First released on Columbia 72465-D through 72471-D in album M-726 8.111358 8.112023-24 Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn

Producer’s Note

The sources for the present transfer were American LP pressings. The original recording was made on wide frequency range lacquer discs, which were dubbed to 78 rpm matrices for the initial release and later transferred to tape directly from the lacquers for the early LP set (Columbia OSL-154). Except for a couple of sides where some noise from the original discs can be heard (e.g., the end of Act 1 and the beginning of Act 2 of The Medium), the sound could easily be mistaken for an early 1950s tape recording. Mark Obert-Thorn

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Slowly a spot of blood appears on the white curtain £ Ben says to himself that all he can do is to try The Medium 26:47 Act 2 28:52 and spreads across it. Baba thinks that she has again and again. He compares the telephone to a killed a ghost. Toby’s hands are seen clutching the two-headed monster, which has hundreds of lives Act 1 ! Introduction 2:01 curtain; the curtain rod collapses under his weight. and miles of umbilical cord. Noticing a pair of (Orchestra) Wrapped in the curtain he falls into the room. scissors on a table he picks it up and approaches the 1 Introduction 1:52 @ Bravo! 2:13 Monica pounds on the door of the room demanding phone menacingly. Suddenly the phone rings; Lucy (Orchestra) (Monica) to be let in. Baba unlocks the door, and Monica rushes in, and takes the phone protectively in her 2 Where, oh, where 2:00 # Monica, Monica, can’t you see 2:54 rushes in. She calls for help and leaves swiftly. arms. She asks Ben what he was going to do to it. (Monica) (Monica) Baba kneels by Toby, asking hoarsely if it was She tells him to put the scissors down, while he 3 How many times I’ve told you $ Where is Monica? 5:51 him. says that he was only acting in self-defence. He not to touch my things! 2:32 (Baba) says they must have a quiet talk. Lucy replies that (Baba, Monica) % Good evening, Madame Flora 5:01 The Telephone she must call Pamela and tell her of her quarrel with 4 Good evening, Madame Flora 1:54 (Mrs. Gobineau, Mrs. Nolan, Mr. Gobineau, George. Ben pleads with her not to, but she says it (Mrs. Gobineau, Mr. Gobineau, Baba, Mrs. Nolan) Monica) Synopsis will be a very short call. 5 It happened long ago 2:20 ^ Don’t stand there like a fool! 1:47 ¢ Lucy dials the phone and tells Lucy that she has (Mrs. Gobineau, Mr. Gobineau, Baba) (Baba, A Voice) The setting is Lucy’s apartment. had a quarrel with George. She goes into 6 You must be very silent 1:40 & Afraid, am I afraid? 5:04 considerable detail about this. Ben says to himself (Mr. Gobineau, Baba, Monica, Mrs. Nolan, (Baba) ( Introduction (Orchestra) that he must tell her that he loves her, but the Mrs. Gobineau) * Who’s there? Who’s there? 4:01 ) As the curtain rises, Lucy is busy opening a gift telephone is constantly preventing him from doing 7 Mother, Mother, are you there? 5:42 (Baba, Monica) box which Ben has just handed to her. Saying it is so. Lucy continues with her phone call. Their (Monica, Mr. Gobineau, Mrs. Nolan, just what she wants, Lucy unwraps a piece of conversations become intertwined, and Ben Mrs. Gobineau) abstract sculpture, and thanks Ben for it. He tells eventually leaves. Lucy notices his departure and 8 What is it? Who is it? 1:51 her that he is going away shortly, and that before he wonders what it was that he wanted to tell her. At (Baba, Mr. Gobineau, Mrs. Gobineau, Mrs. Nolan) does he would like to ask her something. He cannot one side of the stage a curtain is drawn back to 9 Baba, what has happened? 2:29 come to the point, and the phone near her rings. reveal a public telephone booth somewhere in the (Monica, Baba) Lucy answers it and chatters away city. Ben is in it, dialing a number. The phone near 0 The sun has fallen and it lies in blood 4:28 inconsequentially, asking how various friends and Lucy rings: she says it must be Ben and quickly (Monica, Baba) family members are. Eventually she ends the call. powders her nose and fixes her hair. ¡ Lucy tells Ben that it was Margaret on the – Lucy answers the phone and asks Ben where he phone. She asks him if he would like to know what is. He replies that he is very near her. He asks her if Margaret told her. The phone rings once again and she will marry him. She replies that she will, and Lucy answers it: it is a wrong number. Ben asks her tells him that she loves him. She asks him why it to listen to him: time is getting short. She asks him took him so long to ask her, while Ben blesses the if he would like to know the exact time. invention of the telephone. She tells him that while ™ She tells him from the phone that it is four he is away he must not forget her phone number. fifteen. Ben tries once again to get to the point of Ben assures her that he will remember it and will what he has to say, but the phone rings. Lucy call her every day while he is away. She tells him to answers it: it is George. They have a heated write down her number, which she gives him, as he conversation. She hangs up and bursts into tears. struggles with a pencil and paper. The curtain falls. Ben asks her not to cry. She goes out to get a handkerchief. David Patmore 8.111370 10 3 8.111370 8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU:8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU 28-01-2011 12:16 Pagina 4

Gian Carlo heart is bleeding for her, Monica. He loves her and refuse to believe her: they are convinced that they she haunts him day and night. She then comes out had real contact with their loved ones. Baba goes MENOTTI of character and pretends to be the Queen of to the puppet theatre and pulls the cables which Arundel and to scold Toby for talking to her in levitate the table and control the lamp. In the face (1911-2007) such a way. She reverts to their previous positions, of Mrs Nolan’s protestations Baba gets Monica to and singing as Toby declares his love for her. As sing to her as though she were a spirit. Baba she reaches a climax Toby suddenly hides his face continues to ridicule them in the face of their The Telephone in her arms. She caresses his face, and looking into conviction, even when Mrs Nolan tells them that (L’amour à trois) his eyes, tells him tenderly that he has the most she has found the locket. The clients plead with Opera in One Act – Libretto by the Composer beautiful voice in the world. As the outer door Baba for a séance, but with fury she tells them to slams they hear Baba dragging herself up the go, and Toby to do the same. Monica pleads with Lucy ...... Marilyn Cotlow (soprano) stairs. Monica runs into her room, while Toby her not to send him away, but Baba will not agree. Ben ...... Frank Rogier (baritone) crouches in the corner. In the face of Baba’s intransigence, Monica says $ Baba appears, dishevelled and with a bottle in that she will go too. As Toby leaves, Monica holds her hand. She asks Toby where Monica is. He Orchestra conducted by his hand briefly before he goes down the stairs. points to the door at the right. Baba sits down and Seeing the puppets on the floor she starts to pick Emanuel Balaban calls Toby to her, taking his head in her lap. She them up. tells him that she loves him even though she is ^ Baba tells Monica to go into her room. Baba is Recorded in New York City, October 1947 often harsh to him. It was she who took him in, and left alone. A voice is heard calling for its mother. Matrix Nos.: XCO 39209 through 39214 who looked after him. Then she asks him if it was Baba locks the door of Monica’s room. It calls First released on Columbia 72472-D through 72474-D in album M-726 he who touched her throat. Unable to contain again: Baba pours herself several drinks before herself she springs up and curses him. She then sitting down. Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn sinks back into her chair, regretting her outburst. & Baba recalls many of the terrible scenes that she Once again she asks him if he touched her that has witnessed, and which have not made her afraid. night. As her temper rises, Toby tries to run away. She prays to God while trying to convince herself ( Introduction 2:18 Baba grabs his shirt and tears it off his back. She that death is a final end. She laughs hysterically, (Orchestra) indicates to him that she will let him marry Monica and then prays for forgiveness before falling ) Oh! Just what I wanted 4:59 if he tells her what happened. Her anger continues asleep. Toby re-enters from the stairwell. He walks (Lucy, Ben) to mount. She goes to the cupboard and gets out a cautiously to Monica’s room. Finding her door ¡ That was Margaret! 1:20 long whip. Toby backs away from her in terror. He locked he scratches softly on it. Baba stirs in her (Lucy, Ben) falls near the couch and she whips him in her fury sleep. Toby hides behind the couch and then ™ It is four fifteen 2:17 at his inability to answer her. The doorbell rings slowly creeps out and knocks on Monica’s door. (Lucy, Ben) loudly. Baba, panting hoarsely, walks to the buzzer He runs to the trunk and rummages through the £ Try again and again 2:43 and presses it. Monica runs in and demands to silks. The trunk lid falls shut sharply and wakes (Ben, Lucy) know what Baba has done to Toby. Baba. Toby hides behind the curtain of the puppet % ¢ Hello, this is Lucy 5:31 Mr and Mrs Gobineau and Mrs Nolan enter and theatre. greet Baba, who asks them what they want. They * Baba wakes up with a start and calls out, asking (Lucy, Ben) reply that it is the night of the séance. Baba agrees if Monica is present. She takes a revolver out of a – Hello … Hello 3:03 but then tells them that there will be no more drawer in the table. Hysterically she calls out that (Lucy, Ben) séances. She offers to return their money to them she will shoot unless she gets an answer. The and tells them that she cheated them. The clients curtain moves and Baba fires several times at it. 8.111370 49 8.111370 8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU:8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU 28-01-2011 12:16 Pagina 8

and urges her to talk to the spirit. Mrs Nolan She is very afraid. Asking where Toby is, Baba Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-2007) hesitates but, encouraged by Mrs Gobineau, she draws back the curtains of the cabinet, revealing asks the voice if it is Doodly her daughter and if Toby motionless, as though in a trance. She The Medium • The Telephone she is happy. Monica replies that she is and that accuses him of doing it to frighten her. Monica she can see her father. Monica asks if Mrs Nolan is tells her to stop tormenting Toby. Monica pulls The inspiration for the composition of Gian-Carlo on 12th December, 1948, and entered the unhappy. When she replies that she is very alone Baba away from Toby and sits down with Baba Menotti’s one act opera The Medium was a visit repertoire of the New York City Opera during Monica tenderly seeks to comfort her, singing that lying at her feet, her head on Monica’s lap. during 1936, while he was staying at the small 1949. In 1951 an Italian film version directed by death is only a change. She suggests that Mrs 0 Monica gently rocks Baba, and as she sings to town of St Wolfgang near Salzburg in Austria, to a the composer in the style of a film noir was Nolan burns or gives away her (Doodly’s) Baba, Toby picks up an old tambourine and softly séance with some friends who wanted to achieve released. The Telephone has enjoyed a popular life possessions, and keeps only a little gold locket. accompanies her. After a while Baba sings too. A contact with the spirit of their dead daughter. on its own, as an effective piece of comic theatre. This confuses Mrs Nolan who does not know of voice off-stage is heard calling for its mother. Baba Menotti later wrote of how the powerful desire to It is frequently performed by both amateur and any such locket. Monica begins to disappear. As asks if Monica has heard it. Monica tells Baba she communicate with lost loved ones inspired him: ‘It professional opera companies. It received a single she vanishes Mrs Nolan rushes towards her but is is imagining things, but Baba says she is sure that gradually became clear to me that my hosts, in performance by the Metropolitan Opera, New restrained by Mrs Gobineau, who urges her to stay she heard a voice. Baba asks Toby to go out and their pathetic desire to believe, actually saw and York, on 31st July, 1965, as part of a ‘Regards to calm. Mr Gobineau calls for silence again, while see who it is. He runs back and shakes his head heard their dead daughter Doodly (a name, Broadway’ concert presented at Lewisohn Stadium Mrs Nolan continues to cry. Baba sighs and moans. when Baba asks him if he saw anything. When incidentally, which I have retained in the opera). It and conducted by Franz Allers. Mr Gobineau calls for his son. Monica simulates Monica tries to reassure her that no-one is there, was I, not they, who felt cheated.’ Commissioned Although the two are highly contrasted the laughter of a child. Both Mr and Mrs Gobineau Baba accuses her of lying. Baba forces Toby to by the Alice M. Ditson Fund, The Medium was in subject matter, both work well in theatrical greet their child. The laughter dies away and the kneel down and to pray to God for their souls. He first performed at the Brander Matthews Theater at terms. The plot of The Telephone revolves around parents say goodbye. kneels and Baba fetches the rosary and sits at Columbia University in May, 1946. Immediately the attempts of Ben to propose marriage to Lucy in 8 Baba hysterically asks who is there. She gets up Monica’s feet mumbling the ‘Ave Maria’. She afterwards Menotti revised it, and this later version her apartment before he leaves on a trip. Numerous suddenly, throws back her chair and turns on the suddenly stops praying. As a child’s laughter is was paired with the comic opera The Telephone, phone calls and conversations which preoccupy light. She looks terror-stricken at her clients, runs heard, Baba hides her head in Monica’s lap. which Menotti wrote as a curtain raiser, since The her prevent him from popping the question. Highly wildly to the top of the stairwell, looks down and Medium was insufficiently long to sustain an frustrated – to the point of trying to cut the then back again. The clients look at each other in Act 2 evening by itself. Presented first by the Ballet telephone wires – he eventually leaves, but then he amazement. Baba asks who touched her. The Society at the Heckscher Theater, New York City, makes one last attempt by proposing to her from a clients reply that they do not know, but ask her A few days later, the same setting as for the first between 18th and 20th February, 1947, with Leon phone booth outside in the street. She consents, why should she be afraid, such things have act. Barzin conducting the first two performances and and after a romantic telephonic duet, the piece happened in the past. Trembling with fright, Baba Emanuel Balaban the last one, this double bill concludes with Lucy making sure that Ben has her says that they do not understand, a hand touched ! Introduction (Orchestra). opened on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore phone number. The subject matter of The Medium her in the dark. She asks the clients to go home, @ Monica is sitting in front of the puppet theatre Theater, New York, on 1st May, 1947, and ran for is considerably darker. The central character is and to leave her alone. They hurriedly get their watching a performance. The puppets fall in a heap over 200 performances. This was a considerable Madame Flora, a fake medium. She uses her coats and file out, continuing to wonder what there and Toby comes out to acknowledge Monica’s number for the time, bearing in mind the subject daughter Monica and her adopted gypsy son, Toby, is to be afraid of. applause. Monica sings a song, while Toby dances matter of the two operas and the absence of the whom she found with his tongue cut out, to stage 9 As the door downstairs closes, Monica runs barefoot around the stage. He suddenly seizes her more usual characteristics of Broadway shows of séances. During one of these, Madame Flora feels forward, still wrapped in veils. She asks Baba what arm. She asks him what is it that he wants to tell the time, such as glamorous designs and energetic something touch her. Following a confrontation has happened. Baba asks for a drink. As she drinks her, as he looks desperately into her face. She dance numbers. Following the studio gramophone with her clients, she confesses to her trickery, but she tells Monica that they must stop what they do, kneels behind him, as if her words were coming recording of the Broadway production, made in her clients refuse to believe her: they are only too and give the clients their money back. She tells from him, and makes him look up as if she were October 1947 and conducted as it was on anxious to believe in the existence of their Monica that while she was pretending to be in a still in front of him. Broadway by Balaban, The Medium was daughter as a spirit. Drinking heavily, Flora hears trance, she felt a cold hand of a man on her throat. # Monica sings, as though she is Toby, that his successfully broadcast live on American television voices. When Toby manipulates a curtain to 8.111370 8 5 8.111370 8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU:8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU 28-01-2011 12:16 Pagina 6

suggest the presence of spirits, Flora believes them Gramophone magazine in November 1961, the top of the stairwell there is a small buzzer which them to get ready, and helps Monica into the white actually to be present, with tragic consequences. usually highly fastidious critic Lionel Salter was unlocks the door downstairs. At stage right stands dress, covering her head with the white veil. Toby, Marie Powers, the American contralto who extremely enthusiastic, commenting ‘As a a tall and primitive puppet theatre, with a white after adjusting the lamp and table, opens the sings Madame Flora in this recording, was a major recording it stands up extremely well: the singer’s curtain to hide the standing puppeteer and puppet theatre curtain, exposing various levers and figure in the early performances of both The word are admirably clear, all the orchestral details downstage a door. Next to it is a small trunk, and cables behind it. He tests them – one levitates the Medium and , also composed by are audible, and only a slight lack of roundness in below it a door. On the back wall there is a large table and another lowers the lamp. As the door bell Menotti (available on Naxos 8.112023-24, together the tone betrays its age.’ Salter went on to defend astrological chart which becomes transparent when rings. Toby hides in the puppet theatre. Baba with the early opera Amelia al ballo). She was born Menotti the composer in robust terms: ‘his lit from behind. An old-fashioned three-legged presses the buzzer which unlocks the front door, in 1913 in Mount Carmel in Pennsylvania, and orchestration is brilliant, and his sense of the table is set near the centre of the room, with above and pretends to be absorbed in a card game at the studied at Cornell University. She was a pupil of dramatic superb. Apart from his exceptional ability it a circular Victorian lamp, lit by means of a table. Giannina Russ in Florence and sang in Italian to act as his own producer (a first-class one) and string. Near it are four chairs and a couch. In a 4 Mr and Mrs Gobineau enter, followed by Mrs theatres under the name of Maria Drescentini. On librettist… he is constantly pulling out of his corner stands a small statue of the Virgin Mary, a Nolan. They greet Baba who remains seated. They returning to the United States she undertook sleeve some coup de théâtre which deflects votive candle in a red glass jar burning in front of sit down. Mrs Nolan asks Mrs Gobineau if this is further study with Ernestine Schumann-Heink and criticism on purely musical grounds.’ As for The it. There are no windows and the time of day is her first visit to Madame Flora. When she replies Paul Althouse in New York. She sang major parts Medium as a piece of music-drama, Salter was ambiguous throughout the action. that it is, Mr Gobineau sings Baba’s praises. Mrs such as Azucena in and Amneris in completely convinced: ‘its effectiveness as a Gobineau asks with whom Mrs Nolan seeks to with the American based San Carlo Opera musical work for the stage is beyond argument; Act 1 communicate and she replies her daughter Doodly, Company, before achieving great success at the and, think what you will of present-day tastes, the who had died the previous year. The Gobineaus first performances of The Medium on Broadway. fact remains that The Medium and its like attract an 1 Introduction (Orchestra). tell her that she may both hear and see her. Mrs She repeated this success in England when the audience to the opera-house which musically far Nolan asks how long they have known Madame opera was produced in London at the Aldwych superior works utterly fail to do — they at least 2 As the curtain rises, Toby is kneeling by the Flora and they reply that they have been coming Theatre during 1948. Menottti cast her as The seem alive, instead of being beautiful exhibits in a trunk improvising a costume out of brightly every week for two years, to communicate with Mother in the first production of The Consul, a rôle museum.’ And the performance itself was fully up coloured pieces of silk, necklaces and bangles their little son, whom they hear laughing. Mrs which she repeated on record and when this opera to the demands of the work: ‘Thanks to Marie stored within it. Monica stands near the couch, Nolan asks when he died. was presented at , , in 1951. In the Powers’ famous and vivid performance as the which is covered by a white dress and veil. She 5 Mrs Gobineau replies that it was long ago, same year she appeared as Fricka in a cycle of The raddled old fraudulent medium and the holds a mirror in one hand and combs her hair with when they were young and lived in France. As Mr Ring given at the Paris Opéra. She appeared as a sympathetic singing of Evelyn Keller as Monica, the other. She starts to sing a song about a weeping Gobineau comforts his wife, Baba enters and says guest with the Stockholm and Monte Carlo Opera and generally to a sense of ‘production’, this disc queen and a gnome, and then urges Toby to get that it is time to begin. Almost hysterical Mrs Companies. She was based in New York from the conspicuously succeeds in suggesting the stage things ready before the return of Flora, known as Nolan jumps up and is led to the table by Mrs late 1950s onwards, often appearing in community action, even in so essentially visual a work as this Baba. She continues to comb her hair while Gobineau. Mr Gobineau locks the doors and helps productions. She died in 1973. She evidently is.’ His final verdict was noteworthy: ‘Almost full singing her song. She tells Toby how magnificent Baba place the chairs around the table. They all sit projected an extremely powerful presence on marks’. he looks in his costume, and, putting her arms down. Baba pulls the string to turn off the light: the stage, and has been described as ‘a force of around him, wishes that he could speak. Baba only illumination is the candle in front of the nature’. The Medium enters and they both freeze. Madonna. The original Columbia–USA recording of The 3 With sinister calm Baba scolds Toby for 6 Mr Gobineau calls for silence and asks for them Medium had to wait fourteen years for its first Synopsis touching her things. She doubts that everything is all to touch hands. Baba begins to moan, release in the United Kingdom, when it appeared ready for the evening’s business. Should anything simulating a trance. Suddenly she stops. as part of the Philips company’s lavishly produced The setting is Madame Flora’s parlour: a squalid go wrong she will make Toby pay for it, and 7 Behind the chart hanging on the wall Monica ‘Modern Music’ series (Philips at this time held room in a flat on the outskirts of a great city. At swears at him. Monica tries to restrain her, and slowly appears in a faint blue light. Monica sings the European distribution rights for Columbia- stage left a narrow staircase descends down to the asks her where she has been. Baba replies that she as though she is a child asking for her mother. Mr USA recordings). Reviewing it in The street, with upstage a curtained doorway. Near the has been collecting money owed to her. She orders Gobineau says it must be Mrs Nolan’s daughter, 8.111370 6 7 8.111370 8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU:8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU 28-01-2011 12:16 Pagina 6

suggest the presence of spirits, Flora believes them Gramophone magazine in November 1961, the top of the stairwell there is a small buzzer which them to get ready, and helps Monica into the white actually to be present, with tragic consequences. usually highly fastidious critic Lionel Salter was unlocks the door downstairs. At stage right stands dress, covering her head with the white veil. Toby, Marie Powers, the American contralto who extremely enthusiastic, commenting ‘As a a tall and primitive puppet theatre, with a white after adjusting the lamp and table, opens the sings Madame Flora in this recording, was a major recording it stands up extremely well: the singer’s curtain to hide the standing puppeteer and puppet theatre curtain, exposing various levers and figure in the early performances of both The word are admirably clear, all the orchestral details downstage a door. Next to it is a small trunk, and cables behind it. He tests them – one levitates the Medium and The Consul, also composed by are audible, and only a slight lack of roundness in below it a door. On the back wall there is a large table and another lowers the lamp. As the door bell Menotti (available on Naxos 8.112023-24, together the tone betrays its age.’ Salter went on to defend astrological chart which becomes transparent when rings. Toby hides in the puppet theatre. Baba with the early opera Amelia al ballo). She was born Menotti the composer in robust terms: ‘his lit from behind. An old-fashioned three-legged presses the buzzer which unlocks the front door, in 1913 in Mount Carmel in Pennsylvania, and orchestration is brilliant, and his sense of the table is set near the centre of the room, with above and pretends to be absorbed in a card game at the studied at Cornell University. She was a pupil of dramatic superb. Apart from his exceptional ability it a circular Victorian lamp, lit by means of a table. Giannina Russ in Florence and sang in Italian to act as his own producer (a first-class one) and string. Near it are four chairs and a couch. In a 4 Mr and Mrs Gobineau enter, followed by Mrs theatres under the name of Maria Drescentini. On librettist… he is constantly pulling out of his corner stands a small statue of the Virgin Mary, a Nolan. They greet Baba who remains seated. They returning to the United States she undertook sleeve some coup de théâtre which deflects votive candle in a red glass jar burning in front of sit down. Mrs Nolan asks Mrs Gobineau if this is further study with Ernestine Schumann-Heink and criticism on purely musical grounds.’ As for The it. There are no windows and the time of day is her first visit to Madame Flora. When she replies Paul Althouse in New York. She sang major parts Medium as a piece of music-drama, Salter was ambiguous throughout the action. that it is, Mr Gobineau sings Baba’s praises. Mrs such as Azucena in Il trovatore and Amneris in completely convinced: ‘its effectiveness as a Gobineau asks with whom Mrs Nolan seeks to Aida with the American based San Carlo Opera musical work for the stage is beyond argument; Act 1 communicate and she replies her daughter Doodly, Company, before achieving great success at the and, think what you will of present-day tastes, the who had died the previous year. The Gobineaus first performances of The Medium on Broadway. fact remains that The Medium and its like attract an 1 Introduction (Orchestra). tell her that she may both hear and see her. Mrs She repeated this success in England when the audience to the opera-house which musically far Nolan asks how long they have known Madame opera was produced in London at the Aldwych superior works utterly fail to do — they at least 2 As the curtain rises, Toby is kneeling by the Flora and they reply that they have been coming Theatre during 1948. Menottti cast her as The seem alive, instead of being beautiful exhibits in a trunk improvising a costume out of brightly every week for two years, to communicate with Mother in the first production of The Consul, a rôle museum.’ And the performance itself was fully up coloured pieces of silk, necklaces and bangles their little son, whom they hear laughing. Mrs which she repeated on record and when this opera to the demands of the work: ‘Thanks to Marie stored within it. Monica stands near the couch, Nolan asks when he died. was presented at La Scala, Milan, in 1951. In the Powers’ famous and vivid performance as the which is covered by a white dress and veil. She 5 Mrs Gobineau replies that it was long ago, same year she appeared as Fricka in a cycle of The raddled old fraudulent medium and the holds a mirror in one hand and combs her hair with when they were young and lived in France. As Mr Ring given at the Paris Opéra. She appeared as a sympathetic singing of Evelyn Keller as Monica, the other. She starts to sing a song about a weeping Gobineau comforts his wife, Baba enters and says guest with the Stockholm and Monte Carlo Opera and generally to a sense of ‘production’, this disc queen and a gnome, and then urges Toby to get that it is time to begin. Almost hysterical Mrs Companies. She was based in New York from the conspicuously succeeds in suggesting the stage things ready before the return of Flora, known as Nolan jumps up and is led to the table by Mrs late 1950s onwards, often appearing in community action, even in so essentially visual a work as this Baba. She continues to comb her hair while Gobineau. Mr Gobineau locks the doors and helps productions. She died in 1973. She evidently is.’ His final verdict was noteworthy: ‘Almost full singing her song. She tells Toby how magnificent Baba place the chairs around the table. They all sit projected an extremely powerful presence on marks’. he looks in his costume, and, putting her arms down. Baba pulls the string to turn off the light: the stage, and has been described as ‘a force of around him, wishes that he could speak. Baba only illumination is the candle in front of the nature’. The Medium enters and they both freeze. Madonna. The original Columbia–USA recording of The 3 With sinister calm Baba scolds Toby for 6 Mr Gobineau calls for silence and asks for them Medium had to wait fourteen years for its first Synopsis touching her things. She doubts that everything is all to touch hands. Baba begins to moan, release in the United Kingdom, when it appeared ready for the evening’s business. Should anything simulating a trance. Suddenly she stops. as part of the Philips company’s lavishly produced The setting is Madame Flora’s parlour: a squalid go wrong she will make Toby pay for it, and 7 Behind the chart hanging on the wall Monica ‘Modern Music’ series (Philips at this time held room in a flat on the outskirts of a great city. At swears at him. Monica tries to restrain her, and slowly appears in a faint blue light. Monica sings the European distribution rights for Columbia- stage left a narrow staircase descends down to the asks her where she has been. Baba replies that she as though she is a child asking for her mother. Mr USA recordings). Reviewing it in The street, with upstage a curtained doorway. Near the has been collecting money owed to her. She orders Gobineau says it must be Mrs Nolan’s daughter, 8.111370 6 7 8.111370 8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU:8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU 28-01-2011 12:16 Pagina 8

and urges her to talk to the spirit. Mrs Nolan She is very afraid. Asking where Toby is, Baba Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-2007) hesitates but, encouraged by Mrs Gobineau, she draws back the curtains of the cabinet, revealing asks the voice if it is Doodly her daughter and if Toby motionless, as though in a trance. She The Medium • The Telephone she is happy. Monica replies that she is and that accuses him of doing it to frighten her. Monica she can see her father. Monica asks if Mrs Nolan is tells her to stop tormenting Toby. Monica pulls The inspiration for the composition of Gian-Carlo on 12th December, 1948, and entered the unhappy. When she replies that she is very alone Baba away from Toby and sits down with Baba Menotti’s one act opera The Medium was a visit repertoire of the New York City Opera during Monica tenderly seeks to comfort her, singing that lying at her feet, her head on Monica’s lap. during 1936, while he was staying at the small 1949. In 1951 an Italian film version directed by death is only a change. She suggests that Mrs 0 Monica gently rocks Baba, and as she sings to town of St Wolfgang near Salzburg in Austria, to a the composer in the style of a film noir was Nolan burns or gives away her (Doodly’s) Baba, Toby picks up an old tambourine and softly séance with some friends who wanted to achieve released. The Telephone has enjoyed a popular life possessions, and keeps only a little gold locket. accompanies her. After a while Baba sings too. A contact with the spirit of their dead daughter. on its own, as an effective piece of comic theatre. This confuses Mrs Nolan who does not know of voice off-stage is heard calling for its mother. Baba Menotti later wrote of how the powerful desire to It is frequently performed by both amateur and any such locket. Monica begins to disappear. As asks if Monica has heard it. Monica tells Baba she communicate with lost loved ones inspired him: ‘It professional opera companies. It received a single she vanishes Mrs Nolan rushes towards her but is is imagining things, but Baba says she is sure that gradually became clear to me that my hosts, in performance by the Metropolitan Opera, New restrained by Mrs Gobineau, who urges her to stay she heard a voice. Baba asks Toby to go out and their pathetic desire to believe, actually saw and York, on 31st July, 1965, as part of a ‘Regards to calm. Mr Gobineau calls for silence again, while see who it is. He runs back and shakes his head heard their dead daughter Doodly (a name, Broadway’ concert presented at Lewisohn Stadium Mrs Nolan continues to cry. Baba sighs and moans. when Baba asks him if he saw anything. When incidentally, which I have retained in the opera). It and conducted by Franz Allers. Mr Gobineau calls for his son. Monica simulates Monica tries to reassure her that no-one is there, was I, not they, who felt cheated.’ Commissioned Although the two operas are highly contrasted the laughter of a child. Both Mr and Mrs Gobineau Baba accuses her of lying. Baba forces Toby to by the Alice M. Ditson Fund, The Medium was in subject matter, both work well in theatrical greet their child. The laughter dies away and the kneel down and to pray to God for their souls. He first performed at the Brander Matthews Theater at terms. The plot of The Telephone revolves around parents say goodbye. kneels and Baba fetches the rosary and sits at Columbia University in May, 1946. Immediately the attempts of Ben to propose marriage to Lucy in 8 Baba hysterically asks who is there. She gets up Monica’s feet mumbling the ‘Ave Maria’. She afterwards Menotti revised it, and this later version her apartment before he leaves on a trip. Numerous suddenly, throws back her chair and turns on the suddenly stops praying. As a child’s laughter is was paired with the comic opera The Telephone, phone calls and conversations which preoccupy light. She looks terror-stricken at her clients, runs heard, Baba hides her head in Monica’s lap. which Menotti wrote as a curtain raiser, since The her prevent him from popping the question. Highly wildly to the top of the stairwell, looks down and Medium was insufficiently long to sustain an frustrated – to the point of trying to cut the then back again. The clients look at each other in Act 2 evening by itself. Presented first by the Ballet telephone wires – he eventually leaves, but then he amazement. Baba asks who touched her. The Society at the Heckscher Theater, New York City, makes one last attempt by proposing to her from a clients reply that they do not know, but ask her A few days later, the same setting as for the first between 18th and 20th February, 1947, with Leon phone booth outside in the street. She consents, why should she be afraid, such things have act. Barzin conducting the first two performances and and after a romantic telephonic duet, the piece happened in the past. Trembling with fright, Baba Emanuel Balaban the last one, this double bill concludes with Lucy making sure that Ben has her says that they do not understand, a hand touched ! Introduction (Orchestra). opened on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore phone number. The subject matter of The Medium her in the dark. She asks the clients to go home, @ Monica is sitting in front of the puppet theatre Theater, New York, on 1st May, 1947, and ran for is considerably darker. The central character is and to leave her alone. They hurriedly get their watching a performance. The puppets fall in a heap over 200 performances. This was a considerable Madame Flora, a fake medium. She uses her coats and file out, continuing to wonder what there and Toby comes out to acknowledge Monica’s number for the time, bearing in mind the subject daughter Monica and her adopted gypsy son, Toby, is to be afraid of. applause. Monica sings a song, while Toby dances matter of the two operas and the absence of the whom she found with his tongue cut out, to stage 9 As the door downstairs closes, Monica runs barefoot around the stage. He suddenly seizes her more usual characteristics of Broadway shows of séances. During one of these, Madame Flora feels forward, still wrapped in veils. She asks Baba what arm. She asks him what is it that he wants to tell the time, such as glamorous designs and energetic something touch her. Following a confrontation has happened. Baba asks for a drink. As she drinks her, as he looks desperately into her face. She dance numbers. Following the studio gramophone with her clients, she confesses to her trickery, but she tells Monica that they must stop what they do, kneels behind him, as if her words were coming recording of the Broadway production, made in her clients refuse to believe her: they are only too and give the clients their money back. She tells from him, and makes him look up as if she were October 1947 and conducted as it was on anxious to believe in the existence of their Monica that while she was pretending to be in a still in front of him. Broadway by Balaban, The Medium was daughter as a spirit. Drinking heavily, Flora hears trance, she felt a cold hand of a man on her throat. # Monica sings, as though she is Toby, that his successfully broadcast live on American television voices. When Toby manipulates a curtain to 8.111370 8 5 8.111370 8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU:8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU 28-01-2011 12:16 Pagina 4

Gian Carlo heart is bleeding for her, Monica. He loves her and refuse to believe her: they are convinced that they she haunts him day and night. She then comes out had real contact with their loved ones. Baba goes MENOTTI of character and pretends to be the Queen of to the puppet theatre and pulls the cables which Arundel and to scold Toby for talking to her in levitate the table and control the lamp. In the face (1911-2007) such a way. She reverts to their previous positions, of Mrs Nolan’s protestations Baba gets Monica to and singing as Toby declares his love for her. As sing to her as though she were a spirit. Baba she reaches a climax Toby suddenly hides his face continues to ridicule them in the face of their The Telephone in her arms. She caresses his face, and looking into conviction, even when Mrs Nolan tells them that (L’amour à trois) his eyes, tells him tenderly that he has the most she has found the locket. The clients plead with Opera in One Act – Libretto by the Composer beautiful voice in the world. As the outer door Baba for a séance, but with fury she tells them to slams they hear Baba dragging herself up the go, and Toby to do the same. Monica pleads with Lucy ...... Marilyn Cotlow (soprano) stairs. Monica runs into her room, while Toby her not to send him away, but Baba will not agree. Ben ...... Frank Rogier (baritone) crouches in the corner. In the face of Baba’s intransigence, Monica says $ Baba appears, dishevelled and with a bottle in that she will go too. As Toby leaves, Monica holds her hand. She asks Toby where Monica is. He Orchestra conducted by his hand briefly before he goes down the stairs. points to the door at the right. Baba sits down and Seeing the puppets on the floor she starts to pick Emanuel Balaban calls Toby to her, taking his head in her lap. She them up. tells him that she loves him even though she is ^ Baba tells Monica to go into her room. Baba is Recorded in New York City, October 1947 often harsh to him. It was she who took him in, and left alone. A voice is heard calling for its mother. Matrix Nos.: XCO 39209 through 39214 who looked after him. Then she asks him if it was Baba locks the door of Monica’s room. It calls First released on Columbia 72472-D through 72474-D in album M-726 he who touched her throat. Unable to contain again: Baba pours herself several drinks before herself she springs up and curses him. She then sitting down. Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn sinks back into her chair, regretting her outburst. & Baba recalls many of the terrible scenes that she Once again she asks him if he touched her that has witnessed, and which have not made her afraid. night. As her temper rises, Toby tries to run away. She prays to God while trying to convince herself ( Introduction 2:18 Baba grabs his shirt and tears it off his back. She that death is a final end. She laughs hysterically, (Orchestra) indicates to him that she will let him marry Monica and then prays for forgiveness before falling ) Oh! Just what I wanted 4:59 if he tells her what happened. Her anger continues asleep. Toby re-enters from the stairwell. He walks (Lucy, Ben) to mount. She goes to the cupboard and gets out a cautiously to Monica’s room. Finding her door ¡ That was Margaret! 1:20 long whip. Toby backs away from her in terror. He locked he scratches softly on it. Baba stirs in her (Lucy, Ben) falls near the couch and she whips him in her fury sleep. Toby hides behind the couch and then ™ It is four fifteen 2:17 at his inability to answer her. The doorbell rings slowly creeps out and knocks on Monica’s door. (Lucy, Ben) loudly. Baba, panting hoarsely, walks to the buzzer He runs to the trunk and rummages through the £ Try again and again 2:43 and presses it. Monica runs in and demands to silks. The trunk lid falls shut sharply and wakes (Ben, Lucy) know what Baba has done to Toby. Baba. Toby hides behind the curtain of the puppet % ¢ Hello, this is Lucy 5:31 Mr and Mrs Gobineau and Mrs Nolan enter and theatre. greet Baba, who asks them what they want. They * Baba wakes up with a start and calls out, asking (Lucy, Ben) reply that it is the night of the séance. Baba agrees if Monica is present. She takes a revolver out of a – Hello … Hello 3:03 but then tells them that there will be no more drawer in the table. Hysterically she calls out that (Lucy, Ben) séances. She offers to return their money to them she will shoot unless she gets an answer. The and tells them that she cheated them. The clients curtain moves and Baba fires several times at it. 8.111370 49 8.111370 8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU:8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU 28-01-2011 12:15 Pagina 10

Slowly a spot of blood appears on the white curtain £ Ben says to himself that all he can do is to try The Medium 26:47 Act 2 28:52 and spreads across it. Baba thinks that she has again and again. He compares the telephone to a killed a ghost. Toby’s hands are seen clutching the two-headed monster, which has hundreds of lives Act 1 ! Introduction 2:01 curtain; the curtain rod collapses under his weight. and miles of umbilical cord. Noticing a pair of (Orchestra) Wrapped in the curtain he falls into the room. scissors on a table he picks it up and approaches the 1 Introduction 1:52 @ Bravo! 2:13 Monica pounds on the door of the room demanding phone menacingly. Suddenly the phone rings; Lucy (Orchestra) (Monica) to be let in. Baba unlocks the door, and Monica rushes in, and takes the phone protectively in her 2 Where, oh, where 2:00 # Monica, Monica, can’t you see 2:54 rushes in. She calls for help and leaves swiftly. arms. She asks Ben what he was going to do to it. (Monica) (Monica) Baba kneels by Toby, asking hoarsely if it was She tells him to put the scissors down, while he 3 How many times I’ve told you $ Where is Monica? 5:51 him. says that he was only acting in self-defence. He not to touch my things! 2:32 (Baba) says they must have a quiet talk. Lucy replies that (Baba, Monica) % Good evening, Madame Flora 5:01 The Telephone she must call Pamela and tell her of her quarrel with 4 Good evening, Madame Flora 1:54 (Mrs. Gobineau, Mrs. Nolan, Mr. Gobineau, George. Ben pleads with her not to, but she says it (Mrs. Gobineau, Mr. Gobineau, Baba, Mrs. Nolan) Monica) Synopsis will be a very short call. 5 It happened long ago 2:20 ^ Don’t stand there like a fool! 1:47 ¢ Lucy dials the phone and tells Lucy that she has (Mrs. Gobineau, Mr. Gobineau, Baba) (Baba, A Voice) The setting is Lucy’s apartment. had a quarrel with George. She goes into 6 You must be very silent 1:40 & Afraid, am I afraid? 5:04 considerable detail about this. Ben says to himself (Mr. Gobineau, Baba, Monica, Mrs. Nolan, (Baba) ( Introduction (Orchestra) that he must tell her that he loves her, but the Mrs. Gobineau) * Who’s there? Who’s there? 4:01 ) As the curtain rises, Lucy is busy opening a gift telephone is constantly preventing him from doing 7 Mother, Mother, are you there? 5:42 (Baba, Monica) box which Ben has just handed to her. Saying it is so. Lucy continues with her phone call. Their (Monica, Mr. Gobineau, Mrs. Nolan, just what she wants, Lucy unwraps a piece of conversations become intertwined, and Ben Mrs. Gobineau) abstract sculpture, and thanks Ben for it. He tells eventually leaves. Lucy notices his departure and 8 What is it? Who is it? 1:51 her that he is going away shortly, and that before he wonders what it was that he wanted to tell her. At (Baba, Mr. Gobineau, Mrs. Gobineau, Mrs. Nolan) does he would like to ask her something. He cannot one side of the stage a curtain is drawn back to 9 Baba, what has happened? 2:29 come to the point, and the phone near her rings. reveal a public telephone booth somewhere in the (Monica, Baba) Lucy answers it and chatters away city. Ben is in it, dialing a number. The phone near 0 The sun has fallen and it lies in blood 4:28 inconsequentially, asking how various friends and Lucy rings: she says it must be Ben and quickly (Monica, Baba) family members are. Eventually she ends the call. powders her nose and fixes her hair. ¡ Lucy tells Ben that it was Margaret on the – Lucy answers the phone and asks Ben where he phone. She asks him if he would like to know what is. He replies that he is very near her. He asks her if Margaret told her. The phone rings once again and she will marry him. She replies that she will, and Lucy answers it: it is a wrong number. Ben asks her tells him that she loves him. She asks him why it to listen to him: time is getting short. She asks him took him so long to ask her, while Ben blesses the if he would like to know the exact time. invention of the telephone. She tells him that while ™ She tells him from the phone that it is four he is away he must not forget her phone number. fifteen. Ben tries once again to get to the point of Ben assures her that he will remember it and will what he has to say, but the phone rings. Lucy call her every day while he is away. She tells him to answers it: it is George. They have a heated write down her number, which she gives him, as he conversation. She hangs up and bursts into tears. struggles with a pencil and paper. The curtain falls. Ben asks her not to cry. She goes out to get a handkerchief. David Patmore 8.111370 10 3 8.111370 8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU:8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU 28-01-2011 12:15 Pagina 2

MENOTTI CENTENARY EDITION

Gian Carlo MENOTTI (1911-2007) Also Available The Medium Opera in Two Acts – Libretto by the Composer

Monica ...... Evelyn Keller (soprano) Madame Flora (Baba) ...... Marie Powers (contralto) Mrs. Gobineau ...... Beverly Dame (soprano) Mr. Gobineau ...... Frank Rogier (baritone) Mrs. Nolan ...... Catherine Mastice (soprano) Toby, a mute ......

Orchestra conducted by Emanuel Balaban

Recorded in New York City, October 1947 Matrix Nos.: XCO 39195 through 39208 First released on Columbia 72465-D through 72471-D in album M-726 8.111358 8.112023-24 Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn

Producer’s Note

The sources for the present transfer were American LP pressings. The original recording was made on wide frequency range lacquer discs, which were dubbed to 78 rpm matrices for the initial release and later transferred to tape directly from the lacquers for the early LP set (Columbia OSL-154). Except for a couple of sides where some noise from the original discs can be heard (e.g., the end of Act 1 and the beginning of Act 2 of The Medium), the sound could easily be mistaken for an early 1950s tape recording. Mark Obert-Thorn

8.111370 2 11 8.111370 8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU:8.111370 bk Menotti4_EU 28-01-2011 12:15 Pagina 12

Gian Carlo MENOTTI The Medium • The Telephone Also Available ARLO ME C NO N T IA T G I

1 s 947 Recording 8.111360-61 8.111364 Marie Powers • Evelyn Keller • Beverly Dame Marilyn Cotlow • Catherine Mastice • Frank Rogier Orchestra conducted by Emanuel Balaban

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G R E A T

O P E R A

R E C O R D I N G S NAXOS Historical MENOTTI: The Medium • The Telephone 8.111370 Time 77:51 Playing The Medium The Gramophone MONO , made by the American the made by , Act IAct IIAct Introduction 26:47 what I wantedOh! Just 4:59 28:52 That was Margaret! fifteenIt is four 2:18 1:20 and again again Try is Lucy this Hello, 2:17 2:43 Hello … Hello 5:31 3:03 8.111370 0 * ADD - - The MediumThe 1 ! The Telephone 55:39 ( ) ¡ ™ 22:12 £ ¢ – The Medium with the sinister music-drama with the sinister music-drama The Telephone (1911–2007) Gian Carlo Gian (Opera in One Act) (Opera in One (Opera in Two Acts) Two (Opera in MENOTTI The Medium The Telephone Orchestra conducted by Emanuel Balaban Emanuel conducted by Orchestra Recorded in New York City, October 1947 City, York in New Recorded www.naxos.com Reissue Producer and Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn and Restoration Engineer: Reissue Producer Spoleto 1958 (Private Collection) Gian Carlo Menotti, photo: Cover Schirmer Inc. G. Publisher: Columbia company, was first released in the United Kingdom in 1961, when in the United Kingdom in 1961, was first released Columbia company, argument.’ the stage is beyond for work as a musical ‘its effectiveness enthusiastically: wrote proved to be a big hit for composer Gian Carlo Menotti when they opened together on opened Menotti when they composer Gian Carlo a big hit for to be proved success similar and enjoyed performances, 200 over The double bill ran for in 1947. Broadway of This original 1947 cast recording in London during 1948. The pairing of the comic opera The pairing of the comic Lucy ...... Cotlow Marilyn Ben...... Frank Rogier Monica ...... Keller Evelyn (Baba)Madame Flora ...... Powers Marie GobineauMrs...... Dame Beverly . Gobineau...... Mr. Rogier Frank NolanMrs...... Mastice Catherine

All rights in this sound recording, artwork, texts and translations reserved. Unauthorised public performance, broadcasting and copying of this compact disc prohibited. ൿ & Ꭿ 2011 Naxos Rights International Ltd. Made in Germany NAXOS Historical Powers • Keller • Cotlow • Rogier • Balaban 8.111370 8.111370 rr Menotti4_EU:8.111370 rr Menotti4_EU 28-01-2011 12:18 Pagina 1 12:18 Pagina 28-01-2011 rr Menotti4_EU rr Menotti4_EU:8.111370 8.111370