This special presentation features a 1956 recording from the Metropolitan Opera Record Club which presented shortened opera recordings staring lesser known but still great singers that were under contract at the MET at that time. This presentation of Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece Rigoletto, staring the first African-American man to sing at the MET, Robert McFerrin and father to Bobby Mcferrin, the artist know for his big hit "Don't Worry Be Happy", was narrated by the one and only Milton Cross who was the radio announcer at the time for the Saturday MET broadcasts.

Cast:

Rigoletto - Robert McFerrin

Gilda - Laurel Hurley

Duke of Mantua - Daniele Barioni

The MET Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Fausto Cleva

MORC 214 - 1956

This shortened version of Rigoletto will be followed by the most famous operatic double-bill of all time, Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci.

Cavalleria Rusticana:

Santuzza - Giulietta Simionato

Turiddu - Achille Braschi

Lola - Fernanda Cadoni 

Alfio - Carlo Tagliabue

Mama Lucia - Liliana Pellegrino

Orchestra and Chorus of CETRA of Turin

Arturo Basile - conductor

CETRA - 1952

Pagliacci:

Canio - Mario Del Monaco

Nedda - Clara Petrella

Silvio - Aldo Protti

Beppe - Piero De Palma

Tonio - Afro Poli

Orchestra and Chorus of the Academy of Santa Cecilia of Rome

Alberto Erede - conductor

GOP ( London) - 1954