On Film
LIVE OPERATIC PERFORMANCES/CONCERTS...
AIDA Place & Date: Tokyo. October 1961 (complete)
Cast: Tucci, Del
Monaco, Simionato, Protti
Conductor: Capuana
Orchestra: Tokyo Radio
Orchestra
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA
(pictured)
Place & Date:
Tokyo. 8 October
1961.(complete)
Cast: Simionato, Lo
Forse, D'orazi, Di Stasio
Conductor: Morelli
Orchestra: Tokyo
Radio Orchestra
CARMEN
Place and Date: Tokyo.
February 1959 (excerpts)
Cast: Simioanto, Del
Monaco
Conductor: Verchi
Orchestra: NHK Symphony
Orchestra
AIDA
Place & Date: Verona,
July 1963
Cast: Simionato, Gencer
Conductor: Serafin
CAVALLERIA
RUSTICANA
Place & Date: La Scala,
December 1963 (Excerpt of piano rehearsal)
Cast: Simionato, Corelli
AIDA
Place & Date: New York.
3 May 1964 (excerpts for television)
Cast:
Simionato, Vickers
Conductor:
Unknown
Orchestra:
Unknown
NOTE: Simionato gave a
number of other televised concerts during
her career, which will
hopefully be released at some stage
OTHER FILM
THE
ED SULLIVAN SHOW (aka Toast of the Town)
Episode: #13.22 - 21
February 1960
IL BARBIERE
DI SIVIGLIA (voice only)
Simionato
provided the voice of Rosina for this 1955 film of Rossini's great opera.
The part was
acted by Irene Genna (who also appears in the 1953 film on the life of Verdi).
The rest of
the cast includes Tito Gobbi, Armando Francioli, Cesco Baseggio and Giulio
Neri.
Some of the
music is replaced with spoken dialogue and runs for just over 90 minutes.
INTERVIEWS...
IL BACIO DI TOSCA (Tosca's Kiss). Simionato appears in this quirky documenatry of 1984 in her role as the President of the Friends of the Casa di Riposa The film is about the quirky inhabitants of the rest home set up by Giuseppe Verdi for retired musicians including past colleagues of Simionato such as Sara Scuderi (pictured on cover). Simionato's interview while brief is informative about her attitude to her career and retirement. Her stylish hair-do also has to be seen to be believed.
OPERA FANATIC of 1998 provides a more in-depth interview, released by the Bel Canto Society, New York. The aim of the film is to visit great opera singers of the past and consider how their techniques and career differ from singers of today. Despite being subjected to some indulgent interviewing techniques Simionato gives a great account of her career and vocal practice with actual demonstrations (at 88 years of age). Other singers include Cigna, Olivero, Cerquetti, Barbieri, Gencer and Gavazzi. She proves to be just as charming, lively and warm as ever. (And of course exquisitely dressed and coiffed.) Pictured from left to right: TOP - Cerquetti, Simionato; CENTRE - Interviewer extraordinaire Zucker; BOTTOM- Barbieri, Gavazzi.