OP2009. SAMSON ET DALILA, Live Performance, 14 March, 1953, w.Cleva Cond. Risë Stevens, Ramón Vinay, Sigurd Björling, Norman Scott, Luben Vichey, etc. (E.U.) 2-Walhall 0292. Specially priced. - 4035122652925

CRITIC REVIEW:

“The March 1953 Met relay of SAMSON ET DALILA brought two of the house’s most highly paid singers of the time as the eponymous opponents. Often, Met broadcasts present soloists who have recorded relevant rôles commercially. The Samson here, Ramón Vinay, did not. He is always associated with Otello but had a much wider repertoire, whereas the Dalila, Risë Stevens, who twice recorded excerpts from this opera, had far fewer rôles. She is vocally steady, tonally rounded but not particularly sensual. Vinay, though not a paragon of subtlety, is interesting partly because of his dark timbre and his ardency. For him alone this set is worth acquiring. Sigurd Björling, forsaking Wagner, sings the High Priest, with slightly grizzled tone. Norman Scott takes a good line in Abimélech’s aria, while Luben Vichey brings an even more bass sound to the Old Hebrew. Fausto Cleva conducts in a clear recording.”

- John T. Hughes, CLASSICAL RECORDINGS QUARTERLY, Winter, 2010