GIAN CARLO MENOTTI (1911-2007): The Old Maid and the Thief.

Description: After the success of his first opera Amelia al ballo, NBC commissioned this, the first-ever opera composed specifically for radio broadcast, from the young Menotti. A comedy full of the lyricism and melodic invention for which the composer is both celebrated and savaged, lasting 67 minutes, it is in 14 short scenes and the short spoken introductions to each scene, written for radio broadcasts, are included here along with sound effects to produce the effect the original premiere in 1939 would have had (the original Radio Hour introduction is included, elided nicely into the new recording). Libretto included. Natalie Arduino (mezzo), Lynn Parr Mock (soprano), Blake Davidson (baritone), Lone Springs Arts; Victoria Bond.