Remembering Renata
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
There are several exhibits going up at the Metropolitan Opera today to celebrate the late great Renata Tebaldi. The exhibits were originally planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her Met debut, but are now a memorial. Tebaldi passed away last month at age 82.
Organized by Met archivist Robert Tuggle, they will showcase costumes, photographs, and memorabilia. On the parterre level are two costumes from her performance in Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra.” There are two costumes from her “Othello” (though not the production in which she made her debut – these two are from the colorful Eugene Berman production from 1963-4).
“We’re still trying to decide what to do for the dress circle,” says archivist Jeff McMillan. The Met had the luck of getting a costume from a production of “Tosca” from 1965 as a loan from one of Tebaldi’s friends in Milan. Also, in Founder’s Hall is an exhibit of portraits of the great soprano, both on and offstage, and many from rehearsals. The exhibit will be up for the rest of the season.
