La Traviata

One of the earliest Met broadcasts to survive complete, this legendary performance is also the only existing complete recording of an Italian opera starring one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century—Rosa Ponselle. Not yet 40 at the time but only two years away from her sudden retirement from the stage, Ponselle delivers a definitive portrayal of Verdi’s most popular heroine, the doomed courtesan Violetta. She is joined by Met stalwarts Fredrick Jagel as Alfredo and Lawrence Tibbett as Germont, with Ettore Panizza on the podium.