Antony and Cleopatra as
Opera
Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
Opening of Act III of Antony and
Cleopatra, op. 40, 1966
Holograph manuscript
Music Division (15)
Louis Mélançon, photographer.
Leontyne Price (b. 1927) as Cleopatra,
1966
New York World-Telegram and Sun Newspaper Collection
Prints & Photographs Division
Courtesy of Leontyne Price (16.1)
LC-DIG-ppmsca-13518
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Samuel Barber's second full-length opera, Antony and Cleopatra,
was commissioned for the opening of the new Metropolitan Opera
House on September 16, 1966. The libretto, based on Barber's favorite
Shakespeare play, was fashioned by the composer and Franco Zeffirelli
(b. 1923), who also directed the opera. More than 3,800 spectators
attended the premiere, which featured Leontyne Price as Cleopatra
and Justino Díaz (b. 1940) as Antony. In 1968, Barber reworked
Cleopatra's arias, including "Give me my Robe," shown
here, into a concert scene for soprano. Price often performed the
arrangement in concert as well as recording it.
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