Ashley Putnam - Rossini: SEMIRAMIDE, Dolce pensiero with 3 High Es

THE SONGBIRD: Ashley Putnam was born in New York City in 1952, and was one of two winners of the national Met auditions in 1976. She became one of the leading sopranos with the New York City Opera in the era when Beverly Sills retired from singing and took on the role of the General Director. Putnam made her debut there as Violetta in 1978 and stepped into roles in several productions that Sills had originated such as Lucia, Maria Stuarda, Marie in "Daughter of the Regiment," and Elvira in "I Puritani." Putnam's Met debut was as Lucia (on tour) in 1983; her first performance in the Met house was Marguerite in 1990. Internationally she sang at Covent Garden, Vienna, Berlin, Teatro Colon, Glyndebourne, Aix, and many other houses, and appeared with most major U.S. opera companies and symphonies. She transitioned from the high lyric-coloratura roles into fuller lyric soprano fare (Rusalka, Arabella, Marschallin, Alice Ford, Jenufa, Agathe, and Wagner's Eva).

I don't know the source or date of this recording, unfortunately in relatively poor audio quality, but since so little is available of Putnam I hope people nonetheless enjoy it!

THE MUSIC: Rossini's "Semiramide" is based on a Voltaire play and premiered in Venice in 1823. It was his last original opera written in Italian, as he moved to Paris after its premiere. The leading role was written for his wife, the great soprano Isabella Colbran and was his last opera for her (her voice was in decline at this point). Despite wide success in the decades following its premiere and occasional diva-driven productions here or there (in Cincinnati in 1882 for Adelina Patti, at The Met in 1894 for Nellie Melba), it faded far into the background. It was produced anew at La Scala in 1962/63 as a showcase for Joan Sutherland (alongside Giulietta Simionato), and has since become a more frequently produced, though still uncommon, vehicle for the top-tier of accomplished bel canto divas. "Bel raggio lusinghier" is sung by Semiramide, Queen of Babylon, in the famed Hanging Gardens as she waits for Arsace, the object of her affections. Only Putnam's cabaletta "Dolce pensiero" is available here.