[78-L] Metropolitan Opera broadcasts in the old house

[Michael Biel]

On 12/24/2010 11:57 PM, Stewart, Joseph R wrote:
> (Not strictly a "78" question, but dating from the 78 era to be sure...)
> This is probably a question for Mike Biel or Liz McLeod (or anyone else with radio-history knowledge), and maybe an odd one at that.  It was inspired by listening to the Myto CD transfer of the January 4, 1941 Met broadcast of Wagner's "Tannhauser" (Melchior/Flagstad/Thorborg/Janssen/Leinsdorf).  I don't think I've ever seen any references to what kind(s) of MICROPHONES were used on the stage and in the pit at the Old Met for the broadcasts.  I have trouble imaging a row of RCA 44BXs or 77s along the stage apron(!)...

You'll be even more surprised to know that before the ribbon mics they 
used the cube-shaped condenser mics.  The famous photo of Milton Cross 
shows that mic.  As for a row of them, I doubt they would ever have used 
more than maybe three.  I'm sure Liz or I can find some info about this, 
but it would have been nice to be able to ask David Hamilton.

>   so can anyone enlighten me as to what mics NBC Blue might have used on the Met broadcasts in the 30s, 40s, and/or 50s?   Rarely if ever, at least on the broadcast transcriptions I've heard, does the sound have the high-end brightness NBC achieved in Studio 8H and Carnegie Hall for Toscanini... and most of the Met broadcasts of that era seem to be woefully deficient in bass response (this "Tannhauser" included).  Thanks and happy holidays to all!
> Randy Stewart Arts Producer KSMU Radio Springfield MO

I wouldn't be surprised if part of the reason is that most Met 
broadcasts survive as outside air-checks while the Tosciinini broadcasts 
are line-checks or direct in-house recordings.  There were so many opera 
lovers recording off-air and there has been little real recordings from 
the network to use as upgrades, while the Toscanini broadcasts are quite 
common from NBC and RCA originals.

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com