Wilson Pereira wrote, asking:

>Who was in the cast (of the performance of "Aida" in Rio de Janeiro, June
>30, 1886, at which Toscanini first took up the baton)? Certainly Titta
>Ruffo was.

Although baritone Ruffo toured in Brazil during his career, it was not
likely he was in the cast of Aida that evening, as in 1886 Ruffo would
have been only 9 years old.  Who was in the cast? The baritone was almost
certainly Paul Lherie; the tenor, the Russian Nicolai Figner, and the mezzo
his wife, Medea Mei.  The bass was probably Gaetano Roveri.  In the role
of Aida was almost certainly soprano Nadina Boulicioff.  Toscanini was
familiar with the score as he had been asked to play the piano and coach
some of the singers in their parts throughout the tour.

Lherie is of interest because he began his career as a tenor, and had sung
the role of Don Jose in the world premiere of "Carmen" in 1875 in Paris.

John Dalmas
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