First Live Public Radio Broadcast of an Opera
On January 13, 1910, the first live public radio broadcast of an opera marked a significant milestone in both the art of opera and the evolution of radio technology. This historic event took place at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, where Lee de Forest, known as the "father of radio," transmitted Pietro Mascagni's *Cavalleria Rusticana* followed by Ruggiero Leoncavallo's *I Pagliacci*. Although the broadcast's audience was limited due to the faint signal, it showcased the potential of radio to reach wider audiences. Notable performers included the renowned tenor Enrico Caruso, who played Canio, and celebrated soprano Emmy Destinn, among others. De Forest's earlier innovations in radio technology, particularly the triode vacuum tube, played a crucial role in making this broadcast possible. The Metropolitan Opera continued to embrace radio technology, launching regular live broadcasts in 1931, further cementing the importance of this medium in making opera accessible to the public. This initial broadcast set the stage for future developments in live performance transmission and radio broadcasting.
First Live Public Radio Broadcast of an Opera
First Live Public Radio Broadcast of an Opera
On January 13, 1910, the first live radio broadcast of a complete opera was transmitted from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Though few were able to pick up the faint signal, Lee de Forest transmitted Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, followed by Ruggiero Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci, from a 500-watt transmitter that was connected to two microphones installed in the footlights of the stage.
De Forest is frequently called the “father of radio.” His most important invention, developed in 1906, was a type of vacuum tube known today as the triode, which became an essential component in virtually all radios. Through the De Forest Radio Telephone Company, he established radio telephone transmission from the Metropolitan Life Insurance Building and then from the Metropolitan Opera House.
The performers in the double-bill broadcast on this day in 1913 included one of the greatest tenors of the century, Enrico Caruso, who sang the role of Canio in I Pagliacci. The Neopolitan singer, born in 1873, had made his debut in Naples in 1894 and had arrived at the Met in 1903, where he would give 626 performances over 17 consecutive years. During that time, Caruso would sing the role of Canio 83 times. Performing in Cavalleria Rusticana were the Kentucky-born tenor Riccardo Martin, who had debuted at the Met in 1907, and one of the most celebrated sopranos of the day, Emmy Destinn, who had originated the title roles in Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly and La Fanciulla del West (The Girl of the Golden West), the latter opposite Caruso. In Cavalleria, Martin sang the role of Turiddu and Destinn played Santuzza.
On January 12, De Forest had broadcast parts of Puccini's Tosca, featuring soprano Olive Fremstad in the title role, Pasquale Amato as Baron Scarpia, and Riccardo Martin in the tenor lead as Cavaradossi. In 1913, three years after the Metropolitan Opera broadcast, De Forest transmitted presidential election results in the first radio news program, and in 1923 he was the first to demonstrate sound motion pictures. The Met began regular broadcasts of live performances, mainly Saturday matinees, on Christmas day 1931 with Hansel and Gretel and concluded on April 11, 1959, with Tosca.