Judy at the Met

REGARDING the review of Barbara Cook’s CD. No disrespect meant to her, but it said that it was the first time in the history of the Metropolitan Opera that a nonclassical female singer was invited to sing there [“Cook Has a Way With (Others’) Words,” July 9].

Judy Garland may not have been specifically invited by the Metropolitan Opera, but she performed at that opera house for 10 nights in May 1959. I was the assistant choreographer and a dancer in the show. Besides Judy, the show had Alan King, John Bubbles, 16 singers, 14 dancers and Gordon Jenkins conducting a full orchestra in the pit. One of the highlights of the show was our doing “Born in a Trunk” (from “A Star Is Born”) live every night. This was not the electronic age. We used hand-held mikes with enormously long cords along with Judy’s narration on reel-to-reel tape. Timing was of the essence.

I remember it being standing room only most nights and recall shouts of “We love you, Judy” at the curtain calls. The feeling of love coming over the footlights was absolutely amazing. She needed it, she earned it and she got it!

JACK MOORE

Palm Springs

Editor’s note: Sid Luft, Garland’s husband and manager at the time, rented the Metropolitan Opera house for the 1959 performances.