[Met Performance] CID:8040



Don Giovanni
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, December 4, 1889

Debut : Emmy Sonntag-Uhl, Betty Frank


In German



Don Giovanni (16)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Lorenzo Da Ponte
Don Giovanni
Theodore Reichmann

Donna Anna
Lilli Lehmann

Don Ottavio
Paul Kalisch

Donna Elvira
Emmy Sonntag-Uhl [Debut]

Leporello
Emil Fischer

Zerlina
Betty Frank [Debut]

Masetto
Edward Schlömann

Commendatore
Conrad Behrens


Conductor
Anton Seidl


Director
Theodore Habelmann

Set Designer
Charles Fox, Jr.

Set Designer
William Schaeffer

Set Designer
Gaspar Maeder

Set Designer
Mr. Thompson

Costume Designer
D. Ascoli

Costume Designer
Henry Dazian





Translation by unknown
Don Giovanni received four performances this season.
The program states that the opera was performed in a "Version with new Vienna Secco Recitative...[which] will be accompanied on the piano in the style of Mozart."

Review 1:

Review of W. J. Henderson in The New York Times

METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.

Mozart's "Don Giovanni" had not been heard at the Metropolitan Opera House since the first season, when it was produced under the direction of Dr. Damrosch, until last night. A large audience was in the house last night when the curtain went up on the first scene. The noble specimen of the classical opera always draws a goodly number of lovers of good music. Last night's performance was not up to the standard, but this was doubtless due to the fact that two of the new members of the company were compelled to make their débuts in trying rôles. These were Frau Sontag-Uhl, the new mezzo soprano, and Fräulein Betty Frank, the lyric soprano. It would probably be unjust to make an estimate of the value of these two ladies after last night's performance, It is beyond question, however, that neither of them was equal to the demands of her rôle. They are both to appear in "II Trovatore" tomorrow evening, when they may make a better impression.

The remainder of the cast was eminently satisfactory. Frau Lehmann's Donna Anna was admirable vocally and dramatically. Herr Reichmann was a good, though not a great, Don Giovanni. Herr Fischer's Leporello was delightful, Herr Kalisch sang Don Ottavio's music with excellent taste, and Herr Schlömann was a capable Masetto. The opera was carefully put on the stage, and Herr Seidl deserves hearty praise for his faithfulness to Mozart's score. It may fairly be said that the composer's instrumental designs have never before been made known to this public. The opera will be given again on Saturday afternoon.

Photograph of Theodore Reichmann as Don Giovanni by Kryziwanek.



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