Metropolitan Opera Archives

Act I of Il Barbiere di Siviglia was not performed.
In the Lesson Scene Sembrich sang "Voci di primavera" by Strauss, "Ah non giunge" from La Sonnambula, and a Mazurka by Chopin, the latter with her own piano accompaniment.
Enrico Caruso repeated "Vesti la giubba"
Pagliacci received ten performances this season.

Review 1:

Review in The New York Times

An audience that occupied every seat and filled all of the standing room in the Opera House last night was attracted there by a double offering, "The Barber of Seville" and "Pagliacci," and it was amply rewarded for braving the weather. "The Barber" was a repetition, but, if it offered nothing of novelty, it charmed in the old, familiar way by a most excellent performance: spirited, humorous and tuneful. Mme. Sembrich, of course, was the Rosina.. She was in splendid voice and aroused her audience into enthusiastic demands for more music lessons, singing first the Strauss waltz "Primavera," followed by "Ah non giunge" and the Chopin mazurka, the latter, as usual, to her own accompaniment on the piano.

Mr. Dippel, as the Count, gave a thoroughly good performance, as indeed did all the principals and the chorus. Mr. Giraldoni was the Figaro, quieter and more reserved than Campanari, but gratifying vocally. The others in the cast were Miss Bauermeister and Messrs Journet, Rossi, Giordani and B?gu?. The first act was omitted as before.

"Pagliacci" was a first performance. It served as a medium for the debut of Miss Bella Alten as Nedda and the reappearance of Messrs Scotti and Caruso as Tonio and Canio, parts in which they have both made successes. Mr. Scotti's singing of the prologue aroused storms of applause which stopped the progress of the opera until he had appeared several times before the curtain. Mr. Caruso likewise was welcomed with great enthusiasm and was forced, as usual, to repeat the last scene of the first act. Both were in good voice.

Miss Alten disclosed a pleasing Nedda. Nervousness may have been responsible for some slight harshness at times which, however, did not materially mar a very satisfactory performance. Her acting was animated and marked by sincerity and intelligence. The chorus sang well and in tune. Mr. Vigna conducted.

Search by season: 1904-05

Search by title: Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Pagliacci,

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