[Met Concert or Gala] CID:53970

United States Premiere, New Production

L'Orfeo
Twenty-second And Last Sunday Night Concert
Metropolitan Opera House, Sun, April 14, 1912




L'Orfeo (1)

Orfeo
Hermann Weil

Euridice
Rita Fornia

Music/Messenger/Proserpina
Maria Duchène

Caronte
Basil Ruysdael

Plutone
Herbert Witherspoon

Nymph/Shepherd
Anna Case


Conductor
Josef Pasternack [Last performance]


Twenty-second And Last Sunday Night Concert






Bach/Abert: Prelude, Chorale and Fugue


Hamlet: Drinking Song
Pasquale Amato


L'Africaine: Selika's aria
Emmy Destinn


Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Largo al factotum
Pasquale Amato


Tosca: Vissi d'arte
Emmy Destinn


Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Overture


Conductor...............Josef Pasternack
Arrangement for modern orchestra by Professor Giacomo Orefice
This was the only Metropolitan Opera performance of L'Orfeo.

Review 1:

Review in The New York Times:

"A PRIMITIVE OPERA HEARD

Monteverde's 'Orpheus' In Concert Form at the Metropolitan"

"The last of the Sunday night concerts at the Metropolitan Opera House was devoted to a curious and novel undertaking...A historical frame of mind, however, is not absolutely indispensable for obtaining enjoyment even from this music. Much of it is monotonous, and the obsolete forms of cadence sometimes become wearisome. But there are passages that give an impression of beauty and musical characterization to listeners of this day. Most of the instrumental preludes and interludes have melodious charm, simple though it be; and so have the choruses. The solos are largely kept in the form of a rich recitative or delamatory arioso. This verges on the modern conception of melody occasionally as in the first solo of Orpheus in the third act and in several passages of the fourth act....The piece was sung in English with a very diverse measure of success in making the words understood....The chorus sang well, and Mr. Pasternack conducted with zeal. The audience listened with amazement and with only the faintest attempts at applause."

Alternate titles: Orfeo; La Favola d'Orfeo.



Search by season: 1911-12

Search by title: L'Orfeo, Twenty-second And Last Sunday Night Concert,



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