[Met Performance] CID:56750



La Traviata
Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, April 6, 1914




La Traviata (90)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave
Violetta
Frieda Hempel

Alfredo
Italo Cristalli

Germont
Pasquale Amato

Flora
Jeanne Maubourg

Gastone
Angelo Badà

Baron Douphol
Vincenzo Reschiglian

Marquis D'Obigny
Bernard Bégué

Dr. Grenvil
Paolo Ananian

Annina
Marie Mattfeld

Dance
Eva Swain


Conductor
Giorgio Polacco







Review 1:

Review of W. J. Henderson in the Sun

At the Metropolitan Opera House last evening Verdi's "La Traviata" was sung before an audience large enough to give evidence that the old work is still potent to weave a spell. The size of the audience and its liberal applause served also to demonstrate the growth of Frieda Hempel in public favor. When this soprano first came to New York her singing was a disappointment and for a considerable time it looked as if there was little probability of her gaining any permanent foothold.

The present season has worked a great change. Miss Hempel returned in better physical condition and this helped her in more ways than one. It not only made her voice better, but it gave her confidence and courage, which seemed wanting last winter. The result was that she was able to do herself justice in "Der Rosenkavalier." And her success in the Strauss opera enabled her to bring still more assurance to her other roles.

Last night she was in good voice and she sang Violetta very well. Her colorature in the first act had fluency and firmness. She sang "Semper librera" with plenty of dash and spirit, and her high E flat in the last measure had unusually good quality. Her delivery of the lyric music in the later scenes was smooth, full toned and well phrased. On the whole she is now a very interesting representative of the lady of the camellias.

Her principal associates were Mr. Cristalli as Alfredo and Mr. Amato as Germont. The young tenor was in better voice than in the recent performance of "L'Amore Medico" and was at least acceptable. Mr. Amato's Germont was quite up to its usual level, which is one of much merit. Mr. Polacco conducted and accomplished his mission with distinction. It is perhaps no great achievement to conduct "La Traviata," but those familiar with the work know that it is frequently misconducted and with most unhappy results.



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