[Met Performance] CID:68170



Tosca
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, February 20, 1918




Tosca (131)
Giacomo Puccini | Luigi Illica/Giuseppe Giacosa
Tosca
Geraldine Farrar

Cavaradossi
John McCormack

Scarpia
Antonio Scotti

Sacristan
Pompilio Malatesta

Spoletta
Angelo Badà

Angelotti
Giulio Rossi

Sciarrone
Louis D'Angelo

Shepherd
Cecil Arden

Jailer
Vincenzo Reschiglian


Conductor
Roberto Moranzoni







Review 1:

Review of W. J. Henderson in the New York Sun

NOTED IRISH TENOR HEARD WITH ENJOYABLE EFFECT AS CAVARADOSSI

"Tosca" is one of the most familiar works in the repertory of the Metropolitan Opera House, and the only way in which fresh interest can be imparted to a performance of it is by a change of cast. In these days a new representative of the captivating Roman singer would have to make a most hazardous invasion of the imperial domain of Geraldine Farrar, who has made Tosca her own by right of conquest. A filmy heroine she was in her first appearance in the role, but she has developed a rich and pulsating characterization, which has both vitality and charm.

Nor has any other barytone been able to wrest the honors of Scarpia from Antonio Scotti. He is one of the best actors on the contemporaneous lyric stage, and his Scarpia, bold, passionate, audacious and sinister, is one of his finest achievements. It remains then for some one to assay the role of Cavaradossi, the least complex in the opera. Of course Caruso sings it sometimes and remains unchallenged, but comparisons with him in this part is not fraught with mortal danger.

Last night John McCormack was the Cavaradossi and he apparently gave the immense audience abundant satisfaction. He never seems to be quite as comfortable in opera as in concert, and his method of attacking certain tones betrays unwonted anxiety. Nor is he an actor of either distinguished manner or resource in the expression of gesture and pose. But he has command of style and his delivery is admirable in its nice adjustment of detail as well as in the crystalline clarity of the diction. His Cavaradossi was therefore praiseworthy and enjoyable.

Other items in the performance do not call for special comment, except the contribution of the orchestra, which was on one or two occasions unusually ragged. Nor can it be said that Mr. Moranzoni, who conducted, put as much pith and point into his reading as he might.



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