[Met Performance] CID:79860



Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, January 19, 1922

Debut : Titta Ruffo




Il Barbiere di Siviglia (113)
Gioachino Rossini | Cesare Sterbini
Figaro
Titta Ruffo [Debut]

Rosina
Cora Chase

Count Almaviva
Mario Chamlee

Dr. Bartolo
Pompilio Malatesta

Don Basilio
José Mardones

Berta
Louise Bérat

Fiorello
Vincenzo Reschiglian

Sergeant
Pietro Audisio


Conductor
Gennaro Papi





In the Lesson Scene Cora Chase sang Charmant oiseau from La Perle du Brésil (David).

Review 1:

Review in Musical America

Titto Ruffo's Debut

The latest recruit to join the merry band of Figaros who have frolicked with the pattering vocables of Rossini's "Barber of Seville" at the Metropolitan, Titta Ruffo vaulted into his place as one of Giulio Gatti-Casazza's stellar baritones on Thursday evening. Four times previously he had been announced to appear, but laryngitis interfered. He was given a heart-warming welcome, with the greatest heat manifesting itself from behind the rail and in the far balconies.

The big-voiced Tuscan had some difficulty beginning the "Largo al Factotum" because of the applause which greeted him as he entered, and was manifestly nervous as he sang it. The fun of subsequent scenes restored his normal poise and he delivered the rapid "secco" with much skill and not a few touches of effective comedy, coloring his phrases drolly and not infrequently propelling forth tones as vital as they were powerful. It was not a new characterization, however, as he had sung the part in New York and with the Chicago Opera Association, and his audience seemed to know just what to expect.

Cora Chase was reasonably successful with the bravura music of Rosina and was sufficiently vivacious. Her imitation of the scolding Don Bartolo was a particularly effective bit. Her lesson air was "Charmant Oiseau" from "Le Perle du Brésil." Others in the cast were Jose Mardones, ever a sonorous and humorous Don Basilio, Pompillio Malatesta, a farcial Don Bartolo, Louise Berat, Pietro Audisio and Vincenzo Reschiglian. Mr. Papi conducted.



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