Metropolitan Opera Archives

"L'Oracolo" was paired with "Pagliacci" in Saturday night's double bill. Franco Leoni's tragedy, based upon Fernald's story of the Chinese quarter of San Francisco, is invariably endowed with particular interest by Antonio Scotti's remarkably graphic impersonation of Chim-Fang, the villainous proprietor of the opium den. Mr. Scotti, who sketches, in the character of this crafty ruffian, one of the most vivid of his gallery of stage portraits, was recalled many times for a performance artistic in every detail, musically as well as histrionically. Lucrezia Bori, as Ah Yoe, sang charmingly the love theme from the casement window; Adamo Didur was fully in character as Win-Shee, the aged philosopher who avenges the murder of his son; Mario Chamlee sang animatedly as San-Luy, and Louis d'Angelo's impersonation of Hoo-Tsin had many points of merit. The cast also included Marion Telva as Hua-Quee, Pietro Audisio as the Fortune-Teller, and Ada Quintina as Hoo-Chee. Robert Moranzoni conducted.

"Pagliacci," performed under the baton of Gennaro Papi, possessed a new interest from the presence of Elisabeth Rethberg as Nedda. Notwithstanding that the soprano's voice and style proved heavy in this role, and that certain mannerisms affected her acting, she fulfilled the dramatic demands of the character, notably in the tragic second act. The Ballatella was well sung, and excited great applause. Morgan Kingston was also decidedly effective in the second act, but was not entirely successful in his interpretation of "Vesti la Giubba," though he took the repeated recalls alone after the curtain fell on this soliloquy. Guiseppe Danise, who appeared as Tonio, had to acknowledge many recalls for his singing of the Prologue.

Search by season: 1922-23

Search by title: L'Oracolo, Pagliacci,

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