[Met Performance] CID:83040



La Bohème
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, January 31, 1923




La Bohème (199)
Giacomo Puccini | Luigi Illica/Giuseppe Giacosa
Mimì
Frances Alda

Rodolfo
Giacomo Lauri-Volpi

Musetta
Marie Sundelius

Marcello
Antonio Scotti

Schaunard
Millo Picco

Colline
Léon Rothier

Benoit
Pompilio Malatesta

Alcindoro
Paolo Ananian

Parpignol
Pietro Audisio

Sergeant
Vincenzo Reschiglian


Conductor
Gennaro Papi







Review 1:

Review of W. J. Henderson in the Herald

Mme. Reinhardt Ill, Mme. Alda Sings Mimi Role

Winter's Vicissitudes Felt at the Metropolitan When 'La Bohème' Is Sung

The vicissitudes of a hard winter made their power felt at the Metropolitan Opera House last evening. The opera was "La Bohème." And Mme. Delia Reinhardt, who recently emerged as Sieglinde in "Die Walküre," was to have made her first local adventure in the field of Italian opera, singing Mimi. But the eager auditors found in the program little slips announcing that Mme. Reinhardt had become a victim of the all pervasive operatic evil. "sudden indisposition," and that her place would be taken by Mme. Alda. The soprano had sung the sorrows of the female Bohemian so often that no new word could possibly be found to express the general satisfaction. It should be enough to say that Mme. Alda was in good voice - or at any rate sang as if she was - and received abundant applause.

Giacomo Lauri-Volpi made what is professionally called his second debut in the role of Rodolfo. This gentleman was suffering from a cold when he made his first appearance last week as the Duke in "Rigoletto." He had not quite recovered from it last evening, and it might be judicious to say little about his singing. Undoubtedly some of the technical peculiarities which marred his tones last evening were in the nature of makeshifts, vainly adopted for the purpose of defeating the obstacles rained by the cold. The slight vocal indisposition did not prevent him from emitting some brilliant high tones. It is likely that when he is at his best he will be able to sing more fluently and with greater mellowness in the lower part of his voice.

The other members of the cast were old friends. Mme. Sundelius was the Musetta and demonstrated that she could be a peppery young woman when she wished to. Mr. Scotti, who was in better voice than usual, just to show how he had conquered the New York climate, was an admirable Marcello. Mr. Picco as Schaunnard and Mr. Rothier as Colline were the other principal singers. Mr. [Papi] conducted.



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