[Met Performance] CID:85880



L'Amore dei Tre Re
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, January 9, 1924




L'Amore dei Tre Re (39)
Italo Montemezzi | Sem Benelli
Fiora
Lucrezia Bori

Avito
Beniamino Gigli

Manfredo
Millo Picco

Archibaldo
Adamo Didur

Flaminio
Angelo Badà

Maid
Phradie Wells

Young Woman
Grace Anthony

Old Woman
Henriette Wakefield

Youth
Giordano Paltrinieri

Shepherd
Merle Alcock


Conductor
Roberto Moranzoni


Director
Armando Agnini

Set Designer
Mario Sala

Costume Designer
Giuseppe Mancini





In an onstage ceremony following Act II, Paul D. Cravath presented the composer Italo Montemezzi with a Silver Wreath as a token of gratitude and esteem from the Board of Directors.
L'Amore dei Tre Re received two performances this season.

Review 1:

Review by Olin Downes in the New York Times:

A gala performance of the music-drama "L'Amore dei Tre Re" was given last night in the Metropolitan Opera House in honor of its composer, Italo Montemezzi, now visiting New York and present, with Mme. Montemezzi, as guests of the Metropolitan Opera Company. It was one of those fortunate occasions, too rare, when the greatest honor falls where it is due-to the comoposer. The cast contained two of the singers who first presented this opera at the Metropolitan ten years ago this week-to be exact, Jan. 2, '14. These were Mr. Didur, the Archibaldo, and Miss Bori, the Flora. After the second act of the opera, Mr. Montemezzi was called before the curtain when Paul Cravath presented him a silver wreath and made a brief speech of congratulation. Under less public circumstances, Mr. Gatti-Casazza presented the composer with a gold pen, "to write a new opera."

This was the fortieth performance of "L'Amore dei Tre Re" by the Metropolitan. It has been absent from the repertory of the company for only two seasons since '14-the seasons of '15-'16 and '16-'17. In the decade that it has been known to the public of this City, its poetic and legendary beauty and the noble passion of its music have not grown pale. It is the one modem Italian opera which for at least two acts represent a sustained flood of dramatic and musical inspiration of the highest order. It is necessary to go back at least as far as the "Otello" of Verdi to discover another Italian opera of such purity of style. Had it not occurred sooner, a work like this would have sounded the knell of the greasy offerings of the realists and in a day when Italian composers are reaffirming their ancient classic birthright in symphonic music, Montemezzi has taken the most important step in the same direction in the theatre. No wonder there were bravos. No wonder that every one was stirred by the tragic beauty of his drama:

Mr. Cravath spoke as follows: "Mr. Montemezzi: This is an important anniversary in the calendar of the Metropolitan Opera Company. Ten years ago your great opera, "L'Amore del Tre Re," received its first production in this house. It won instantaneous recognition and success and has since held an honorable place in our annual repertoire. The performance this evening is the fortieth in this house. The tragic story of love and death that you have told with such charm and eloquence still holds the Metropolitan audiences under its spell. You have earned high rank among the great masters of opera upon our roll of honor. The Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Opera Company ask you to accept this silver wreath as evidence of our recognition of your brilliant achievements and as a token of our gratitude and esteem."



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