Metropolitan Opera Archives

Adamo Didur's sterling qualities in the presentment of tragic rôles were powerfully emphasized in his performance as Ramon when "Habanera" was repeated on Monday evening. In the portrayal of the peasant's savage despair and hatred as he contemplated the approaching marriage of Pilar, the girl he loved, and his brother, Pedro; his sudden outburst of maniacal fury as he struck Pedro down, and the long self-torture of his remorse for the crime, Mr. Didur acted with complete conviction.

Moreover, he artistically contrived to reveal the full pathos of the hapless figure, urged by his friends on the one hand to track down the assassin, and torn on the other in the tempest of his own conscience. There were great moments in the patio scene, when Mr. Didur exhibited the horror of Ramon driven into frenzy by the spectre of Pedro.

Laparra's music was a great setting for this vivid picture of stormy passion and thrilled the audience. There were, of course, many recalls for Mr. Didur, as well as for Florence Easton, Armand Tokatyan and Leon Rothier, who repeated the rôles in which they appeared at the first local performance of the opera. The cast also included Phradie Wells, Giordano Paltrinieri, Pietro Audisio, Arnold Gabor, William Gustafson, Paolo Ananian, Angelo Bada, Louis d'Angelo, James Wolf, Minnie Egener, Vincenzo Reschiglian and Louise Hunter. Louis Hasselmans conducted.

Riccitelli's "Compagnacci," under the baton of Roberto Moranzoni, again followed "Habanera," with Elisabeth Rethberg as Anna Maria, Gustav Schützendorf as Bernardo, Beniamino Gigli as Baldo and Adamo Didur as Venanzio. The singing of Mme. Rethberg and Mr. Gigli was again the feature of the little opera. Others in the cast were Angelo Bada, Louis d'Angelo, Grace Anthony, Paolo Ananian, Henriette Wakefield, Giordano Paltrinieri, Vincenzo Reschiglian, Louise Hunter, Pietro Audisio, Nannette Guilford and Lawrence Tibbett.

Search by season: 1923-24

Search by title: La Habanera, I Compagnacci,

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