Metropolitan Opera Archives

"Carmen" was sung at the Metropolitan Opera House last evening with Mme. Ina Bourskaya once more in the title role. The repetition of the opera gained a filip of interest from the first appearance this season of Mme. Marie Sundelius, who sang Micaela. Last winter this soprano was very active at the Metropolitan, but up to the present she has been traveling about the country giving recitals. Her Micaela is a familiar impersonation and may be passed along with the information that it is still comely and musical.

Mme. Bourskaya's Carmen continues to be interesting and Mr. Martinelli as Don Jose and Mr. Mardones as Escamillo quarreled over her vigorously and apparently with reason. She sets the key of her Carmen early in the first act and there is a liberal display of the arts of seduction as embodied in the swaying of Spanish skirts. Mme. Bourskaya does not overdress the cigarette girl. You can almost see the tobacco stains on her fingers, and there is smoke in her eyes. Her voice is well suited to the character and she sings the music with gusto if not with finish.

The Don Jose of Mr. Martinelli and the Escamillo of Mr. Mardones are familiar friends. They were quite themselves last evening. There was a large audience, and the old opera, which is always young, evoked the usual plaudits. And Miss Rosina Galli danced. That is always pleasing news.

Search by season: 1923-24

Search by title: Carmen,

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