[Met Performance] CID:89830



Samson et Dalila
Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, March 19, 1925




Samson et Dalila (54)
Camille Saint-Saëns | Ferdinand Lemaire
Samson
Giovanni Martinelli

Dalila
Karin Branzell

High Priest
Giuseppe Danise

Abimélech
Louis D'Angelo

Old Hebrew
José Mardones

Philistine
Max Bloch

Philistine
Vincenzo Reschiglian

Messenger
Giordano Paltrinieri

Dance
Lilyan Ogden


Conductor
Louis Hasselmans







Review 1:

Review of W. J. Henderson in the Sun

In the evening, Saint-Saens's "Samson et Dalila" was given with Mme. Karin Branzell and Mr. Martinelli in the respective title roles. Mme. Branzell appeared as the temptress of ancient Palestine on one other occasion last season. It is a role not altogether congenial for her talents, although her performance in many respects is admirable. Her seductive art is neither wily nor subtle and there is little of the sensual about it. In fact, in the garden scene her solicitous attitude placed Mr. Martinelli's Samson in the light of a small boy forced to come in the house out of the rain.

But Mme. Branzell sang her music with all her fine somber richness of tone, her opulent if restricted coloring and a style at once tender and impassioned. Her costumes were somewhat disappointingly modest, but she made a majestic and beautiful figure. The familiar garden scene, if lacking in sensual charm, was beautifully sung.

Mr. Martinelli was in good voice and ground corn dutifully, only to meet his usual tragic end under a huge pile of sofa cushion segments of the collapsed Temple of Dagon. He sang with fervor and conviction, although his costume is still something to wonder at.

Mr. Danise as the High Priest, Mr. d'Angelo as Abimelech, Mr. Mardones as the old Hebrew and Mr. Paltrinieri as the messenger who brought the exciting news to Gaza were other principals in the cast. Miss Lilyan Ogden and the ballet danced and Mr. Hasselmans conducted.



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