[Met Tour] CID:91570



Aida
American Academy of Music, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Tue, December 15, 1925




Aida (308)
Giuseppe Verdi | Antonio Ghislanzoni
Aida
Frances Peralta

Radamès
Giovanni Martinelli

Amneris
Jeanne Gordon

Amonasro
Giuseppe Danise

Ramfis
José Mardones

King
William Gustafson

Messenger
Max Altglass

Priestess
Laura Robertson

Dance
Florence Rudolph


Conductor
Giulio Setti







Review 1:

Review of Linton Martin in the Philadelphia Inquirer

'AIDA' IN SPECTACULAR STYLE BY METROPOLITAN

Martinelli Wins honors of Evening; Peralta in Place of Rethberg

A more spectacular, eye-filling opera occasion would be hard to imagine than the "Aida" offered by the Metropolitan management in the Academy last night, possibly to relieve the dreadful "Aida" famine here, since this Verdi work had been given only three previous times in recent weeks by every company that has appeared in the city this season.

The ladies didn't lead in the opera honors on this occasion, if the unchivalrous truth be told. Giovanni Martinelli was the hero of the performance as well as the plot, singing with unlimited power and considerable beauty of voice in the role of Radames, one of his most congenial. He might not have been the star, had it not been that Elisabeth Rethberg was stricken by that familiar operatic aliment described as "indisposition." Her place was taken by Frances Peralta who has made an excellent impression here in the past, with her big soprano of strongly individual timbre and her commanding presence, but who last night deviated all too often from pitch, disclosed some unpleasant harsh tones in her upper register and did not always have the volume of her voice under control.

Jeanne Gordon as the vindictive Amneris was less striking vocally than in her Mack Sennett or "Follies" costume of a few beads that looked like a bit of Christmas tree decorations, and that allowed that even in ancient Egypt a princess of the blood might understand the art of "vamping."

Giuseppe Danise sang and acted with fervor and effectiveness as Amonasro, and enormous-voiced José Mardones gave unstinting interest to the part of the High Priest. Others were William Gustafson as the King, Laura Robertson as the priestess and Max Altglass as the messenger. The ballet constituted an important feature, especially one led by Florence Rudolph in the triumphal scene.

Since Tullio Serafin had not yet recovered from the automobile accident of last week, his place at the conductor's stand was taken by Giulio Setti who led competently and kept a good balance.



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