[Met Performance] CID:92630



La Bohème
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, March 3, 1926




La Bohème (231)
Giacomo Puccini | Luigi Illica/Giuseppe Giacosa
Mimì
Maria Müller

Rodolfo
Beniamino Gigli

Musetta
Louise Hunter

Marcello
Antonio Scotti

Schaunard
Millo Picco

Colline
José Mardones

Benoit
Paolo Ananian

Alcindoro
Pompilio Malatesta

Parpignol
Max Altglass

Sergeant
Arnold Gabor


Conductor
Gennaro Papi







Review 1:

Review of W. J. Henderson in the Sun

'La Bohème' at the Metropolitan

Gigli as Rodolfo and Miss Müller as Mimi Win Applause in Puccini Work

A performance of Puccini's "La Bohème" is not a cause for public excitement. When the familiar work was repeated at the Metropolitan Opera house last evening it moved along with smoothness and certainty. No one sat up waiting for anything extraordinary and no one was astonished. Yet there was a large audience and numerous manifestations of delight. There was some prolonged and deep-throated applause for Mr. Gigli, who sang Rodolfo, and there was some approbation for Miss Müller, who was the Mimi.

The soprano had been obliged to sing in Philadelphia on the previous night and might have been expected to be in bad condition last evening. The freshness of her voice was remarkable under the circumstances. Miss Müller is young and has not yet rounded out her technic. She has the desirable quality of voice for the lyric repertoire and in Mimi displays traits which promise well for her future.

For example, it is not too often that opera goers hear a voice so well suited to the narrative of the first act, yet in her delivery of it the young singer betrays inability to control the upper tones which are so essential. It will doubtless require several years for Miss Müller to acquire that placing of those tones which is needed for a completion of her equipment. The color of her voice is naturally warm and sympathetic and in the medium this color comes out well. She is new to Italian, but is doing well with it.

Mr. Gigli, as noted, was the Rodolfo, and for him this is indeed a grateful role. He sang very well last evening and the audience responded swiftly. Mr. Scotti was the Marcello, a role in which his ripe stage experience is advantageous. Miss Louise Hunter, one of the most useful of the minor members of the company, was charming as Musetta and gave her full contribution in the second act. Mr. Mardones as Colline and Mr. Picco as Schaunard were other principals. Mr. Papi conducted discretely.



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