Metropolitan Opera Archives

If there are many more debuts of young American artists on Mr. Gatti's roster of events for the remainder of the opera season home life west of the Hudson will be in serious danger of disintegrating. Nowadays industries stand idle, corporations cease functioning; home and clubs remain empty and railroads inaugurate special service to speed the operatic hosts on to New York.

Thus the performance of Giordano's "Andrea Chenier" at the Metropolitan last night served to introduce a young American singer, Miss Dorthea Flexner, in the brief role of the old mother who offers her son to the revolutionary court in the third act. This young woman, who has studied in Boston, possesses a pleasant contralto voice and comes from Allentown, Pa. There were large and enthusiastic delegations of Allentown citizenry in the audience last night.

Miss Flexner's appearance was a brief one and comment on her vocal art must be considered with that in mind. She will countless have greater opportunities for vocal display in the near future. She sang intelligently and with good intonation. Her voice was rather darkly colored; in fact, it was marked by its "covered" tone, and the emotional conviction of her role suffered somewhat in consequence. But Miss Flexner has vocal material which ought to prove of value in operatic work. The audience, which gave generously of genuine applause, very evidently liked her.

The other event of the evening was the sudden indisposition of Miss Rosa Ponselle prior to the performance. Her usual duties as Madeleine were assumed by Mme. Peralta, who, under the circumstances, sang well, if very discretely, and carried conviction in her part. Mr. Gigli, of course, was in the title role, which seems made for him; and Mr. de Luca as Gerard doubled as an efficient butler and a convincing revolutionary. Mr. Picco as Roucher outdid himself vocally, and sang with fine color and effect. Mme. Bourskaya was the Countess, and the rest of the cast included a list of familiar favorites. Mr. Serafin conducted.

Search by season: 1925-26

Search by title: Andrea Chénier,

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