[Met Tour] CID:96330



Il Trovatore
Lyric Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, Tue, April 19, 1927




Il Trovatore (155)
Giuseppe Verdi | Salvatore Cammarano
Manrico
Giovanni Martinelli

Leonora
Rosa Ponselle

Count Di Luna
Mario Basiola

Azucena
Julia Claussen

Ferrando
Léon Rothier

Ines
Minnie Egener

Ruiz
Giordano Paltrinieri

Gypsy
Vincenzo Reschiglian


Conductor
Tullio Serafin







Review 1:

Review in the Baltimore Sun

'IL TROVATORE' PRESENTED BY METROPOLITAN

Rosa Ponselle and Giovanni Martinelli Sing Leading Roles

HUNDREDS STAND AT PERFORMANCE

Musical and Artistic Success of 'Turandot' is Duplicated

Duplicating its musical and artistic success of the previous night, the Metropolitan Opera Company last night presented Verdi's "Il Trovatore" at the Lyric with Rosa Ponselle singing the role of Leonora and Giovanni Martinelli in the role of Manrico.

The tuneful opera, the arias of which are known the world over, and have been recorded on every type of reproducing musical instrument, had not been sung in Baltimore by a major company in many years, Therefore, it was not a surprise that the entire auditorium was sold out before the first curtain and hundreds of persons stood through the four acts and eight scenes.

Scenic Splendor Repeated

The same scenic splendor and elaborateness that surrounded the performance of "Turandot" Monday night was in evidence. As is characteristic with the Metropolitan, not the slightest detail was overlooked by its stage, electrical or mechanical staff.

The great success of the opera last night and "Turandot" Monday night forecasts a similar triumphant production tonight when Amelita Galli-Curci, with a galaxy of vocal stars, will sing Verdi's "Rigoletto," which is as familiar to the general public as last night's work. The prima donna tonight will be supported by Beniamino Gigli, Giuseppe De Luca, who created a great impression Monday night, Ina Bourskaya, Ezio Pinza and others of equal rank.

Her First Appearance Here

Miss Ponselle never had been heard in opera in Baltimore. Therefore, her appearance, her Baltimore premiere, had been looked for with interest. Those who came with great expectations were not disappointed. Neither could they find the least complaint in the masterful work of Martinelli, a "robusto" tenor, Julia Claussen, a mezzo-soprano, who filled admirably the difficult and taxing role of Azucena, or in the Ferrando of Leon Rothier or the Count di Luna of Mario Basiola.

Tullio Serafin, the chief conductor of the company, again was at the desk in the orchestra pit, giving a reading of the score that brought into it a new life. The chorus, particularly in the ever-famous "Anvil Chorus" which opened the second act, was precise in attack and responded wonderfully to every movement of the conductor's baton. The ballet music was delightfully interpreted by a large "corps de ballet."

Company Upholds Reputation

In a word, the Metropolitan lived up to its reputation of being the foremost operatic organization in the country if not in the world. It is this that packed the auditorium of the Lyric last night. There were some who went to hear Miss Ponselle, Martinelli and others; some who wished to become acquainted again with the time-honored melodies of the score (and few operas there are that are so replete with melodies), but the majority went to hear and see a Metropolitan production and they came away with all expectations fulfilled.



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