Metropolitan Opera Archives

Mozart's "Don Giovanni" had its first performance of the season, and its ninth of Mr. Gatti-Casazza's regime, last night at the Metropolitan Opera House, with a familiar cast, including Ezio Pinza as the Don, Rosa Ponselle as Donna Anna, Maria Mueller as Donna Elvira, Editha Fleischer as Zerlina, Benimino Gigli as Don Ottavio, Pavel Ludikar as Leporello, Louis D'Angelo as Masetto and Leon Rothier as the Commendatore, whose statue accepts Don Giovanni's rash invitation to dinner.

Musically, the performance varied little from most of its predecessors since the Mozart opera re-entered the repertoire two years ago, after twenty-one years' absence. Miss Ponselle offered some delectable, well phrased singing, but did not always refrain from forcing her tones. Mme. Mueller's singing was often pleasing, but sometimes met its exacting task too vigorously, with hardness of the top notes. Among the women the most consistently meritorious singing of the evening was Miss Fleischer's. Mr. Pinza repeated his spirited interpretation of the Don, singing very acceptably in a role not entirely suited to his voice. Mr. Gigli was in good voice, while Mr. Ludikar and Mr. d'Angelo gave due contribution to the comic elements in da Ponte's libretto. Mr. Rothier sang the statue's lines in duly sonorous, portentous tones. Mr. Serafin conducted a coherent, smooth performance.

In the details of staging, the performance last night followed the lines of the 1929 revival, although it seemed that fewer of the arias and concerted numbers were sung before the inner curtain. The scene where the Don meets his doom was well handled, but although it is true that many quick shifts of scene are required, one wondered if Spanish buildings in Don Juan's time were as flexible as some of those on the opera stage last night seemed to indicate. A good-sized audience hailed the performance with due enthusiasm.

Search by season: 1931-32

Search by title: Don Giovanni,

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