Metropolitan Opera Archives

A triple bill, consisting of Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana," Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci" and the ballet "The Bat" was offered at the Metropolitan Opera House last night. Chief interest centered about the assumption of the part of Santuzza in the Mascagni opera for the first time here by Hilda Burke. She replaced Rosa Ponselle who was ill. Miss Burke sang her music in admirable fashion. Her upper register, excepting for an occasional insufficiently supported tone, had both brilliancy and warmth and she disclosed no little intensity of feeling. Her acting was intelligently planned and convincing and happily free from melodramatic touches.

Associated with her in the cast were Frederick Jagel, as Turiddu, Irra Petina, as Lola, Carlo Morelli, as Alfio, and Anna Kaskas, as Lucia, all of whom have been heard before in those roles.

The cast of the "Pagliacci" was a familiar one with Queena Mario, as Nedda, Arthur Carron, as Canio, John Charles Thomas, as Tonio, Giordano Paltrinieri, as Beppe, and George Cehanovsky, as Silvio. Mr. Papi conducted the operas. "The Bat," which was danced by the American Ballet Ensemble, was directed by Mr. Pelletier.

Search by season: 1936-37

Search by title: Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci, The Bat,

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