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[Met Performance] CID:120360



Samson et Dalila
Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, January 18, 1937









Review 1:

Review in the Sun

'Samson et Dalila' Repeated at the Opera

The strong man of Israel, as sung and otherwise bodied forth by Rene Maison, pushed apart the pillars of the Temple of Dagon at the Metropolitan Opera House last night, when Saint-Saens's "Samson et Dalila" was repeated for the delectation of the Monday subscribers. In resonant voice, the bulky Belgian tenor again achieved the heroic proclamations of the [first] act more convincingly than he did the lyric supplications of the mill of Gaza scene. As Dalila, Gertrud Wettergren sought heroically to intensify the love-making under the palms of the nocturnal garden, but if new palpitations were added to the stage business there was more of vibrato than of caress in the phrases of "My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice." The one altered element of the performance was to be found in the higher or highest High Priest of Julius Huehn, who towered above even the tall Samson of the cast and fairly dwarfed his fellow Phillistines. His singing of the role had competence, if scarcely all that could be desired in tonal richness. Emanuel List was again the old Hebrew and other roles were cared for by John Gurney, Angelo Bada, Max Altglass and Wilfred Engelman as at the earlier representation. Maurice de Abravanel conducted. A large audience applauded heartedly and there was the customary parade of principals before the curtain.

Search by season: 1936-37

Search by title: Samson et Dalila,



Met careers

• Maurice Abravanel [Conductor]
• René Maison [Samson]
• Gertrud Wettergren [Dalila]
• Julius Huehn [High Priest]
• John Gurney [Abimélech]
• Emanuel List [Old Hebrew]
• Max Altglass [Philistine]
• Wilfred Engelman [Philistine]
• Angelo Badà [Messenger]
• Daphne Vane [Dance]