Metropolitan Opera Archives

A pleasing performance of Verdi's "La Traviata" was given at the Metropolitan Opera House last night, with a cast headed by Eide Norena, who made her initial appearance of the season in this third presentation of the work this Winter on the Broadway boards. As usually happens when the popular opera is staged, it attracted an audience of good size, which applauded fervidly after each of the favorite numbers of the melodious score.

Miss Norena was in her best vocal condition, and sang Violetta's music effectively and well. Hers was a more than ordinarily sympathetic and touching interpretation, which managed to realize the widely varied moods of the part in an engagingly simple and unaffected manner. The "Ah, fors' è lui" is not often heard nowadays with the expressive treatment of tone and phrase Miss Norena found possible to bring to its measures, and her vocalism in the "Dite alla giovine" and many another number was equally impressive. Occasionally, as in the final ornamental passages of the "Sempre libera," the tones were pushed in a way detrimental to tone and pitch, but such lapses were few in an otherwise admirable exhibition of song.

As the elder Germont, Richard Bonelli, who had not been heard here in the role before during the season, was laudably serious and earnest in his envisagement of the part. But his full, round tones often lacked the refinement expected in many a passage, and nowhere more than in "Di provenza il mar," which aria, however, was greeted with the customary hurricane of plaudits.

The rest of the personnel remained as at the previous performances, with the exception of Giordano Paltrinieri, the Gastone. It included Nino Martini, who again scored as Alfredo; and Thelma Votipka, Lucielle Browning, Wilfred Engelman, George Cehanovsky and Norman Cordon in minor roles. Ettore Panizza was the efficient conductor.

Review 2:

Review of Pitts Sanborn in the New York World-Telegram

Norena and Bonelli Sing in 'La Traviata'

Varying the season's casts for "La Traviata" at the Metropolitan Opera House, Eide Norena made her reentry last evening as Violetta and Richard Bonelli sang his first Giorgio Germont of the year.

Mme. Norena, though she started out not quite in the best of voice, did much requisite phrasing and shading. Her "Dite alla giovane" was especially memorable. She wore beautiful costumes and acted with dignity and charm.

Mr. Bonelli's singing was admirable in style. The other leading part, Alfredo, fell again to Nino Martini, who likewise gave pleasure through skill in phrasing and command of style. But his tones often sounded tense and throaty. Ettore Panizza conducted with taste and tact. The audience was very large and responsive.

Search by season: 1936-37

Search by title: La Traviata,

Met careers