[Met Performance] CID:120640



Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, February 8, 1937




Les Contes d'Hoffmann (56)
Jacques Offenbach | Jules Barbier
Hoffmann
Sydney Rayner

Olympia
Stella Andreva

Giulietta
Helen Jepson

Antonia
Eidé Norena

Stella
Frances Walsingham

Lindorf/Coppélius/Dappertutto/Dr. Miracle
Lawrence Tibbett

Nicklausse
Irra Petina

Andrès/Cochenille/Pitichinaccio/Frantz
Angelo Badà

Luther
Arnold Gabor

Nathanael
George Rasely

Hermann
Wilfred Engelman

Spalanzani/Crespel
Louis D'Angelo

Schlemil
Norman Cordon

Mother's Voice
Anna Kaskas


Conductor
Maurice Abravanel







Review 1:

Review of Francis D. Perkins in the New York Herald Tribune

'Tales of Hoffmann' Sung

Helen Jepson New Giulietta at Metropolitan

Meanwhile the Metropolitan Opera House entered the second half of its regular season last night with the third performance of Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffmann." As in the first performance of this revival Sydney Rayner sang Hoffmann, with Irra Petina as the monitory Nicklausse and Stella Andreva as the mechanical Olympia, while there was a new Giulietta. This, according to original plans, would have been Gladys Swarthout, but her recent indisposition caused the assignment of the role to Helen Jepson, who also had not sung it here before.

Miss Jepson looked well as the Venetian siren and, after somewhat reserved singing in the Barcarolle, was generally in good vocal form for the remainder of a role which gives its interpreter a rather limited musical opportunity. Mr. Rayner in this act often sang with considerable vocal luxuriance, but sometimes with some tonal tautness. Eide Norena sang Antonia for the first time here. Lawrence Tibbett again represented the four characters detrimental to Hoffmann's hopes, and Anna Kaskas and Messrs. Bada, Cordon, Gabor, Rasely, Engelman and D'Angelo were the other singers under Maurice de Abravanel's direction.



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