[Met Performance] CID:122790



Aida
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, February 2, 1938




Aida (420)
Giuseppe Verdi | Antonio Ghislanzoni
Aida
Zinka Milanov

Radamès
Giovanni Martinelli

Amneris
Bruna Castagna

Amonasro
Carlo Tagliabue

Ramfis
Nicola Moscona

King
Norman Cordon

Messenger
Giordano Paltrinieri

Priestess
Maxine Stellman

Dance
Elise Reiman


Conductor
Ettore Panizza







Review 1:

Review of Pitts Sanborn in the World-Telegram

Zinka Milanov Sings Before Big Audience

A repetition of "Aida' at the Metropolitan Opera House last evening received its fillip from the first appearance here of Zinka Milanov in the name part. It was also the first time Mme. Milanov had sung the role in Italian - only her second Metropolitan role, furthermore. The audience was exceedingly large.

Phrases Delivered Beautifully

There were phrases that she delivered beautifully; yet so pronounced were the inequalities of her singing as to suggest that her preparation of the part for a house of the high "Aida" traditions of the Metropolitan had largely been neglected.

A striking case in point was her treatment of the second verse of "O cieli assuri," the like of which could scarcely have been heard in the house before and probably never will be again from any other singer. However, Mme. Milanov's vocal potentialities are none the less rich. The problems of costuming and acting the Ethiopian Princess have rarely seemed more baffling.

Otherwise the cast was more or less familiar except for Maxine Stellman, who made her debut as a Metropolitan winter singer in the invisible role of the priestess. Carlo Tagliabue, who earlier in the season had made in this opera his North American debut, appeared again as Amonasro, singing with a gratifying authentic style as well as adequate voice and acting acceptably, though his make-up was appalling.

Martinelli as Radames

Giovanni Martinelli provided the trustworthy Radames of years standing and Norman Cordon and Nicolas Moscona bore with dignity the burdens of Kling and High Priest.

Still, the feature of the occasion was the Amneris of Bruna Castagna, vividly dramatic and quite superbly sung. Ettore Panizza conducted, sometimes faster than the fast.



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