[Met Performance] CID:128390



Pelléas et Mélisande
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, March 13, 1940




Pelléas et Mélisande (34)
Claude Debussy | Maurice Maeterlinck
Pelléas
Georges Cathelat [Last performance]

Mélisande
Helen Jepson

Golaud
John Brownlee

Arkel
Alexander Kipnis

Geneviève
Doris Doe

Yniold
Natalie Bodanya

Physician
Nicola Moscona


Conductor
Erich Leinsdorf







Review 1:

Review of Francis D. Perkins in the Herald Tribune

Metropolitan Repeats "Pelléas et Mélisande"

Cathelat Again Heard in Debussy Opera Role

Debussy's "Pelléas et Mélisande" had its second and last performance of the season at the Metropolitan Opera House last night with the same cast which had reintroduced it to this stage six days before. Georges Cathelat repeated a sensitive interpretation of Pelléas which indicated understanding of the expressive significance of Debussy's music, and Maeterlinck's drama, and John Brownlee again was a dramatically convincing Golaud.

Helen Jepson's Mélisande proved to be more persuasive than before, although something was still to be desired in the portrayal of a role which requires a singing actress of exceptional discernment and command of emotional nuance for a satisfying realization. Alexander Kipnis's Arkel showed a considerable interpretive gain, and the orchestral interpretation under Mr. Leinsdorf, despite some moments of undue sonority in relation to the voices, had profited by increasing acquaintance with the incomparable score. Doris Doe as Genevieve, and Natalie Bodanya, as Yniold, did laudable work; Nicola Moscona reappeared as the physician.

The artists and the conductor were fervently applauded by an audience which had listened with notable absorbed attentiveness.



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