Metropolitan Opera Archives

Although Gustave Carpentier could not have anticipated the effect when he wrote "Louise," each recurrence of it these days brings a new realization of the Paris which has temporarily ceased to be. The apostrophe of the Father, beautifully delivered last night by Ezio Pinza, to the soul of that city is now not merely poetry, but tragedy. And all the pictorial qualities which Charpentier mirrored so aptly in sound take on a new hue.

Grace Moore added another to the performances of "Louise" which have given her a singular stature at the Metropolitan in this role. One marveled somewhat at the smartness of her coiffure and the brightness of her garb on a seamstress's wage, but Parisians are notably adept in such matters. However, Miss Moore does sing the music eloquently, and her appearance can only be a source of envy for other prima donni. Last night's Julien was Charles Kullman, with Doris Doe as the Mother and Maxine Stellman given the brief spotlight of Irma in the dressmaking scene. Ettore Panizza was the able conductor.

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