[Met Performance] CID:130580



Faust
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, January 18, 1941




Faust (428)
Charles Gounod | Jules Barbier/Michel Carré
Faust
Charles Kullman

Marguerite
Helen Jepson

Méphistophélès
Ezio Pinza

Valentin
Richard Bonelli

Siebel
Helen Olheim

Marthe
Thelma Votipka

Wagner
Wilfred Engelman

Dance
Lillian Moore

Dance
Josef Levinoff


Conductor
Wilfred Pelletier







Review 1:

Review of Robert Lawrence in the Herald Tribune

"Faust" at Metropolitan for 2nd Time This Season

Kullman, Bonelli and Helen Jepson Heard in Gounod Opera

An unusually expressive performance of "Faust" was given last night at the Metropolitan Opera House. In the second mounting this season of Gounod's masterpiece, Charles Kullman sang the title role, with Helen Jepson as Marguerite and Ezio Pinza as Mephistopheles. One of the outstanding features of the evening was the singing of Richard Bonelli, who replaced Leonard Warren as Valentin.

The noted barytone was in best form. Not often does one hear so convincing a presentation of Valentin's death scene. Mr. Bonelli's sense of the stage has grown tremendously within the past year, and with the aid of a first-class voice he offered a memorable characterization.

Charles Kullman, singing his first Faust of the season, was also in fine condition. The feeling of strain which has been remarked in some of his recent appearances was not present last night. His voice seemed fresh and flexible, his acting convincing. Helen Jepson, the Marguerite, rose to an unexpected degree of eloquence in the final trio, and her whole performance bore evidence of improved understanding.

Thelma Votipka was as usual an excellent Marthe, Helen Olheim appeared as Siebel (owing to another assignment, the reviewer missed her Flower Song), with Wilfred Engelman as Wagner, and Ezio Pinza, in the role of Mephistopheles, achieved such splendid singing and acting that it was hard to understand his tasteless bow in the middle of the third act, after the Serenade. Wilfred Pelletier, leading a well paced performance, contributed much of the pleasure brought by last evening.



Search by season: 1940-41

Search by title: Faust,



Met careers