[Met Performance] CID:130760



Otello
Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, February 3, 1941




Otello (77)
Giuseppe Verdi | Arrigo Boito
Otello
Giovanni Martinelli

Desdemona
Elisabeth Rethberg

Iago
Lawrence Tibbett

Emilia
Thelma Votipka

Cassio
Alessio De Paolis

Lodovico
Nicola Moscona

Montàno
George Cehanovsky

Roderigo
John Dudley

Herald
Wilfred Engelman


Conductor
Ettore Panizza







Review 1:

Review of Louis Biancolli in the World-Telegram

Rethberg Back at Met

Verdi's "Otello" drew a huge gathering to the Metropolitan Opera House last night. The applause for all and sundry was proportionate.

The one change of cast was the return of Elisabeth Rethberg to the role of Desdemona. Giovanni Martinelli was again the jealousy-crazed Moor and Lawrence Tibbett the scheming Iago. Ettore Panizza conducted.

For a good part of the first three acts Mme. Rethberg was uneven. In one or two places the orchestra completely engulfed her. Each of the acts had its compensating quota of lovely singing, however.

With the fourth act she improved tenfold. Constricted top tones were a thing of the past, and the "Willow Song" enjoyed a smoothly poised delivery. Still, it was small-scale vocalism.

But then Messrs. Martinelli and Tibbett also came within small-scale measurements, at least regarding voice. Both operated on a reduced vocal budget, and outlays - especially in the upper brackets - were modest.

The singing in piano and pianissimo passages, though, was the more compelling, as if to make up for dynamic economy in the recurring moments of stress.

As a matter of fact, except for the orchestra and chorus, "Otello" last night, considered as sheer sound, was reduced to chamber opera dimensions.

Alessio de Paolis was the Cassio and Thelma Votipka the Emilia.



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