Metropolitan Opera Archives

Frederick Jagel added another role to his large repertoire and another chapter to the annals of his last-minute replacements when he appeared as Admetus [Admète] last night in the fifth and final "Alceste" of the Metropolitan Opera season. He took the role on nine hours notice after René Maison notified Edward Johnson that laryngitis made it impossible for him to sing.

The replacement was not as adventurous as the one Mr. Jagel made in November, 1937, when he had to go by plane 751 miles to Chicago to sing the role of Pollione in "Norma," or as sudden as when he took up the role of Radames when Giovanni Martinelli collapsed during the first act three years ago. But it had its drama nevertheless, for those were roles he had sung before, while this was one he had never sung. In fact, he only learned the role understudying Mr. Maison and the only times he had rehearsed it with the orchestra were when Mr. Maison was indisposed during rehearsals.

Last night, however, Mr. Jagel showed no sign of nervousness or faltering and if it had not been for the printed notices given out with the programs the average member of the audience would never have known he had not had the role in his repertoire for years. His singing was commendable throughout the evening, but it is not a role to which he is particularly well suited, for his voice is essentially lyric, whereas the part requires a tenor with a more dramatic voice.

The other members of the cast were those who had appeared in the opera previously. Marjorie Lawrence sang the title role for the third time, Leonard Warren was the High Priest, Alessio de Paolis was Evander, Arthur Kent was Apollo and Marita Farrel, Maxine Stellman, Helen Olheim and Wilfred Engelman were leaders of the people. Ettore Panizza conducted.

Search by season: 1940-41

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