Metropolitan Opera Archives

Maria Markan, Icelandic soprano, made her first operatic appearance at the Metropolitan as the Countess in last night's performance of Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro." The artist had been heard previously this season at two of the company's Sunday evening concerts, but had not before been allotted a stage role at the house. Because of illness, Bidú Sayão was unable to assume the part of Susanna, which was sung by Licia Albanese for the first time since last season.

Miss Markan had essayed the Countess's music in Germany and in Denmark before she was chosen by Fritz Busch to sing it under his direction at the Glyndebourne Festival in England. In spite of this experience in the work she was obviously too nervous to do herself full justice last night. It was doubtless due to this circumstance that in the two solos, "Porgi amor" and "Dove sono," as well as in the only other chief number assigned the Countess, the "Zephyr" duet with Susanna, Miss Markan's tones were consistently marred by a pronounced tremolo and often wandered from pitch.

In the ensembles and the recitatives elsewhere during the opera Miss Markan had herself under better control, with resultant gain in vocal steadiness and correct intonation.

Miss Albanese's Susanna lacked sparkle and variety, and vocally she was not up to her usual standard in the Mozart score, which did not suit her. Her tones sounded thin, white and hard, but she sang accurately and with spirit.

The rest of the cast had all appeared in the work at earlier presentations this season. It included Ezio Pinza as Figaro; John Brownlee as the Count; Jarmila Novotna as Cherubino; Salvatore Baccaloni as Bartolo; Irra Petina as Marcellina, and Alessio de Paolis, George Rasely, Louis d'Angelo and Marita Farell in minor roles. Ettore Panizza conducted.

Fifty-six service men from the Army and Navy occupied the Metropolitan Opera Guild's box as guest of Mrs. Joseph B. Long, the Guild's vice chairman, who had extended an invitation to them through the Mayor's recreational committee for national defense, of which Mrs. Julius Ochs Adler is chairman.

Search by season: 1941-42

Search by title: Le Nozze di Figaro,

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