[Met Performance] CID:132970



Rigoletto
Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, February 12, 1942




Rigoletto (245)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave
Rigoletto
Frank Valentino

Gilda
Hilde Reggiani

Duke of Mantua
Jan Peerce

Maddalena
Bruna Castagna

Sparafucile
Nicola Moscona

Monterone
Lansing Hatfield

Borsa
Alessio De Paolis

Marullo
George Cehanovsky

Count Ceprano
Arthur Kent

Countess Ceprano
Maxine Stellman

Giovanna
Thelma Votipka

Page
Edith Herlick


Conductor
Ettore Panizza







Review 1:

Review of Noel Strauss in The New York Times

Valentino in "Rigoletto"

At last night's performance of Verdi's "Rigoletto" at the Metropolitan the name part was assumed by Francesco Valentino for the first time at the house. The baritone sang with pronounced dramatic intensity, and his capable acting was in line with the established traditions of the role.

Mr. Valentino was vocally at his best in the third act duet, "Piangi, fanciulla," where he avoided the driven sort of production that resulted in spread tones in many passages of the "Pari siamo" and "Cortigiani, vil razza dannata" monologues. In the duet mentioned the voice possessed admirable quality and was knowingly employed.

More of the continence displayed here would have benefited the artist's work as a whole, which despite its competence, suffered from keeping the singing and acting on too constantly tense an emotional level. Mr. Valentino's voice has plenty of warmth and resonance without the pushing resorted to, which blemished what otherwise would have been a superior negotiation of Rigoletto's music. The fire and ardor of his singing, however, swept all before it and brought him a big ovation after the third act.

The other principals were all familiar in their roles, including Hilde Reggiani as Gilda, Jan Peerce as the Duke, Nicola Moscona as Sparafucile, Bruna Castagna as Maddalena, and Lansing Hartfield as Monterone. Ettore Panizza conducted.



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