[Met Concert or Gala] CID:134340



Grand Gala Concert
Metropolitan Opera House, Sun, December 27, 1942




Grand Gala Concert



Metropolitan Opera House
December 27, 1942

GRAND GALA CONCERT

Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Overture

Manon: St. Sulpice Scene (In Costume)
Manon...................Jarmila Novotna
Des Grieux..............Charles Kullman
Count des Grieux........Norman Cordon

Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetée
Frederick Jagel

Conductor...............Thomas Beecham


Tannhäuser: Overture

Tannhäuser: Bacchanale and Venusberg Scene (In Costume)
Venus...................Marjorie Lawrence
Tannhäuser..............Lauritz Melchior
Bacchanale:
Michael Arshansky, Alexis Dolinoff, Jack Gansert, Corps de Ballet
Three Graces: Ruthanna Boris, Monna Montes, Nina Youskevitch

Conductor...............Erich Leinsdorf


Die Zauberflöte: Act II, Scene 8
Papagena.................Lillian Raymondi
Papageno.................John Brownlee
Genie....................Marita Farell
Genie....................Mona Paulee
Genie....................Helen Olheim

Conductor...............Paul Breisach


Il Barbiere di Siviglia: La calunnia
Ezio Pinza

Conductor...............Cesare Sodero


Rigoletto: Caro nome
Lily Pons

Conductor...............Paul Breisach


La Traviata: Act II, Scene 1 (In Costume)
Violetta................Licia Albanese
Annina..................Helen Olheim
Alfredo.................James Melton
Germont.................Lawrence Tibbett

Conductor...............Cesare Sodero

Director................Désiré Defrère
Choreographer...........Laurent Novikoff

[This performance was presented in tribute to the courageous spirit of Marjorie Lawrence, who in 1941 was stricken by polio.]









Review 1:

Review in The New York Times

Miss Lawrence Gets 3-Minute Ovation Upon Her Return to the Metropolitan

An audience of 3,800 crowded the Metropolitan Opera House last night for the "Grand Gala Concert" given there "in tribute to the courageous spirit" of Marjorie Lawrence by her Metropolitan opera colleagues. It was Miss Lawrence's first appearance at the Metropolitan since March, 1941. She received a three-minute ovation at the end of her scene.

It was the Venusberg scene from Wagner's "Tannhaeuser" and the soprano was able to appear in it because Venus sings reclining on her throne. As the curtains closed the applause broke out loudly. Then the curtains lifted again. Lauritz Melchior was seen with the singer. When he left the stage the applause increased in volume for the soprano, who was stricken with paralysis in June, 1940. Bravos were added.

When the curtains rose again many members of the ballet were on the stage applauding the singer. During the third curtain call Edward Johnson, Erich Leinsdorf, Frederick Jagel, Desire Defrere and Antonio Dell'Orefice all came m the stage to congratulate her. The house lights went on, but still the applause continued, a large part of the audience standing to cheer.

Sir Thomas Beecham opened the concert with Nicolai's overture to "The Merry Wives of Windsor." Then Sir Thomas conducted Jarmila Novotna, Charles Kullman and Norman Gordon in the St. Sulpice scene from "Manon," which was given in costume, and Jagel in the flower scene from "Carmen," which was given as a concert aria. The first part concluded with the "Tannhaeuser" excerpt, which was also in costume.

The second half opened with the scene from "The Magic Flute" in which Papageno, sung by John Brownlee, finally won Papagena, sung by Lillian Raymondi. This was in costume. Then two more concert arias, "La Calumnia" from "The Barber of Seville" sung by Ezio Pinza and "Caro Nome" from "Rigoletto" sung by Lily Pons. The evening was concluded with the second act of "La Traviata," which was conducted by Cesare Sodero with Licia Albanese, Lawrence Tibbett and James Melton in the leading roles.



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