[Met Performance] CID:138040



La Bohème
Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, December 1, 1944

Debut : Hugh Thompson




La Bohème (375)
Giacomo Puccini | Luigi Illica/Giuseppe Giacosa
Mimì
Grace Moore

Rodolfo
Jan Peerce

Musetta
Frances Greer

Marcello
John Brownlee

Schaunard
Hugh Thompson [Debut]

Colline
Norman Cordon

Alcindoro/Benoit
Salvatore Baccaloni

Parpignol
Lodovico Oliviero

Sergeant
John Baker


Conductor
Cesare Sodero


Director
Désiré Defrère

Costume Designer
Blaschke & Cie





La Bohème received ten performances this season.

Review 1:

Review of Oscar Thompson in the Sun

"BOHÈME" IS SUNG AT METROPOLITAN

A heart-warming performance of "La Bohème" was given at the Metropolitan Opera House last night. The familiar solos were only moderately well sung, but the ensemble had spirit and musicanship. The Bohemians may not have been notable operatic personages individually, but they formed an engaging group. Their acting had the kind of teamwork that has been all too rarely witnessed at the Metropolitan, and their singing gained rather than lost in expressive appeal, because there was no one voice - at least among the men - that stood out before the others.

Grace Moore as Mimi was the possible exception to what was otherwise a no-star cast. Though not in her best vocal condition, as some flatted high notes tended to show, she used her ample soprano sympathetically and melodiously. Whether any midinette of Mimi's time would have worn the short skirts of Miss Moore's costumes may be doubted, but that was a detail that concerned most of the audience not at all. Miss Moore is a robust Mimi to die of a cough. But she died pathetically, and that is what matters of "La Bohème." Frances Greer was again an attractive and not at all vulgar Musetta. Light of voice, she still contrived to sing the waltz air persuasively.

Jan Peerce's Rodolfo was new to the Metropolitan, though he had sung the part in San Francisco. He and Miss Moore cut very short the high C of the end of the first act, presumable because one of them was in difficulties. But the tenor kept his role singing along altogether pleasantly. Mr. Brownlee would seem to have returned to the company in good voice. His Marcello was resonant and in the vein. The Colline of Norman Cordon was a capital characterization and his farewell to the coat was expressively sung.

A newcomer, Hugh Thompson, made a very successful debut as Schaunard. His voice is a good one, and for once the musician had the same operatic standing as the poet, the painter and the philosopher. Salvatore Baccaloni contributed two of his choicest comedy bits as Benoit and Alcindoro. John Baker was a sergeant. The orchestra was full in sound and played the lyrical Puccini score persuasively under Cesare Sodero. Desire Defrere had charge of the stage.

Photograph of Jan Peerce as Rodolfo in La Bohème.



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