[Met Tour] CID:138390



Lohengrin
American Academy of Music, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Tue, January 2, 1945




Lohengrin (460)
Richard Wagner | Richard Wagner
Lohengrin
Lauritz Melchior

Elsa
Rose Bampton

Ortrud
Kerstin Thorborg

Telramund
Alexander Sved

King Heinrich
Norman Cordon

Herald
Mack Harrell

Noble
Morton Bowe

Noble
Richard Manning

Noble
William Hargrave

Noble
Philip Whitfield


Conductor
Erich Leinsdorf







Review 1:

Review of Edwin H. Schloss in the Philadelphia Record

"Lohengrin" Sung at Academy

The Metropolitan Opera Association offered a performance of "Lohengrin" to a sold-out house in the Academy of Music last night.

It was the first production of Richard Wagner's earlier masterpiece sung here by the Met in three years, and while last night's publication was on the competent rather than the distinguished side, it served to remind one of what good "operatic theater "Lohengrin" is and how effectively the lyric and dramatic inspiration of the younger Wagner stands the wear of time - better, perhaps, than some of the heavier and more epic gorgeousness of his later scores.

Rose Bampton Queenly

Rose Bampton sang Elsa, making her first appearance here in a Wagnerian role, or, for that matter, her first appearance here in any role in too many seasons.

Miss Bampton looked queenly in the blond wig and virginal draperies of the unfortunate Princess of Brabant and sang beautifully if a bit unevenly, She was at her best in the more lyric moments of the part, where her voice showed the captivating freshness and ingratiating musical quality that have long distinguished it. In the dramatic peaks there was a tendency to force the tones, and a few high notes were sharply labored. There was also a recurrent vibrato. But these were, on the whole, minor details in what summed up to a sensitively phrased performance of great charm, dignity and competence.

Melchior is Lohengrin

Lauritz Melchior, a veteran Lohengrin, was in good voice and, in the all-enveloping robes and armor of the Knight of the Swan, in better figure than usual. As Wagnerian heroes go, Lohengrin is a relatively brief assignment, albeit one made exacting by being pitched largely in the upper register. There was no special occasion for the great Dane to save his voice last night, and the result was a ringing freshness of vocal performance that was a pleasure to hear.

Alexander Sved as Telramund and Kerstin Thorborg as Ortrud were practiced and highly acceptable in two rather ungrateful parts. Norman Cordon as King Henry disclosed a pleasant voice a bit light for the regal sonorities of the assignment, and Mack Harrell sang the Herald.

Under Erich Leinsdorf's able and solicitous direction, the Metropolitan orchestra played up to its highest standards. And the choruses with which the opera is so bountifully and beautifully endowed sounded well - courtesy of Chorus Master Konrad Neuger.



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