[Met Performance] CID:138400



Rigoletto
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, January 3, 1945




Rigoletto (257)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave
Rigoletto
Leonard Warren

Gilda
Josephine Antoine

Duke of Mantua
Bruno Landi

Maddalena
Anna Kaskas

Sparafucile
Nicola Moscona

Monterone
William Hargrave

Borsa
Alessio De Paolis

Marullo
George Cehanovsky

Count Ceprano
Walter Cassel

Countess Ceprano
Maxine Stellman

Giovanna
Thelma Altman


Conductor
Cesare Sodero







Review 1:

Review of Louis Biancolli in the New York World Telegram and Sun

Leonard Warren Sings 'Rigoletto' Title Role

Leonard Warren returned to the title role of "Rigoletto" last night, rounding out a year since he first portrayed Verdi's tragic misfit at the Metropolitan. The part suits the troupe's baritone-of-the-hour in all ways. Music and action give him scope for showing varied talents and they add up to quite a sum, as you know, if you've seen and heard him in best operatic stride. When the part is handled the way it was last night you realize why Verdi gave the crippled jester's name to the opera. Things not only centered in Rigoletto; they gained force and pace from the aching wag with the hollow laugh.

Mr. Warren's Version.

The role can be exaggerated, with Rigoletto limping strenuously in stock style and making Wizard-of-Oz faces at everybody in the Duke's playboy entourage. The more credit, then, for keeping it human and believable. For Mr. Warren's version was human, never monstrous, though you must admit Gilda's father does get himself into some ugly business before Nemesis turns on him. The father always dominated the scoundrel in last night's portrayal. Mr. Warren's singing was along lines he laid down some time ago. Barring over-cautious phrasing in Act III, the voice rang out in clarion style and where shading was needed, there was shading.

Others in Cast.

Last August while singing Rigoletto in Rio Mr. Warren sprained an ankle in the first scene, when his foot caught in a hole in the stage. Verdi calls for hobbling in the part. So Rigoletto wasn't faking it that night. The limping last night was strictly according to text, neither more nor less. Not that casualties didn't occur. Both Charles Kullman and Virgilio Lazzari had come down with colds - indisposed was the word - being replaced on short notice by Bruno Landi (the Duke) and Nicola Moscona (Sparafucile). Both co-operated smoothly in the rendering. Josephine Antoine repeated her performance of Gilda. Anna Kaskas sang Maddalena and Cesare Sodero conducted as if Verdi's music flowed in his veins.



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