Metropolitan Opera Archives

Hjoerdis Schymberg, Swedish soprano, who had not sung before in this country, made her Metropolitan debut as Susanna in last night's performance of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro." All of the other members of the cast were familiar in their respective roles, except Martha Lipton, who assumed the part of Cherubino for the first time, replacing Rise Stevens, originally slated, but indisposed.

Miss Schymberg boasted an unusually attractive stage presence. Comely, petite and graceful, she was an ideal Susanna to the eye. Her impersonation was refined and filled with the spirit of youth. She brought the needed vivacity and sly humor to her interpretation and gave it real human appeal in a natural and unaffected way that won immediate favor with the large audience.

It would not be fair to the new artist to make any final sort of judgment of her vocal ability from her work in this opera. That will have to wait until she has appeared in at least one of the coloratura roles for which she is scheduled during the season. Last night the voice sounded light for so large an auditorium. For the most part, it was spread white and unsupported, but it improved in quality as the opera progressed and all of the singing was accurate and assured.

Miss Lipton delivered Cherubino's music with tonal warmth and skill and entered fully into the spirit of the work. Others included Ezio Pinza as Figaro, John Brownlee as Count Almaviva, Eleanor Steber as the Countess, Salvatore Baccaloni as Bartolo, and Claramae Turner, Alessio de Paolis, Leslie Chabay, Lorenzo Alvary and Marita Farell in lesser roles. Fritz Busch conducted

Search by season: 1946-47

Search by title: Le Nozze di Figaro,

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