Metropolitan Opera Archives

With Fritz Busch in charge for the first time this season, the fourth "Meistersinger" glowed with?tonal warmth and moved with vital rhythmic impulse It is remarkable to observe the sudden improvement in the Metropolitan orchestra under a conductor who knows what he has a right to expect from the players and who has the technical authority to stimulate their responsiveness. The members of the cast, all of whom had appeared in earlier representations, also warmed anew to their tasks. Joel Berglund, who had seemed hoarse and tired in the Dec. 12 performance. sang the music of Hans Sachs richly and freely, and appeared to be in better vocal estate than at any time since his first American appearances in this same role in Chicago in 1938. Torsten Ralf, a capable but wholly unimaginative Walther, was also in thoroughly tractable voice. Singing the part for the third time here, Polyna Stoska showed greater confidence as Eva, but it is plain that her lovely soprano has not yet developed its full resonance, since it often becomes white and pallid. The other chief participants were Margaret Harshaw, Deszo Ernster, John Garris, Gerhard Pechner (who is developing the disturbing habit of making a bid for applause by hamming up his comic acting as Beckmesser) and Mack Harrell, who resumed his masterly portrait of Kothner.

Search by season: 1947-48

Search by title: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg,

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