Metropolitan Opera Archives

Louise received four performances this season.
Kirsten's Act IV costume was designed by David Laurence Roth.

Review 1:

Review of Francis D. Perkins in the Herald Tribune

"Louise"

First Performance of Season at Metropolitan

Charpentier's "Louise" had its first performance of the season at the Metropolitan Opera House with Dorothy Kirsten, who had first sung "Louise" when this work was revived a year ago, again in the title role. The three other principal and thirty-five more or less minor characters in the most popular cast of the current repertory also were assigned to singers who had appeared in them before, except for Paul Franke, doubling as a student and a carrot vender, and Jean Browning-Madeira, tripling as Marguerite, a street sweeper and a chair mender.

"Louise" continues to be a work of much melodic appeal and some musical banality; while its drama is somewhat conditioned by its period, its principal factors and emotions are limited to no particular era, and its dramatic appeal can be persuasive today to an extent depending upon the performance. Yesterday's performance had its merits, but the general impression made upon one listener and spectator was one that went only occasionally beyond the point of respectability. There were times when the interpretation as a whole lacked momentum, especially in the first act; there was a gain in vitality, but musical and dramatic conviction seemed apparent only from time to time under Emil Cooper's conductorship.

Miss Kirsten's singing was generally pleasing: the high notes, at their best, were clear and firm, but the tonal standard varied; the dramatic interpretation had its likable features but did not give the sense of a complete realization of the character. Mr. Kullman, singing very creditably despite certain vocal limitations, was usually convincing as Julien; Miss Harshaw characterized Louise's mother with considerable vitality if with a touch of shrewishness in the first act. Mr. Brownlee, in that scene, was a kindly father, whose singing would have gained by a wider range of color. Several of the minor parts were effectively characterized.

Search by season: 1948-49

Search by title: Louise,

Met careers