[Met Performance] CID:149250



Mignon
Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, December 23, 1948




Mignon (100)
Ambroise Thomas | Jules Barbier/Michel Carré
Mignon
Risë Stevens

Wilhelm Meister
Giuseppe Di Stefano

Philine
Patrice Munsel

Lothario
Nicola Moscona

Frédéric
Jean Madeira

Laërte
Alessio De Paolis

Jarno
Osie Hawkins

Antonio
Lawrence Davidson

Dance
Marina Svetlova

Dance
Leon Varkas

Dance
Alfred Corvino

Dance
Richard Goltra


Conductor
Wilfred Pelletier







Review 1:

Review of Cecil Smith in Musical America

Three changes from the original cast of Dec. 3 marked the third performance of "Mignon." Giuseppe Di Stefano replaced James Melton as Wilhelm Meister; Patrice Munsel sang Philine, in place of Marilyn Cotlow; and Alessio De Paolis took over the part of Laerte from John Garris. Nicola Moscona, for whom Jerome Hines had substituted on Dec. 9, returned to the role of Lothario. Other familiar members of the cast were Rise Stevens, in the title role; Osie Hawkins; Jean Browning-Madeira; and Lawrence Davidson. Marina Svetlova, Leon Varkas, Alfredo Corvino, and Richard Goltra were soloists in the first-act ballet. Wilfred Pelletier again conducted, and Desire Defrère was again responsible for the lifeless stage direction.

Mr. Di Stefano possesses one of the most attractive tenor voices at the Metropolitan, though its volume is decidedly limited. In "Mignon," however, the young artist was only half effective most of the time. He may never have sung the role of Wilhelm Meister before, and he almost certainly had not sung it in French. The second-act aria, "Adieu, Mignon," had scarcely more than occasional agreeable moments. By the time his third-act opportunity, "Elle ne croyait pas," came along, he was more sure of himself, and gave some indication of the caressing vocalization his audiences hope he may be able to achieve in another year or two. It will probably take him longer to learn to act, for he displayed hardly more than the barest rudiments of the craft.

Miss Munsel's performance was rendered unsatisfactory by unstable tone production, rough and crude negotiation of florid passages, infidelity to pitch, and colorless acting. Mr. De Paolis, usually a striking delineator of character parts, was no more than a routine Laerte.

Miss Stevens, whose vocal art has taken a tremendous stride forward this season, sang with constantly expressive and beautiful tone, and provided an object lesson in quietly controlled, well schooled acting. Her Mignon is one of the finest achievements of her career.

Review 2:

Review of Irving Kolodin in the Sun

One of the Metropolitan's hidden assets came to light last night as Giuseppe Di Stefano sang Wilhelm Meister in "Mignon" for the first time anywhere in French. Though this is a tantalizing part for a tenor, with the ever present prospect that he will burst into sustained song only occasionally fulfilled, Di Stefano left but one question unanswered-why had he not sung it previously, especially in the broadcast'?

It was, altogether, a disarming piece of work, and in the "Addio" and "Romance," a thorough delight to hear. Di Stefano had himself much more in hand than at his few brilliant but uneven performances last season: moreover, he had his voice completely at his disposal, the pure open top, the warm resonant middle a vocal paradox in these days of tight, over-driven tenors. There were bravos for him both opportunely and inopportunely; plus the unspoken ones of a few for the virtues that were more than vocal -- his good bearing, good manners and good looks. If they continue to go together his future is assured.

Another change of cast more dubious in value, found Patrice Munsel singing Philine, a part to which she is no stranger here. Vivacious enough for all the needs of the role, her singing was extremely erratic --- quavery in its sound, uncertain in pitch, with an occasional burst of steely, pinched tones to make her admirers ecstatic. "Je suis Titania" was treated to a cadenza which carried to a high, brief E fiat but one would have relished a little more suavity and finesse in the conventional measures. Rise Stevens (Mignon) and Nicola Moscona (Lothario), were heard again. Wilfred Pelletier conducted.



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