[Met Performance] CID:150060



Falstaff
Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, March 7, 1949




Falstaff (66)
Giuseppe Verdi | Arrigo Boito
Sir John Falstaff
Leonard Warren

Alice Ford
Regina Resnik

Ford
Giuseppe Valdengo

Dame Quickly
Cloe Elmo

Nannetta
Licia Albanese

Fenton
Giuseppe Di Stefano

Meg Page
Martha Lipton

Dr. Cajus
Leslie Chabay

Bardolfo
Alessio De Paolis

Pistola
Lorenzo Alvary

Innkeeper
Ludwig Burgstaller


Conductor
Fritz Reiner







Review 1:

Louis Biancolli in the World-Telegram

‘Falstaff’ Adds Credit To Reiner

 

Dropping in on the season’s third and last showing of “Falstaff” at the Metropolitan last night, I found both the production and opera more exciting than at the matinee revival two weeks ago.

 

Still at the top of the merit list is Fritz Reiner. If the earlier revival of Richard Strauss’s “Salome” was the man’s certificate of power, the bringing back to currency of Verdi’s comic masterpiece is a triumph of finesse.

 

I was even more aware last night of the fine application of subtlety that has gone into the performance. This score is one brimming web of sly effect and ironic innuendo, and nowhere does Mr. Reiner slur over the details.

 

It pays to keep your ears open at all times during “Falstaff.” I noticed again last night that any wandering of attention is likely to cheat you some probing commentary in the orchestra  -- or some shrewd twist in the vocal line.

 

Verdi gave this opera the benefit of a half century of opera practice. It is the master’s final payoff in polished artistry. No opera score since has carried polyphonic subtlety to such lengths and still remained good theater.

 

And good theater “Falstaff” unquestionably is. Mr. Reiner’s grip of the central core of the drama was again apparent last night.

 

I may be wrong, but I thought Leonard Warren had toned down some of the earlier buffoonery in last night’s rendering.

 

And I was once more impressed by the slick teamwork of Mmes. Resnik, Albanese, Elmo and Lipton in the whispery intricacies that murmur though Verdi’s magic web of sound.



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