[Met Performance] CID:152920



Aida
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, February 18, 1950




Aida (518)
Giuseppe Verdi | Antonio Ghislanzoni
Aida
Gertrude Ribla

Radamès
Kurt Baum

Amneris
Margaret Harshaw

Amonasro
Robert Merrill

Ramfis
Nicola Moscona

King
Philip Kinsman

Messenger
Leslie Chabay

Priestess
Thelma Votipka

Dance
Lorraine Ammerman

Dance
Barbara Hausler

Dance
Audrey Keane

Dance
Elissa Minet

Dance
Leon Varkas


Conductor
Emil Cooper







Review 1:

James Hinton, Jr. in Musical America

The final performance of the thirteenth week at the Metropolitan brought Gertrude Ribla's first appearance of the season in the title role of Verdi's “Aida,” in which she had made so successful a debut with the company last season. Her performance again had the dramatic cogency and power that can come only from a singing actress of high intelligence and warm, controlled temperament. She was never out of character, and was at all times entirely believable. Although she was not in her best vocal condition, her singing was characterized by a truly exceptional sense of line and accent, and her musical conception was in the finest tradition of Italian opera.

 

Aside from Leslie Chabay, who did an excellent job in his first appearance of the season as the Messenger, the cast had sung their roles earlier. Robert Merrill, whose performances this season seem to have taken on additional dramatic range and appositeness, was a thoroughly creditable Amonasro, and Nicola Moscona was an authoritative Ramfis. Thelma Votipka sang the music of the Priestess with her customary fine style and secure placement.     As Radames, Kurt Baum was not in good voice and showed an unwonted tendency to hold high notes almost to the breaking point. Margaret Harshaw used her fine voice to little effect in a generally pallid impersonation of Amneris. The ballet is better left unmentioned. Emil Cooper conducted.



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