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[Met Tour] CID:156910
La Traviata
Municipal Auditorium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Wed, May 2, 1951
La Traviata (346)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave
Review 1:
Review of James C. Stratton in the Oklahoma City News-Press
“La Traviata”’s Touring Version in Oklahoma City Is Pleasing
The tradition once again came to life in Oklahoma Wednesday night, as the famed Metropolitan opera house association made its second visit to the state, presenting Verdi’s :”La Traviata” before a packed house in Oklahoma City’s civic auditorium.
Inasmuch as these annual tours are steadily increasing in scope and area and as they become more than matters of locally-restricted interest, it must be apparent to the directors of the organization that theirs’s is a national institution.
These observations must give some pause despite the fact that they must feel some gratification at the warmth of the Met’s reception wherever it appears. There must be some sort of compensation for the harassments and headaches incumbent with propelling the organization forward each season despite spiraling costs, deficits and the indifference of government anent taxes.
Carping at such a production as was offered in the City Wednesday resembles nothing so much as looking a gift horse in the mouth. One realizes that the occasional chiding passed along toward the organization are merely dutiful critical nudgings made necessary whenever the organization nods or when it becomes anything less than the high peak which is incessantly and continuously demanded of lt.
One suspects that the regime of Manager Rudolf Bing has had its heightening effect. In the “Traviata” production there did not appear to be any lassitude of approach or any off-the-cuff handling of a work that has been so grooved in its staging that the most marvelous part of seeing it is to sense its warm familiarity. I suspect that many present, veterans of many a radio season and not too great personal contact, felt that it all came off just exactly as they imagined it.
Once can sense that the theme for “Traviata” which was created by Jorgulesco in 1935 is a bit moldy and that a considerable freshening would work wonders. But when one considers the cost and the annual deficits, one can understand that Mrs. August Belmont’s radio pleas are a hard and fast fact.
The current “Traviata” is worn a bit visually, musically and dramatically, it must have been all that those in attendance anticipated. If there is shrewdness in the touring version’s placement of Miss Dorothy Kirsten in the role of Violetta, it may be traceable to Mr. Bing; it pays off. Miss Kirsten’s voice is lovely and if it not entirely suggestive of the complete range of vocal fireworks inherent in Violetta, the whole is sublimated in her dramatic sense and the visual charm which is invested in the role. I think everybody loved her luckless heroine.
Mr. Richard Tucker was in fine form again as Alfredo and it was interesting to contrast the concert presence with the operatic presence, the recital intimacy as contrasted with the vastness and traces of impersonality that can invest the latter, particularly in terms of hall and crowd. One was sustained with the knowledge of Tucker’s vocal magnetism and ingratiation concert approach even if the warmth was a bit swallowed up in the heaviness of the opera mood. Opera, it occurs to us, can hardly reach intimate terms; it is too institutionalized in our own approach.
Verdi has stacked the cards for the elder Germont and a star who can invest an ounce of appeal in the fabled second act aria has the audience in his hand. Leonard Warren, of course, brought plenty to this and was tremendously acclaimed. His impeccable approach and the marvelous dramatic sense of voice which he can effect if he chooses were apparent in the City.
Conductor Alberto Erede, his orchestra, the chorus and other principals rounded out a moving and affecting evening.
Search by season: 1950-51
Search by title: La Traviata,
Met careers
La Traviata
Municipal Auditorium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Wed, May 2, 1951
La Traviata (346)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave
- Violetta
- Dorothy Kirsten
- Alfredo
- Richard Tucker
- Germont
- Leonard Warren
- Flora
- Lucielle Browning
- Gastone
- Leslie Chabay
- Baron Douphol
- George Cehanovsky
- Marquis D'Obigny
- Lawrence Davidson
- Dr. Grenvil
- Clifford Harvuot
- Annina
- Margaret Roggero
- Dance
- Tilda Morse
- Dance
- Zebra Nevins
- Conductor
- Alberto Erede
Review 1:
Review of James C. Stratton in the Oklahoma City News-Press
“La Traviata”’s Touring Version in Oklahoma City Is Pleasing
The tradition once again came to life in Oklahoma Wednesday night, as the famed Metropolitan opera house association made its second visit to the state, presenting Verdi’s :”La Traviata” before a packed house in Oklahoma City’s civic auditorium.
Inasmuch as these annual tours are steadily increasing in scope and area and as they become more than matters of locally-restricted interest, it must be apparent to the directors of the organization that theirs’s is a national institution.
These observations must give some pause despite the fact that they must feel some gratification at the warmth of the Met’s reception wherever it appears. There must be some sort of compensation for the harassments and headaches incumbent with propelling the organization forward each season despite spiraling costs, deficits and the indifference of government anent taxes.
Carping at such a production as was offered in the City Wednesday resembles nothing so much as looking a gift horse in the mouth. One realizes that the occasional chiding passed along toward the organization are merely dutiful critical nudgings made necessary whenever the organization nods or when it becomes anything less than the high peak which is incessantly and continuously demanded of lt.
One suspects that the regime of Manager Rudolf Bing has had its heightening effect. In the “Traviata” production there did not appear to be any lassitude of approach or any off-the-cuff handling of a work that has been so grooved in its staging that the most marvelous part of seeing it is to sense its warm familiarity. I suspect that many present, veterans of many a radio season and not too great personal contact, felt that it all came off just exactly as they imagined it.
Once can sense that the theme for “Traviata” which was created by Jorgulesco in 1935 is a bit moldy and that a considerable freshening would work wonders. But when one considers the cost and the annual deficits, one can understand that Mrs. August Belmont’s radio pleas are a hard and fast fact.
The current “Traviata” is worn a bit visually, musically and dramatically, it must have been all that those in attendance anticipated. If there is shrewdness in the touring version’s placement of Miss Dorothy Kirsten in the role of Violetta, it may be traceable to Mr. Bing; it pays off. Miss Kirsten’s voice is lovely and if it not entirely suggestive of the complete range of vocal fireworks inherent in Violetta, the whole is sublimated in her dramatic sense and the visual charm which is invested in the role. I think everybody loved her luckless heroine.
Mr. Richard Tucker was in fine form again as Alfredo and it was interesting to contrast the concert presence with the operatic presence, the recital intimacy as contrasted with the vastness and traces of impersonality that can invest the latter, particularly in terms of hall and crowd. One was sustained with the knowledge of Tucker’s vocal magnetism and ingratiation concert approach even if the warmth was a bit swallowed up in the heaviness of the opera mood. Opera, it occurs to us, can hardly reach intimate terms; it is too institutionalized in our own approach.
Verdi has stacked the cards for the elder Germont and a star who can invest an ounce of appeal in the fabled second act aria has the audience in his hand. Leonard Warren, of course, brought plenty to this and was tremendously acclaimed. His impeccable approach and the marvelous dramatic sense of voice which he can effect if he chooses were apparent in the City.
Conductor Alberto Erede, his orchestra, the chorus and other principals rounded out a moving and affecting evening.
Search by season: 1950-51
Search by title: La Traviata,
Met careers
- Alberto Erede [Conductor]
- Dorothy Kirsten [Violetta]
- Richard Tucker [Alfredo]
- Leonard Warren [Germont]
- Lucielle Browning [Flora]
- Leslie Chabay [Gastone]
- George Cehanovsky [Baron Douphol]
- Lawrence Davidson [Marquis D'Obigny]
- Clifford Harvuot [Dr. Grenvil]
- Margaret Roggero [Annina]
- Tilda Morse [Dance]
- Zebra Nevins [Dance]