Metropolitan Opera Archives

Review 1:

Review of Robert Sabin in Musical America
There were no changes of cast in the season’s second performance (a Saturday broadcast) of these sadly mismatched operas. The “Salome” was so brilliant, so inspired, that it made the crude and almost amateurish production of “Gianni Schicchi” seem doubly out of place. Fritz Reiner conducted the Strauss score with that “heart of ice and brain of fire” that enable an interpreter to achieve the most incandescent climaxes without losing control of the orchestra or obscuring the minutest touches of instrumentation. Ljuba Welitsch gave a superb performance of the title role; her Salome was moved by a hypnotic compulsion that never slackened. Both Elisabeth Hoengen and Hans Hotter, as Herodias and Jokanaan, brought dramatic distinction and format to their performances; and Set Svanholm as Herod, contributed some of the finest singing of the afternoon. Brian Sullivan again sang the role of Narraboth and Herta Glaz that of the Page. The others in the cast were Alois Pernerstofer, Emery Darcy, Gabor Carelli, Thomas Hayward, Alessio de Paolis, Paul Franke, Gerhard Pechner, Norman Scott, Lubomir Vichegonov, Osie Hawkins, and Paula Lenchner.

Save for revealing the sterling qualities of Salvatore Baccaloni’s performance of the title role, “Gianni Schicchi” accomplished little else than to provide the restaurant and bar upstairs with intermission business. Alberto Erede dashed through the score in impatient fashion; the English of nearly all the singers except Mr. Baccaloni (who had a thick Italian accent) was frequently indistinguishable; the acting was mere rumpas without line, finish, or individual clarity; and only Mr. Baccaloni made much of Puccini’s music. Since “Gianni Schicchi” reveals the deterioration of the composer’s melodic inspiration and musical invention, it needs to be performed expertly to be effective. This production, in slipshod English, did neither Puccini nor the Metropolitan much honor.

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Search by title: Gianni Schicchi, Salome,

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