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[Met Performance] CID:159590
La Traviata
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, April 12, 1952
La Traviata (357)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave
Review 1:
Review of James Hinton, Jr. in Musical America
The Metropolitan's 1951-52 season came to a close with a benefit performance for Haarlem House of “La Traviata.” It was the tenth repetition of the opera, and all of the singers except one had sung their roles before at least once during the season. The newcomer was Robert Merrill, who since returning to the company late in the season has been conducted by the management on a pre-tour refresher course in his repertoire. Although seemingly he was not quite sure of himself in a few of the more complex places in the score, Mr. Merrill sang with a good deal more attention to dynamic shadings than he sometimes has, and since his voice was in fine condition he made his presence felt. He received the customary near-ovation after Di Provenza, and he came very close to really deserving it.
Licia Albanese was dramatically effective as Violetta but was in recalcitrant voice. Giuseppe di Stefano sang variably as Alfredo.
The standard complement of singers in other roles included, as the Baron Douphol, George Cehanovsky, who in this performance completed his 25th season with the company. The senior member of the Metropolitan in point of service, he has sung some seventy roles, there. Before-the curtain went up, Thelma Votipka, his junior by nine seasons but still the next in line, presented Mr. Cehanovsky with a gold-embossed leather album containing inscribed photographs of his current colleagues. For the record, Mr. Cehanovsky was in clear voice and sang very well. He is (and the present tense is used with discretion) an extremely good Douphol, and Douphol is a much underrated role.
The season ended on a nostalgic note, but there was no rest for the weary or desirability of post-performance conviviality, for the next morning the company was to entrain at 9:30 for Cleveland, the first stop on a seventeen-city, 7,418-mile tour.
Search by season: 1951-52
Search by title: La Traviata,
Met careers
La Traviata
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, April 12, 1952
La Traviata (357)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave
- Violetta
- Licia Albanese
- Alfredo
- Giuseppe Di Stefano
- Germont
- Robert Merrill
- Flora
- Thelma Votipka
- Gastone
- Alessio De Paolis
- Baron Douphol
- George Cehanovsky
- Marquis D'Obigny
- Algerd Brazis
- Dr. Grenvil
- Clifford Harvuot
- Annina
- Lucine Amara
- Dance
- Tilda Morse
- Dance
- Maria Karnilova [Last performance]
- Dance
- Socrates Birsky
- Conductor
- Fausto Cleva
Review 1:
Review of James Hinton, Jr. in Musical America
The Metropolitan's 1951-52 season came to a close with a benefit performance for Haarlem House of “La Traviata.” It was the tenth repetition of the opera, and all of the singers except one had sung their roles before at least once during the season. The newcomer was Robert Merrill, who since returning to the company late in the season has been conducted by the management on a pre-tour refresher course in his repertoire. Although seemingly he was not quite sure of himself in a few of the more complex places in the score, Mr. Merrill sang with a good deal more attention to dynamic shadings than he sometimes has, and since his voice was in fine condition he made his presence felt. He received the customary near-ovation after Di Provenza, and he came very close to really deserving it.
Licia Albanese was dramatically effective as Violetta but was in recalcitrant voice. Giuseppe di Stefano sang variably as Alfredo.
The standard complement of singers in other roles included, as the Baron Douphol, George Cehanovsky, who in this performance completed his 25th season with the company. The senior member of the Metropolitan in point of service, he has sung some seventy roles, there. Before-the curtain went up, Thelma Votipka, his junior by nine seasons but still the next in line, presented Mr. Cehanovsky with a gold-embossed leather album containing inscribed photographs of his current colleagues. For the record, Mr. Cehanovsky was in clear voice and sang very well. He is (and the present tense is used with discretion) an extremely good Douphol, and Douphol is a much underrated role.
The season ended on a nostalgic note, but there was no rest for the weary or desirability of post-performance conviviality, for the next morning the company was to entrain at 9:30 for Cleveland, the first stop on a seventeen-city, 7,418-mile tour.
Search by season: 1951-52
Search by title: La Traviata,
Met careers
- Fausto Cleva [Conductor]
- Licia Albanese [Violetta]
- Giuseppe Di Stefano [Alfredo]
- Robert Merrill [Germont]
- Thelma Votipka [Flora]
- Alessio De Paolis [Gastone]
- George Cehanovsky [Baron Douphol]
- Algerd Brazis [Marquis D'Obigny]
- Clifford Harvuot [Dr. Grenvil]
- Lucine Amara [Annina]
- Tilda Morse [Dance]
- Maria Karnilova [Dance]
- Socrates Birsky [Dance]