[Met Performance] CID:161320



Carmen
Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, December 15, 1952




Carmen (492)
Georges Bizet | Henri Meilhac/Ludovic Halévy
Carmen
Risë Stevens

Don José
Kurt Baum [Acts I]

Don José
Brian Sullivan [Acts II, III, IV]

Micaela
Lucine Amara

Escamillo
Frank Guarrera

Frasquita
Paula Lenchner

Mercédès
Margaret Roggero

Remendado
Alessio De Paolis

Dancaïre
George Cehanovsky

Zuniga
Norman Scott

Moralès
Clifford Harvuot

Dance
Janet Collins

Dance
Loren Hightower


Conductor
Kurt Adler







Review 1:

Unsigned review in the Herald Tribune
Young Tenor Takes Met Role in 2nd Act

Brian Sullivan in “Carmen” for Hoarse Kurt Baum

Brian Sullivan, young tenor from Oakland, California, took over the role of Don José in “Carmen” last night for the first time in the Metropolitan Opera House after increasing hoarseness stopped the valiant effort of veteran tenor Kurt Baum at the end of the first act,

Although he had a bad cold, Mr. Baum, insisted on going on, but at the end of the first act the management announced that he could not continue, and Mr. Sullivan was called from Box B to take over. The young tenor, who had sung the Don José role elsewhere but not at the Met, received an ovation after his aria in the second act.

A thoughtful official of the opera called Mrs. Sullivan at home to report her husband’s sudden opportunity, but she was babysitting and couldn’t find a substitute in time to get to the opera house.

Mr. Sullivan’s singing showed knowledge of the music and its emotional content, and there was ample dramatic passion in his share of the third act’s finale. Another change in cast, made, however, before the performance, was that of Lucine Amara for Nadine Conner as Micaela. Rise Stevens as Carmen and Frank Guarrera as Escamillo sang as scheduled and Kurt Adler conducted.


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