[Met Performance] CID:162460



Parsifal
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, April 1, 1953




Parsifal (188)
Richard Wagner | Richard Wagner
Parsifal
Emery Darcy

Kundry
Margaret Harshaw

Amfortas
Sigurd Björling

Gurnemanz
Jerome Hines

Klingsor
Lawrence Davidson

Titurel
Luben Vichey

Voice
Jean Madeira

First Esquire
Genevieve Warner

Second Esquire
Mildred Miller

Third Esquire
Paul Franke

Fourth Esquire
Gabor Carelli

First Knight
Thomas Hayward

Second Knight
Osie Hawkins

Flower Maiden
Lucine Amara

Flower Maiden
Laura Castellano

Flower Maiden
Hertha Glaz

Flower Maiden
Anne Bollinger

Flower Maiden
Paula Lenchner

Flower Maiden
Margaret Roggero


Conductor
Kurt Adler







Review 1:

Review signed J. B. in The New York Times
EMERY DARCY SINGS ROLE OF PARSIFAL

Makes First Appearance in Part Since 1945—Kurt Adler Conducts Opera at the 'Met'

"Parsifal" when well done is a work of enchantment, but one waited in vain last night for the spell to descend at the Metropolitan. Instead one sneaked a glance at one's watch, reflecting that nearly two mortal hours were to elapse before the conclusion of Act I.

The trouble with "Parsifal" is that one must take it whole-heartedly or not at all. The music ought to sweep everything before it, leaving no time to reflect on the discursive long -windedness of the players or the ridiculous ineptness from a theatre point of view of nearly everything that happens on the stage.

At last night's performance Kurt Adler, the conductor, got off to an uncertain start with the Prelude. The orchestra's playing was slipshod. There were clinkers in the brass; attacks and releases were not precise.

Mr. Adler's conducting was, in fact, pedestrian for most of the evening. It was a lethargic "Parsifal." The performers seemed overcome by a sort of lassitude. Some were not up to their usual standard. Jerome Hines, for example, singing his first Gurnemanz of the season, is an artist of taste and intelligence, endowed with an unusually fine bass voice; yet one was glad when he had had his say and was done with it.

Emery Darcy, singing the role of Parsifal for the first time since 1945, performed unevenly, flashes of real insight into the character alternating with routine operatic posturing. Mr. Darcy skillfully minimized the fact that his voice is a bit light for Parsifal's music.

Margaret Harshaw sang Kundry expressively and with great beauty of tone, aside from a slightly reedy quality in upper notes sung with full voice. Sigurd Bjoerling's voice is not remarkable for tonal splendor, but his portrayal of Amfortas (his first Metropolitan appearance in the role) was on the whole appealing and convincing.

Lawrence Davidson sang capably the ungrateful role of Klingsor, and Lubomir Vichegonov was effective as Titurel. Others in the cast were Jean Madeira, Thomas Hayward, Osie Hawkins, Genevieve Warner, Mildred Miller, Paul Franke, Gabor Carelli, Lucine Amara, Laura Castellano. Herta Glaz, Anne Bollinger, Paula Lenchner and Margaret Roggero.


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