Metropolitan Opera Archives

The fifth presentation of the Metropolitan's new ballet-opera twins, "Vittorio" and "Salome," brought two changes of cast in the latter work. Clifford Harvuot sang his first Jokanaan and Charles Kullman appeared for the first time this season as Herod. Mr. Kullman knows the role of the drunken, lascivious king thoroughly. His reeling about the stage as he clutches at Salome and his ultimate vindictiveness and revulsion are vivid memories for all who have seen them.

The role of Jokanaan is peculiarly difficult to realize, because it is virtually immobile and all of its singing is done either in the well or just beside it with a minimum of accompanying business. There are, however, certain possible gestures of the hands, movements of the head and eyes and positions of posture that can speak eloquently for the prophet. These Mr. Harvuot has discovered and made his own. He was the august center of attention in his moments on the stage, and his rich voice permitted him to sing with the doomsday solemnity that his pronouncements require. One could wish that the wardrobe people may sometime devise a costume and wig for Jokanaan that would make him look a little less like a rag-picker.

Others in the familiar cast were Christel Goltz (Salome), Blanche Thebom (Herodias), Brian Sullivan (Narraboth), and Herta Glaz (Page). Dmitri Mitropoulos again conducted both works.

Search by season: 1954-55

Search by title: Vittorio, Salome,

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