Metropolitan Opera Archives

In the season’s last performance of Strauss' "Arabella," presented last night at the Metropolitan Opera, Virginia MacWaters and Sandra Warfield sang the roles of Fiakermilli and Adelaide for the first time with the company. The remaining cast members included Walter Cassel, in his initial Mandyrka of the year, Lisa Della Cam as Arabella, Ralph Herbert as Count Waldner, Hilde Gueden as Zdenka, Jon Crain as Matteo and Gabor Carelli, Clifford Harvuot and Lawrence Davidson. Erich Leinsdorf was again the conductor.

Since the part of Flakermilli is both a brief and brilliant it is necessary for an artist portraying the role to strike her mark the moment she spins on stage. This, unfortunately, Miss MacWatters did not do. She was a visual delight, and moved, as is her way, with uncommon grace, but her voice tended to be hard and edgy and her coloratura was not distinguished for either its precision or its flexibility. Miss Warfield, though, harassed by a hoop-skirt that refused to stay put, fared admirably as Adelaide and Mr. Cassel was Mandryka come to life. His baritone rang out with memorable warmth and his tones were ever resonant and golden. Indeed, his entire performance made a handsome contribution to an evening in which rich vocal displays among the leading players were anything but rare.

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