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[Met Performance] CID:180380
Carmen
Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, December 4, 1958
Carmen (570)
Georges Bizet | Henri Meilhac/Ludovic Halévy
Review 1:
Review of Jules Franz Simek in Musical America
Even though the notion that Bizet's untimely death was hastened by the unfavorable circumstances of "Carmen's" first performance seems slightly exaggerated, one could not help but wonder what the current Metropolitan presentation would have done to him. Although the production still bears fleeting traces of an original brilliant spectacle, its clumsy drabness has the embarrassing atmosphere of a benefit matinee in the back country. From the uninspired and colorless open*ing bars of the Prelude, one suspected that Jean Morel, the conductor, would hardly help matters musically, and by Jose's final "Carmen, it est temps encore" one knew it was too late. He did not.
Blanche Thebom, who appeared for the first time this season in the title role, could not save the situation, nor did she seem in her best form. Except for the Seguidilla in the first act, in which the puissance and magnetism of this admirable artist flared up for a moment, her performance lacked in genuine excitement and provocation. Her vocalism, however, rich in timbre, well-phrased, and voluminous, compensated adequately for histrionic shortcomings.
Kurt Baum's first Don José of the season struggled through the four acts with a throaty, forced vibrato and conventional gesticulations, but he produced some ringing top tones, and "La fleur que to m'avais jetee" was sung with agreeable style and tone.
The remainder of the cast, highlighted by Hilde Gueden's angelic singing as Micaëla included Mario Zanasi, Louis Sgarro, Clifford Harvout, Heidi Krall, Margaret Roggero, George Cehanovsky, and Alessio De Paolis.
Search by season: 1958-59
Search by title: Carmen,
Met careers
Carmen
Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, December 4, 1958
Carmen (570)
Georges Bizet | Henri Meilhac/Ludovic Halévy
- Carmen
- Blanche Thebom
- Don José
- Kurt Baum
- Micaela
- Hilde Güden
- Escamillo
- Mario Zanasi
- Frasquita
- Heidi Krall
- Mercédès
- Margaret Roggero
- Remendado
- Alessio De Paolis
- Dancaïre
- George Cehanovsky
- Zuniga
- Louis Sgarro
- Moralès
- Clifford Harvuot
- Dance
- Lolita San Miguel
- Dance
- Thomas Andrew
- Conductor
- Jean Morel
Review 1:
Review of Jules Franz Simek in Musical America
Even though the notion that Bizet's untimely death was hastened by the unfavorable circumstances of "Carmen's" first performance seems slightly exaggerated, one could not help but wonder what the current Metropolitan presentation would have done to him. Although the production still bears fleeting traces of an original brilliant spectacle, its clumsy drabness has the embarrassing atmosphere of a benefit matinee in the back country. From the uninspired and colorless open*ing bars of the Prelude, one suspected that Jean Morel, the conductor, would hardly help matters musically, and by Jose's final "Carmen, it est temps encore" one knew it was too late. He did not.
Blanche Thebom, who appeared for the first time this season in the title role, could not save the situation, nor did she seem in her best form. Except for the Seguidilla in the first act, in which the puissance and magnetism of this admirable artist flared up for a moment, her performance lacked in genuine excitement and provocation. Her vocalism, however, rich in timbre, well-phrased, and voluminous, compensated adequately for histrionic shortcomings.
Kurt Baum's first Don José of the season struggled through the four acts with a throaty, forced vibrato and conventional gesticulations, but he produced some ringing top tones, and "La fleur que to m'avais jetee" was sung with agreeable style and tone.
The remainder of the cast, highlighted by Hilde Gueden's angelic singing as Micaëla included Mario Zanasi, Louis Sgarro, Clifford Harvout, Heidi Krall, Margaret Roggero, George Cehanovsky, and Alessio De Paolis.
Search by season: 1958-59
Search by title: Carmen,
Met careers
- Jean Morel [Conductor]
- Blanche Thebom [Carmen]
- Kurt Baum [Don José]
- Hilde Güden [Micaela]
- Mario Zanasi [Escamillo]
- Heidi Krall [Frasquita]
- Margaret Roggero [Mercédès]
- Alessio De Paolis [Remendado]
- George Cehanovsky [Dancaïre]
- Louis Sgarro [Zuniga]
- Clifford Harvuot [Moralès]
- Lolita San Miguel [Dance]
- Thomas Andrew [Dance]