[Met Performance] CID:183520



Tosca
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, December 16, 1959




Tosca (403)
Giacomo Puccini | Luigi Illica/Giuseppe Giacosa
Tosca
Licia Albanese

Cavaradossi
Jussi Björling

Scarpia
Leonard Warren

Sacristan
Lawrence Davidson

Spoletta
Paul Franke

Angelotti
Norman Scott

Sciarrone
Osie Hawkins

Shepherd
George Ryan

Jailer
Roald Reitan


Conductor
Dimitri Mitropoulos







Review 1:

Review of Bodo Igesz in the January 1, 1960 issue of Musical America

From the fierce bars [at the start] it was obvious that this performance of "Tosca" would not lack fire or conviction. One sensed with pleasure that there was much delight ahead, because Jussi Bjoerling, Licia Albanese and Leonard Warren were in best vocal form.

Miss Albanese was appearing in the title role for the first time this season. Of course, Tosca has never been Miss Albanese's most successful part-its dramatic outbursts are extremely heavy on a lyric voice like hers-but this evening she sang most of the time very beautifully indeed. Her phrasing was, as always, of the highest level. Dramatically, this Tosca was somewhat smaller scaled than one is used to see, but who shall say if the imperious Tosca did not have her simple human moments, as Miss Albanese showed them to us?

Some of the finest moments of the evening occurred during her scenes with Mr. Bjoerling. This Cavaradossi's singing was sheer delight, his acting truly convincing, while his rousing cry "Vittoria! Vittoria!" nearly started a peaceful risorgimento in the gallery.

Once again, Mr. Warren's portrayal of Scarpia was a triumph of vocal acting and dramatic characterization. In the finale of the first act he sounded especially impressive.

Satisfying in smaller parts were Norman Scott, Lawrence Davidson, Paul Franke, Osie Hawkins, Roald Reitan and George Ryan. Dimitri Mitropoulos made sure that the tension and the excitement on stage found its counterpart in the playing of the orchestra.



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