[Met Performance] CID:183570



Le Nozze di Figaro
Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, December 21, 1959




Le Nozze di Figaro (177)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Lorenzo Da Ponte
Figaro
Cesare Siepi

Susanna
Laurel Hurley

Count Almaviva
Kim Borg

Countess Almaviva
Lisa Della Casa

Cherubino
Mildred Miller

Dr. Bartolo
Ezio Flagello

Marcellina
Regina Resnik

Don Basilio
Gabor Carelli

Antonio
Lawrence Davidson

Barbarina
Teresa Stratas

Don Curzio
Robert Nagy

Peasant
Charleen Clark

Peasant
Dorothy Shawn


Conductor
Erich Leinsdorf







Review 1:

Review of Raymond A. Ericson in Musical America
Five cast changes marked this performance of Mozart's opera, one of which brought the debut at the Metropolitan (and in New York) of the noted German mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig, as Cherubim). Lucite Amara, the Countess; Giorgio Tozzi, the Figaro; and Alessio De Paolis, the Basilio, were returning to roles they had sung before with the company, but not in this new production. Teresa Stratas took the part of Barbarina for the first time at the opera house.

With her round face and slightly upturned nose, Miss Ludwig looked enchanting as Cerubino, and she played the part with a perky exuberance that was irresistible. A veteran of countless "Figaro" performances in Europe, Miss Ludwig sang her music adroitly and stylishly, although her voice is of a size and richness not easy to manage. After her two arias, a delighted audience held up the performance for several minutes with its enthusiastic applause,

Mr. Tozzi did not seem as comfortable in the new production of "Figaro” as he had in the old one. Twice he tried to open doors the wrong way, and high notes were giving him trouble in the first act, in "Se vuol ballare.” Otherwise, he gave a lively, likable portrayal, which would have been even better with more seasoning in the characterization and more “bite” in the singing.

Miss Amara's Countess was beautifully vocalized, luscious in tone, so that her singing of "Dove sono" was, as sound, the high point of the evening.

Mr. De Paolis gave us a Basilio as maliciously amused at only he can suggest, and Miss Stratas sang her brief role pertly and with considerable charm.

Elisabeth Soederstroem was again the Susanna, Regina Resnik sang Marcellina, Kim Borg the Count. Some of Cyril Ritchard's horseplay in the original staging had been modified. Erich Leinsdorf conducted.

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