[Met Performance] CID:184620



Tosca
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, March 30, 1960




Tosca (406)
Giacomo Puccini | Luigi Illica/Giuseppe Giacosa
Tosca
Renata Tebaldi

Cavaradossi
Barry Morell

Scarpia
Hermann Uhde

Sacristan
Fernando Corena

Spoletta
Paul Franke

Angelotti
Norman Scott

Sciarrone
Osie Hawkins

Shepherd
George Ryan

Jailer
Roald Reitan


Conductor
Dimitri Mitropoulos







Review 1:

Review of J. A. in the April 1960 issue of Musical America

One of the most absorbing portrayals this season at the Metropolitan was Hermann Uhde's first Scarpia with the company. Linking himself to a legendary Scarpia, Antonio Scotti, through Scotti's costume, Mr. Uhde was the most gripping artist I have seen in this role. His sharp craggy features and his lean body together with an uncanny sense of dramatic timing took the role far beyond a stock operatic character. No gesture was awkward or self-conscious. He was always the aristocrat, never stooping to attack Spoletta physically or over-bullying the Sacristan. His eyes, his mien, and his powerful bearing did this far more effectively than any violent gesture. I will grant Mr. Uhde was uneven vocally. The voice is not as big as the role often needs, especially in the "Te Deum." To compensate he seemed to push his voice unnecessarily and to attempt to color it beyond its natural state. Also, he tended to over-enunciate, perhaps not being completely at home in Italian. But even the harshness which was present at times in the voice seemed right. The portrayal was powerful enough to nullify the numerous vocal deficiencies.

To complement Mr. Uhde's Scarpia was a glowing Renata Tebaldi in her first appearance of the role this season. Miss Tebaldi was in glorious voice and even more important her portrayal was never overdone or exaggerated. In short she is an ideal Tosca, entirely convincing and vocally majestic. She earned an ovation for her "Vissi d'arte" that must be unique in the house's history.

Completing the trio of principals was Barry Morell in his first Mario of the season. He sang with an unaccustomed fire and intensity. His voice seemed bigger than it has on previous occasions and the "Vittoria" in Act II brought an outburst from the audience which threatened to halt the performance.



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