[Met Performance] CID:184720



Simon Boccanegra
Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, April 7, 1960

Debut : Anselmo Colzani




Simon Boccanegra (33)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave/Arrigo Boito
Simon Boccanegra
Anselmo Colzani [Debut]

Amelia
Renata Tebaldi

Gabriele Adorno
Richard Tucker

Jacopo Fiesco
Jerome Hines

Paolo Albiani
Ezio Flagello

Pietro
Norman Scott

Maid
Athena Vicos

Captain
Robert Nagy


Conductor
Dimitri Mitropoulos







Review 1:

Review of Francis D. Perkins in the Herald Tribune

Colzani Makes Met Debut Singing Boccanegra Role

Anselmo Colzani, Italian baritone, made a successful Metropolitan Opera debut last night in a role which he had not sung before in public, the name part in Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra." The other new member of a generally stellar cast was Jerome Hines, who had appeared as Fiesco with the company in Philadelphia, but not before this on the Metropolitan's own stage.

Mr. Colzani, who was heard with the San Francisco Opera in 1956, gave a striking illustration of his intelligence and musicianship in the thorough coordination of his singing with that of his colleagues, including Renata Tebaldi as Amelia and Richard Tucker as Gabriele, in the concerted music in the magnificent scene in the Genoese council chamber; the precision and vocal proportion of these ensembles suggested that these artists had sung together since the launching of this production.

His voice gave an impression of medium volume and an appealing quality; the bright lyric timbre of its upper notes was made evident at the start in his share of the prologue. The lower tones, darker while not sombre, did not always have a similar lucidity; his most outspoken singing sometimes seemed slightly tense in tone, but avoided a sense of overt effort, while artistic phrasing was accompanied by a command of dynamic shading and the full use of his span of vocal hues.

From an emotional point of view Mr. Colzani's interpretation was generally discerning and persuasive, despite a few less convincing moments; it took a few minutes in the scene in which he recognizes Amelia's identity before he realized the full expressive value of the situation, and he did not always dominate the Council scene; some of its sterner episodes needed a more pronounced vocal and dramatic impact. But his presentation of the Doge's pleas and his appeals for peace were notable for their communicative sympathy in voice and manner. Simon is one of Verdi's most exacting roles, and Mr. Colzani, judging by this performance, will increase his present promising command of its requirements.

Mr. Hines' well sung Fiesco blended dignity with emotional persuasion. Miss Tebaldi was a memorably vivid Amelia; the delectable quality and musical skill of her singing were unusually impressive, especially in soaring top notes in the council scene ensembles. Mr. Tucker sang and acted Gabriele with corresponding emotional intensity and fervor. Ezio Flagello reappeared as the scheming Paolo, with Norman Scott as Pietro, and Dimitri Mitropoulos' conducting was worthy of the merits of one of the Metropolitan's foremost recent productions.

Photograph of Anselmo Colzani in the title role of Simon Boccanegra by Louis Mélançon/Metropolitan Opera

Review 2:

Review of Bodo Igez in Musical America
In this last "Faust" of the season, Nadine Conner made her only appearance as Marguerite. The soprano had decided that this performance would be her final one with the Metropolitan Opera.

Miss Conner made her debut with the company in 1941 as Pamina in "Die Zauberflöte." Among other roles she will be remembered by many for her moving portrayals of Mimi in "La Bohème" and Micaela in "Carmen." In her last performance, Miss Conner gave us a beautifully sung and movingly acted Marguerite. It was hard to believe indeed that one was watching the soprano's farewell performance. At the second intermission, with the complete cast and Miss Conner's husband and two children present on stage, general manager Rudolf Bing presented to Miss Conner a silver tray in recognition of her service with the company.

Mr. Bing called Nadine Conner one of those singers "who left at the height of their powers — and much too early,” like Lucrezia Bori, Rosa Ponselle and Amelita Galli-Curci, Miss Conner described her Metropolitan career as "the happiest nineteen years of my life." Many opera lovers will be sorry to see her leave the stage.

Others in the cast were Barry Morell, Jerome Hines, Robert Merrill, Helen Vanni, Thelma Votipka and Calvin Marsh. Jean Morel was the sensitive conductor.

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