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[Met Performance] CID:197030
Il Trovatore
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, January 25, 1964
Il Trovatore (338)
Giuseppe Verdi | Salvatore Cammarano
Review 1:
Review of Peter Davis in Musical America
The Met 's “Il Trovatore" of January 25 is a painful recollection. Flaviano Labo, in his first Manrico at the house, was by far the most satisfying principal singer; but even at that I doubt whether he will be everyone's ideal troubadour. Small of stature and voice, he made up in energy what he lacked in resources. Although the required weight for "Di quella pira" was missing, it was nice to hear the lyrical portions of the role, which means 95 per cent of it, phrased with taste and even elegance.
Biserka Cvejic was also offering her initial Azucena. I remember first hearing this singer on a series of Belgrade Opera recordings made some eight years ago and was impressed by the youthful freshness and warmth of her singing. It is sad to report that her voice has deteriorated to a point where every note in her range gives the impression of being produced by a different singer. Her impersonation of the vengeful gypsy was convincing enough, however.
A few well-sung phrases were not enough to save Luisa Malagrida's wobbly and insecure Leonora, while Robert Merrill, definitely on an off night, barely deigned to go through the motions. Thomas Schippers straitjacketed the singers with his rushed and inflexible tempos. John Macurdy's Ferrando was the only consistently fine contribution to an otherwise depressing evening.
Search by season: 1963-64
Search by title: Il Trovatore,
Met careers
Il Trovatore
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, January 25, 1964
Il Trovatore (338)
Giuseppe Verdi | Salvatore Cammarano
- Manrico
- Flaviano Labò
- Leonora
- Luisa Malagrida [Last performance]
- Count Di Luna
- Robert Merrill
- Azucena
- Biserka Cvejic
- Ferrando
- John Macurdy
- Ines
- Janis Martin
- Ruiz
- Robert Nagy
- Messenger
- Hal Roberts
- Gypsy
- Carlo Tomanelli
- Conductor
- Thomas Schippers
Review 1:
Review of Peter Davis in Musical America
The Met 's “Il Trovatore" of January 25 is a painful recollection. Flaviano Labo, in his first Manrico at the house, was by far the most satisfying principal singer; but even at that I doubt whether he will be everyone's ideal troubadour. Small of stature and voice, he made up in energy what he lacked in resources. Although the required weight for "Di quella pira" was missing, it was nice to hear the lyrical portions of the role, which means 95 per cent of it, phrased with taste and even elegance.
Biserka Cvejic was also offering her initial Azucena. I remember first hearing this singer on a series of Belgrade Opera recordings made some eight years ago and was impressed by the youthful freshness and warmth of her singing. It is sad to report that her voice has deteriorated to a point where every note in her range gives the impression of being produced by a different singer. Her impersonation of the vengeful gypsy was convincing enough, however.
A few well-sung phrases were not enough to save Luisa Malagrida's wobbly and insecure Leonora, while Robert Merrill, definitely on an off night, barely deigned to go through the motions. Thomas Schippers straitjacketed the singers with his rushed and inflexible tempos. John Macurdy's Ferrando was the only consistently fine contribution to an otherwise depressing evening.
Search by season: 1963-64
Search by title: Il Trovatore,
Met careers