[Met Performance] CID:208550



Rigoletto
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, November 19, 1966 Matinee





Rigoletto (452)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave
Rigoletto
Cornell MacNeil

Gilda
Roberta Peters

Duke of Mantua
John Alexander

Maddalena
Nedda Casei

Sparafucile
Bonaldo Giaiotti

Monterone
Raymond Michalski

Borsa
Gabor Carelli

Marullo
Robert Goodloe

Count Ceprano
Gene Boucher

Countess Ceprano
Loretta Di Franco

Giovanna
Carlotta Ordassy

Page
Karan Armstrong

Guard
Lloyd Strang


Conductor
Lamberto Gardelli







Review 1:

Review of Fred Kirby in Billboard

MacNeil Is Outstanding In the Met's "Rigoletto"

Cornell MacNeil, cast in the title role of Rigoletto, definitely is the outstanding singer in this season's performances of the Verdi warhorse at the Metropolitan Opera. MacNeil's rich baritone made up for some spotty singing by other principals last Saturday (19). An exception was Bonaldi Giaiotti's Sparafucile, which was a tower of strength. Giaiotti clearly is one of the company's most dependable artists.

Roberta Peters, as sweet a Gilda as ever, sang prettily, but sounded thin in spots, especially the "Caro nome" ending, while John Alexander, the possessor of a rich lyric tenor voice, seemed more interested in demonstrating it than in portraying the Duke. This was really evident at the ending of "La donna e mobile," when he lost Lamberto Gardelli, an experienced operatic conductor leading the opera for the first time at the Met this season.

The opera house's wealth of basses again was apparent in the fine job by Raymond Michalski in the small, but important role of Monterone. Nedda Cassei again was a competent Maddalena. The serviceable production seemed at home in the new house, but, MacNeil, in his two arias and in duets, was the afternoon's star. What a voice!



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