[Met Performance] CID:209990



Otello
Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, April 3, 1967




Otello (175)
Giuseppe Verdi | Arrigo Boito
Otello
Jon Vickers

Desdemona
Gabriella Tucci

Iago
Gabriel Bacquier

Emilia
Nancy Williams

Cassio
Ermanno Lorenzi

Lodovico
Raymond Michalski

Montàno
Clifford Harvuot

Roderigo
Gabor Carelli

Herald
Russell Christopher


Conductor
Zubin Mehta







Review 1:

Review of Allen Hughes in The New York Times

Music: Vickers as Otello

Tenor Appears in Role First Time at Met

No one familiar with the singing and acting talents of Jon Vickers will be surprised to learn that his first appearance in the title role of Verdi's "Otello" with the Metropolitan Opera was successful. The Canadian tenor assumed the part for the first time here in Monday night's performance.

From the moment of his initial entrance as a triumphant leader, he revealed that he had established a viable and projectable identification with the role. His portrayal was strong and consistent as it followed the decline of a noble spirit from heroic poise to jealous suspicion and ultimate ruin in murder and suicide.

If Mr. Vickers' Otello fell short of full tragic stature, it was perhaps more because of his singing than his acting. This is not to suggest that he sang badly or differently from the way he usually does. It is to say, however, that his particular vocal mannerisms do not lend themselves especially well to the creation of a universal tragic character.

These mannerisms, which may take the form of sudden, sometimes almost explosive, crescendos of tones, or, on the contrary quick diminuendos or switches from full voice to half-voice, create at times a quasi-crooning style that is not unattractive, but which is too personal for unrestricted general use.

Mr. Vickers did not indulge in these mannerisms at all times, only, it seemed, when the vocal and dramatic going was relatively easy. They almost never cropped up in the tense scenes between Otello and Iago, but they were frequent in the love duet at the end of Act I and were apt to appear, elsewhere when Mr. Vickers had a vocal entrance after a pause of some duration. This was enough to mar the vocal consistency of the characterization.

Another newcomer to the "Otello" cast was Gabriel Bacquier, who was appearing as Iago for the first time with the company. His interpretation was admirable in all its outward respects. His expressions and body movements were believable, and his singing was vigorous and expressive in its inflections. The intensity Mr. Bacquier projected was not particularly great, however, so his performance was only intermittently compelling.

Nancy Williams, in her first Emilia at the Metropolitan, was effective in the small, sympathetic role.

Desdemona was Gabriella Tucci, who was making her first appearance of the season in "Otello." As usual, her performance was one of smooth assurance. It was not intensely moving, but it was always admirable.

The remainder of the cast, familiar from previous performances, included Ermanno Lorenzi as Cassio and Gabor Carelli as Roderigo. Zubin Mehta conducted.



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