Metropolitan Opera Archives

On the evening of September 28th, Placido Domingo, the young Spanish tenor. made a phenomenal and unscheduled debut as Maurizio in "Adriana Lecouvreur," the opera in which he was supposed to have appeared on October 2nd. Imagine Mr. Domingo's delight when the audience responded with an unprecedented gesture of cheers as it was announced at 8:10 P. M. that he would replace Franco Corelli, who was indisposed. And imagine the relief and excitement in the audience as they heard - many for the first time - the warm, sweet voice of this young man, who has already sung with many important opera companies such as the New York City Opera. Mr. Domingo makes an excellent appearance on stage and added to "Adriana" the much-needed element of involvement on the part of the hero. He has performed before with Renata Tebaldi, who sang the title role beautifully, and the warm rapport that existed between the two made their scenes together all the more moving.

Review 2:

Review of Donal Henahan in The New York Times

Francesco Cilèa's "Adriana Lecouvreur" may indeed be, as one member of last night's Metropolitan Opera audience suggested, "an Italian zarzuela." Taken on those terms, as a comic opera, it does have its charm as well as its longueurs. It also offers a meaty part for a tenor, and the Metropolitan's hottest young artist in that category, Placido Domingo, again and again lifted the performance out of the depths of fatuity into which it relentlessly lapsed.

Mr. Domingo, a strapping fellow with a plangent and sizable voice, as well as considerable stage magnetism, had made a surprise debut Saturday night, replacing Franco Corelli. So last evening's appearance, listed in the program as his Metropolitan debut, merely added to his stature. Previously, of course, he had come to stardom at the New York City Opera; but the voice sounded even more impressive in the bigger house.

Plácido Domingo and Renata Tebaldi backstage at his debut performance; photograph by Louis Mélançon.

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