Metropolitan Opera Archives

The principal roles in "Tannhäuser" changed hands Saturday night at the Metropolitan Opera. William Johns took the title role and proved himself capable of getting through what may be Wagner's most arduous tenor part with plenty of voice left for the end. Indeed if he had sung the whole role as well as he did the broken-spirited "Rome Narrative" in the last act, one would look forward to hearing him again. But the earlier scenes contain different kinds of music — lyrical phrases that he delivered with crude force and approximate accuracy, and vigorously declaimed passages for which he put a harsh, unattractive edge on his sturdy voice. His dramatic involvement was not especially specific, but vigorous, and the voice is a potentially serviceable Wagnerian instrument; one hopes he will strive for a higher standard as he develops in the role.

Leonie Rysanek was to have returned to the role of Elisabeth Saturday, but was ill; Teresa Kubiak appeared in her place, and, though there was no disguising the fact that she has put her voice through the school of hard knocks, she filled the role confidently, and her voice is big enough to sound over the orchestra.

On a different level of achievement was the baritone Jorma Hynninen as Wolfram. This may not be the ideal role for him, since it puts a premium on lyricism and his concentration lies elsewhere, but his singing is strong and purposeful, his voice is firm and rich, and his communicative intent is that of an artist absorbed in his work. His appearances at the Met are not as frequent as everyone would like, since he runs the Finnish National Opera back home, but they are much appreciated.

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