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[Met Performance] CID:79340



Cavalleria Rusticana
Pagliacci
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, December 10, 1921









Review 1:

Review signed P. J. N. in Musical America

The Double Bill

The prowess of Maria Jeritza in the delineation of character was further illustrated in a remarkably fine piece of acting as Santuzza in the production of "Cavalleria Rusticana" on Saturday night. Though Mme. Jeritza's voice is of admirable quality, her method of using it is open to objection; but such were her histrionic achievements in this performance that one forgot these defects completely in admiration of the sincerity and conviction of her acting. The climax in intensity was reached in the angry scene between Turiddu and Santuzza, when he flung her down as she tried to obstruct his path and, as he did so, disappeared within the church. Mme. Jeritza, at the blow, collapsed in a heap, rolled down the steps, and then lifted her voice in a passionate imprecation before she sank prone to the floor, exhausted. The extraordinary realism of the scene captured the house, a great burst of cheering interrupting the music at this point.

Mme. Jeritza rightly emphasized the pathos of Santuzza's suffering, and the sudden transition, when she was stung to fury by Turiddu's rejection of her, was on this account all the more vivid and compelling. Such moments as her appeal to Turiddu, for instance, were profound in their emotion. There was a commendable absence of stridency in Mme. Jeritza's singing, but there were faults of intonation now and then, and "scooping" was frequent.

Aureliano Pertile, as Turiddu, shared with success in the tense scenes with Santuzza and the jealous Alfio. He was much too serious, however, in his projection of the Brindisi. Millo Picco acted well as Alfio, but was not strenuous enough in much of his music. The cast also included Flora Perini as Lola and Marie Mattfeld as Lucia.

"Pagliacci" was notable for the excellent Nedda of Florence Easton and Giuseppe de Luca's capital impersonation of Tonio. Mr. de Luca gave an exceedingly artistic interpretation of the Prologue, and had to acknowledge several recalls. Miss Easton sang the Ballatella with much charm. Giulio Crimi, as Canio, was recalled many times for the "Vesti la Giubba" at the end of the first act, but the other principals ought to have shared with him the honors of these recalls. Mario Laurenti sang the music of Silvio with feeling, and Angelo Bada was a clever Beppe. Robert Moranzoni conducted both performances spiritedly.

Search by season: 1921-22

Search by title: Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci,



Met careers

• Roberto Moranzoni [Conductor]
• Maria Jeritza [Santuzza]
• Aureliano Pertile [Turiddu]
• Flora Perini [Lola]
• Millo Picco [Alfio]
• Marie Mattfeld [Mamma Lucia]
• Florence Easton [Nedda]
• Giulio Crimi [Canio]
• Giuseppe De Luca [Tonio]
• Mario Laurenti [Silvio]
• Angelo Bad? [Beppe]