[Met Tour] CID:96540



Il Trovatore
Public Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, Sat, May 7, 1927




Il Trovatore (157)
Giuseppe Verdi | Salvatore Cammarano
Manrico
Giovanni Martinelli

Leonora
Rosa Ponselle

Count Di Luna
Mario Basiola

Azucena
Julia Claussen

Ferrando
Louis D'Angelo

Ines
Grace Anthony [Last performance]

Ruiz
Giordano Paltrinieri

Gypsy
Arnold Gabor


Conductor
Tullio Serafin







Review 1:

Review of James H. Rogers in the Cleveland Plain Dealer

'TROVATORE' GIVEN WILD APPLAUSE

Cast Repeatedly Recalled as Opera Week Ends in Blaze of Glory

Cleveland's banner opera season closed last night with an elaborately staged and brilliantly sung production of Verdi's "Il Trovatore." The Metropolitan valedictory was delivered by a notable cast, which was headed by the glorious, the compelling Rosa Roselle; and which included such major luminaries of the lyric stage as Giovanni Martinelli, Julia Claussen and Mario Basiola. So once again the rather antiquated score was rejuvenated, revivified; and the story of the mysterious knight of the ready sword and his high born lady love seemed almost plausible, so adroitly was it enacted.

That there was great singing to hear goes without the saying; As for the size of the audience which fervently applauded it, it suffices to tell that late comers were greeted before they entered the outer door, by the boldly inscribed legend setting forth that a visit to the box office would be futile. It certainly appeared that whoever painted that sign had his heart in his work. And it was a heartening evening all around. The singers were keyed to concert pitch and beyond, and they had their listeners with them.

Scene is Repeated

Every one of the principals was stormily applauded, and the extent of the prevailing enthusiasm may be gathered from the fact that after Miss Ponselle and Mr. Martinelli had been called to the footlights eight or ten times at the conclusion of the "Miserere" scene, conductor Tullio Serafin gave up all hope of going on with the performance until the whole scene had been repeated, which was unusual we may say, a phenomenal occurrence in grand opera. And after the duet of Miss Claussen and Mr. Martinelli in the second act there was curtain call after curtain call. There were high honors, too, for that accomplished baritone, Mario Basiola. Miss Anthony and Messrs. D'Angelo, Paltrinieri and Gabor completed a cast of distinguished excellence. And Mr. Serafin was, as ever, an inspiring leader.

Thus came to an end Cleveland's most successful opera season. Successful, indeed, beyond any precedent. And for this happy result enormous credit is due the local management. Of course, they had a magnificent company to present, but there was work to do right here at home. It strikes me, that where the nail was hit squarely on the head was in the vigorous and determined effort to popularize, say, to democratize the whole affair. And the splendid consequence of this policy are for all to see. Cleveland is on the opera map. And she is there to stay.



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