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Louise Lerch, the young soprano of the Metropolitan Opera Company, made her debut appearance last night as Gilda in Verdi's "Rigoletto" before a crowded house that included a delegation of more than 100 of the singer's fellow townsmen from Allentown, Pennsylvania, led by Mayor Matthew W. Gross. Since her brilliant debut just a year ago at the Metropolitan Sunday night concert, when, unheralded and unknown, Miss Lerch won an enthusiastic reception, she has made steady progress both at the opera house and in concert.

The young artist, slender and girlish in her rose-colored costume, immediately won the favor of her audience last night as she stepped on the stage for her first scene. There was little trace of nervousness in her [first] phrases and the duets that preceded the "Caro nome" aria. This she sang with a liquid and floating tone which was a delight to hear, and she was invariably true to the pitch, There was indeed a little caution evident in her production of more of the staccato and fioratura passages and a tendency to linger over more of the phrases, with a consequent loss of brilliancy and "effect."

Her associates included Giacomo Lauri-Volpi as the Duke, Giuiseppe De Luca as the Jester, Adamo Didur as Sparafucile, and Ina Bourskaya as Maddalena. Mme. Sembrich, the singer's former teacher, was in the audience, as were many of Miss Lerch's associates of the opera. Following the performance there was a reception on the stage and later a supper at the Hotel Biltmore.

Search by season: 1927-28

Search by title: Rigoletto,

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