[Met Performance] CID:98080



Faust
Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, January 20, 1928 Matinee





Faust (363)
Charles Gounod | Jules Barbier/Michel Carr?
Faust
Giovanni Martinelli

Marguerite
Frances Alda

M?phistoph?l?s
Fyodor Chaliapin

Valentin
Mario Basiola

Siebel
Ellen Dalossy

Marthe
Philine Falco

Wagner
James Wolfe


Conductor
Louis Hasselmans







Review 1:

Review signed M. W. in the New York Tribune

Chaliapin Wins Audience as Mephisto in 'Faust'

Crittenton League Benefit Performance Brings Large Crowd to Metropolitan

Feodor Chaliapin, the Russian basso, returned yesterday afternoon to the Metropolitan for his annual operatic visitation as Mephistopheles in "Faust." The house was crowded to a most satisfactory extent for the benefit of the Florence Crittenton League, for which the special performance had been arranged.

It was interesting to observe a conventional production of this opera after certain innovations recently heard on Broadway and it must be confessed that, clothed in the time-honored and somewhat moth-eaten trappings of tradition, it lost little in its true values. There is a certain dignity to the operatic absurdities which is both endearing and enduring.

Mr. Chaliapin still plays a charming, inconsequent sort of devil, luring souls to perdition more or less as a matter of habit, with Faust and Marguerite's affair a pleasant enough diversion, but not very important. He had the audience in the hollow of his hand throughout the afternoon and his voice was smooth, resonant and in fine control. Mr. Martinelli in the title role, wore an unconvincing make-up, but redeemed his appearance by his admirable singing in the garden scene. Mme. Alda is singing better and better this season and, although she gave small illusion of simplicity or ingenuousness, is more than acceptable as Marguerite. Miss Dalossy's Siebel is amusing, but the "Flower Song" erred from the pitch. Mr. Basiola was Valentine; Miss Falco, Marthe, and James Wolfe, the Wagner. Mr. Hasselmans conducted.



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