[Met Performance] CID:103720

Metropolitan Opera Premiere, New Production

Luisa Miller
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, December 21, 1929 Matinee





Luisa Miller (1)
Giuseppe Verdi | Salvadore Cammarano
Luisa
Rosa Ponselle

Rodolfo
Giacomo Lauri-Volpi

Miller
Giuseppe De Luca

Count Walter
Tancredi Pasero

Wurm
Pavel Ludikar

Federica
Marion Telva

Laura
Aida Doninelli

Peasant
Giordano Paltrinieri


Conductor
Tullio Serafin


Director
Ernst Lert

Designer
Joseph Urban

Giuseppe Verdi



Luisa Miller received five performances this season.

Review 1:

Review by Lawrence Gilman in the New York Herald Tribune

[The] music...is, on the whole, what one might expect in an opera written by Verdi, in 1847. It is, like "Ernani," a transitional work, with some retrospects of Bellini and Donizetti, and many forshadowings of the later and better known operas of Verdi. The music represents an advance over that of "Ernani," while the form remains largely that of early nineteenth century grand opera; there is more reflection of the moods of the text in the music, but not always. The orchestra is still principally an accompanist, but at times is given a part of some importance in underlining the situation or the text. Of tunes there is no lack, but these, with some exceptions, are less capturable by memory than those of the better known operas of this composer, less developed in musical characterization. But...there is plenty of room for vocal display.

"Luisa Miller" is far from foolproof; if it succeeds it will do so by virtue of a well sung performance. Fortunately, it received such a performance yesterday, and gave Miss Ponselle opportunity to relieve anxiety about the state of her voice. How much of the hearty enthusiasm was due to the work itself, how much to a welcome to Miss Ponselle, remains for later performances to tell.



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