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La Forza del Destino
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, November 27, 1943 Matinee Broadcast
Debut : Frederick Lechner
La Forza del Destino (54)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave
- Leonora
- Stella Roman
- Don Alvaro
- Frederick Jagel
- Don Carlo
- Lawrence Tibbett
- Padre Guardiano
- Ezio Pinza
- Preziosilla
- Anna Kaskas
- Fra Melitone
- Salvatore Baccaloni
- Marquis de Calatrava
- Frederick Lechner [Debut]
- Curra
- Thelma Votipka
- Mayor
- Lorenzo Alvary
- Trabuco
- Alessio De Paolis
- Surgeon
- John Gurney
- Dance
- Nina Youskevitch
- Dance
- Alexis Dolinoff
- Dance
- Michael Arshansky
- Conductor
- Bruno Walter
- Director
- Herbert Graf
- Set Designer
- Ernest M. Gros
- Set Designer
- James Fox
- Set Designer
- Joseph Novak
- Costume Designer
- Witold Gordon
- Choreographer
- Laurent Novikoff
La Forza del Destino received four performances this season.
Gros designed the sets for the Church of the Madonna, the encampment and the Cloister of the Madonna; the other sets were created by scenic artist J. Fox; J. Novak painted a vista of classical ruins inserted as a backdrop for the encampment scene.
Review 1:
Review of Leonard Liebling in the Musical Courier
"La Forza del Destino" under Walter
The November 27 Saturday matin?e of the Verdi musical melodrama presented much excellent singing and acting as credible as possible with such a fustian and unconvincing libretto. Stella Roman did the chief soprano role, and with telling vocalism on the whole, although there was too much use of pianissimo and head tones. Lawrence Tibbett made an imposing picture of the somber vengeful Don Carlos, and delivered his music with utmost meaning and artistic taste. His big duet with Frederick Jagel (Alvaro) found him matching that tenor in fullness and ring of utterance. Ezio Pinza was a towering and dignified Abbott. Frederich Lechner made his local debut, and as the Marquis revealed a useful voice. Salvatore Baccoloni ran away with the comedy of the opera, and his Friar Melitone had rollicking humor and ideally purposed singing. Anna Kaskas somewhat overdid the impetuosity of Preziosilla. Bruno Walter let the welkin ring with his orchestra and emphasized all the fine frenzies and lyric sobs of the score. After the second act overture the auditors were amused when a lone stentorian voice in the balcony, shouted "Bravo Bruno."
Search by season: 1943-44
Search by title: La Forza del Destino,
Met careers
- Bruno Walter [Conductor]
- Stella Roman [Leonora]
- Frederick Jagel [Don Alvaro]
- Lawrence Tibbett [Don Carlo]
- Ezio Pinza [Padre Guardiano]
- Anna Kaskas [Preziosilla]
- Salvatore Baccaloni [Fra Melitone]
- Frederick Lechner [Marquis de Calatrava]
- Thelma Votipka [Curra]
- Lorenzo Alvary [Mayor]
- Alessio De Paolis [Trabuco]
- John Gurney [Surgeon]
- Nina Youskevitch [Dance]
- Alexis Dolinoff [Dance]
- Michael Arshansky [Dance]
- Herbert Graf [Director]
- Laurent Novikoff [Choreographer]
- Ernest M. Gros [Set Designer]
- James Fox [Set Designer]
- Joseph Novak [Set Designer]
- Witold Gordon [Costume Designer]