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[Met Tour] CID:147860
La Boh?me
Denver Auditorium, Denver, Colorado, Tue, April 27, 1948 Matinee
La Boh?me (416)
Giacomo Puccini | Luigi Illica/Giuseppe Giacosa
Review 1:
Review of Cecil Effinger in the Denver Post
Famous Met Scores Success With ?La Boh?me?
Licia Albanese and Jan Peerce led the cast in the Metropolitan?s matinee offering, Puccini?s ?La Boh?me,? at the auditorium Tuesday afternoon. Both stars had appeared in Denver earlier this season in concert, and several others of the cast are well known here, but to have them all together in performance with the regular forces of the great opera company was wonderful.
Francesco Valentino as Marcello was making his second appearance here during the month, having sung in the Denver Grand Opera company?s ?Barber of Seville? two weeks ago. Frances Greer as a spirited Musetta and Salvatore Baccaloni in the roles of Benoit and Alcindoro are long time friends in these parts.
?La Boh?me? with its delicate combination of comedy and tragedy can sneak up on you with a real impact when done right.
The distinctive music of Puccini, from which tin pan alley seemingly borrowed quite a bit, was heard at its best. With such fine voices taking part, this performance was a convincing, moving and memorable one.
Mimi is a perfect part for Albanese, and she did it perfectly. And Peerce could not be improved upon to sing opposite her. There is no use to go on about it, for anyone who knows the opera and the singers needs little else to imagine the fine results. The part of Marcello was handled with restraint in the right degree. Joining with him and Rodolfo were Hugh Thompson as Schaunard and Nicola Moscona as Colline, the four doing a fine job of making merry and sad.
The waiters at Caf? Momus were professionals, either as waiters or actors. The whole scene was effective, sparked by the appearance of Miss Greer in that enjoyable part of Musetta. Baccaloni, bad boy, stole several scenes in each of his roles, and certainly with the complete approval of his fellow actors as well as his audience. Anthony Marlowe and Lawrence Davidson carried the minor parts of the vendor and the sergeant.
Giuseppe Antonicelli conducted this performance, bringing out a generally well integrated result, which found the accompaniment only a bit heavy in a few places ? at least from where we sat. It was a full house again, with out-of-towners numbering nearly with the local crowd. The audience was very warm in appreciation of one of the best events to take place in the venerable auditorium in a long time.
Search by season: 1947-48
Search by title: La Boh?me,
Met careers
La Boh?me
Denver Auditorium, Denver, Colorado, Tue, April 27, 1948 Matinee
La Boh?me (416)
Giacomo Puccini | Luigi Illica/Giuseppe Giacosa
- Mim?
- Licia Albanese
- Rodolfo
- Jan Peerce
- Musetta
- Frances Greer
- Marcello
- Frank Valentino
- Schaunard
- Hugh Thompson
- Colline
- Nicola Moscona
- Alcindoro/Benoit
- Salvatore Baccaloni
- Parpignol
- Anthony Marlowe
- Sergeant
- Lawrence Davidson
- Conductor
- Giuseppe Antonicelli
Review 1:
Review of Cecil Effinger in the Denver Post
Famous Met Scores Success With ?La Boh?me?
Licia Albanese and Jan Peerce led the cast in the Metropolitan?s matinee offering, Puccini?s ?La Boh?me,? at the auditorium Tuesday afternoon. Both stars had appeared in Denver earlier this season in concert, and several others of the cast are well known here, but to have them all together in performance with the regular forces of the great opera company was wonderful.
Francesco Valentino as Marcello was making his second appearance here during the month, having sung in the Denver Grand Opera company?s ?Barber of Seville? two weeks ago. Frances Greer as a spirited Musetta and Salvatore Baccaloni in the roles of Benoit and Alcindoro are long time friends in these parts.
?La Boh?me? with its delicate combination of comedy and tragedy can sneak up on you with a real impact when done right.
The distinctive music of Puccini, from which tin pan alley seemingly borrowed quite a bit, was heard at its best. With such fine voices taking part, this performance was a convincing, moving and memorable one.
Mimi is a perfect part for Albanese, and she did it perfectly. And Peerce could not be improved upon to sing opposite her. There is no use to go on about it, for anyone who knows the opera and the singers needs little else to imagine the fine results. The part of Marcello was handled with restraint in the right degree. Joining with him and Rodolfo were Hugh Thompson as Schaunard and Nicola Moscona as Colline, the four doing a fine job of making merry and sad.
The waiters at Caf? Momus were professionals, either as waiters or actors. The whole scene was effective, sparked by the appearance of Miss Greer in that enjoyable part of Musetta. Baccaloni, bad boy, stole several scenes in each of his roles, and certainly with the complete approval of his fellow actors as well as his audience. Anthony Marlowe and Lawrence Davidson carried the minor parts of the vendor and the sergeant.
Giuseppe Antonicelli conducted this performance, bringing out a generally well integrated result, which found the accompaniment only a bit heavy in a few places ? at least from where we sat. It was a full house again, with out-of-towners numbering nearly with the local crowd. The audience was very warm in appreciation of one of the best events to take place in the venerable auditorium in a long time.
Search by season: 1947-48
Search by title: La Boh?me,
Met careers