[Met Performance] CID:161680



Carmen
Metropolitan Opera House, Tue, January 20, 1953




Carmen (494)
Georges Bizet | Henri Meilhac/Ludovic Hal?vy
Carmen
Fedora Barbieri

Don Jos?
Richard Tucker

Micaela
Victoria de los Angeles

Escamillo
George London

Frasquita
Lucine Amara

Merc?d?s
Margaret Roggero

Remendado
Alessio De Paolis

Danca?re
George Cehanovsky

Zuniga
Norman Scott

Moral?s
Clifford Harvuot

Dance
Janet Collins

Dance
Loren Hightower


Conductor
Kurt Adler







Review 1:

Review of R. A. E. in Musical America

Fedora Barbieri's first Carmen at the Metropolitan, in this performance, turned out to be a rather tame affair. The singer was to be admired for her conscientiousness in staying within the framework of Tyrone Guthrie's staging, for her competent vocalizing of the music, and for the sizable tone and generally rich texture of her voice. Having to adjust herself to new stage directions and having to sing the role in French for the first time, as she did, Miss Barbieri handled herself with considerable poise. But she did not have the conviction she brings to a role such as Azucena, and while she often gave the music color there was neither brilliance nor line to her singing.

Another Metropolitan first in this presentation, George London's Escamillo, fared better. He sang the Toreador Song more effortlessly than any baritone around here in recent years, and his last-act passages were beautifully expressive. The voice is, however, rather dark for the incisive French style. He made a very tall Toreador but a dashing one, and he acted with spirit.

The outstanding performance was Victoria de los Angeles' demurely passionate Micaela, intensely and movingly sung. Richard Tucker was in excellent vocal form and made an effective Don Jose. Lucine Amara, Margaret Roggero, Alessio De Paolis, George Cehanovsky, Clifford Harvuot, and Norman Scott were others in the cast. Kurt Adler conducted with vigor.

Before the performance, Mr. London stepped before the curtain asking the audience to rise and sing the National Anthem in honor of the presidential inauguration.



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