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Charles Anthony, tenor from New Orleans, Saturday night reaped his reward for being one of the winners of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the Air. He made his debut at the Metropolitan in the small role of the Simpleton in "Boris Godunov," but he did it so well that probably few who saw the performance will forget him.

With his silver fez, grey robes and slightly distracted air, and with his clear, sweetly plaintive voice, Mr. Anthony made the pathetic little old man a telling foil for the great Boris in the Kremlin scene that opens the final act. As an indication of the impression he made on the audience, he was called forward for three solo bows to acknowledge the applause.

In the last scene, one realized how Mr. Anthony's movements and gestures had imprinted the Simpleton on the mind by the way one instantly recognized him as he reappeared among one of the largest crowds that ever milled about the Metropolitan stage. And his touching, crying singing, with his arms spread out as if he were crucified, brought the opera to a close.

Mr. Anthony had better be careful. If he does other bit parts so vividly, he'll be stamped as a character singer for life.

Photograph of Charles Anthony as the Simpleton in Boris Godunov by Sedge LeBlang.

Search by season: 1953-54

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