[Met Performance] CID:173160



Il Trovatore
Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, November 16, 1956




Il Trovatore (287)
Giuseppe Verdi | Salvatore Cammarano
Manrico
Carlo Bergonzi

Leonora
Antonietta Stella

Count Di Luna
Robert Merrill

Azucena
Fedora Barbieri

Ferrando
Nicola Moscona

Ines
Maria Leone

Ruiz
Charles Anthony

Messenger
James McCracken

Gypsy
Calvin Marsh


Conductor
Max Rudolf







Review 1:

Review of D. M. E. in Musical America

This performance of "Il Trovatore" saw Antonietta Stella and Carlo Bergonzi making their first appearances as Leonora and Manrico. In all truth, they had a difficult assignment, for Fedora Barbieri walked away with the evening's honors, creating a character of real proportions from the meaty part of Azucena.

Miss Stella used her large and smooth voice effectively through most of the role, except for a tendency to be strident and sharp in her top register. Middle and low tones were beautifully formed, and much of her best singing came in soft, lyrical passages, notably in the convent scene of the second act. As the evening wore on she became a more convincing actress, leaving aside some artificial stage clich?s and bringing real personal feeling to the tragic evolution of the role.

Mr. Bergonzi's singing was controlled and pleasant throughout, but a tendency towards breathiness spoiled some of its effect. He was a convincing character, particularly as the opera developed and he outgrew an early stiffness on the stage. The "L'onda de' suoni mistici," the duet in the third act, was beautifully matched in tone and ensemble.

Max Rudolf conducted a well-paced performance, also distinguished by clean choral work, to an enthusiastic house.



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