[Met Performance] CID:176610



La Boh?me
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, December 28, 1957




La Boh?me (548)
Giacomo Puccini | Luigi Illica/Giuseppe Giacosa
Mim?
Victoria de los Angeles

Rodolfo
Flaviano Lab?

Musetta
Heidi Krall

Marcello
Frank Guarrera

Schaunard
Clifford Harvuot

Colline
Jerome Hines

Benoit
Lawrence Davidson

Alcindoro
Lorenzo Alvary

Parpignol/Officer
Robert Nagy

Sergeant
Ezio Flagello


Conductor
Thomas Schippers







Review 1:

Review of Robert Sabin in the January 15, 1958 issue of Musical America

Flaviano Lab?'s first performance of the role of Rodolfo at the Metropolitan on this occasion put him squarely in the front rank of the tenor wing of the company. The virility, the ringing splendor of his voice frequently reminded me of Giovanni Martinelli. It was the sort of singing that draws listeners to the edge of their seats and sets off explosions of applause.

Mr. Lab? had made a very solid impression at his debut with the company, in the role of Don Alvaro in "La Forza del Destino" on Nov. 29, but it was Puccini, not Verdi, that revealed him to us at his best. Small in stature and quiet in stage deportment, he handled himself well and he revealed a keen musical awareness in every detail. Not merely in the big moments of the role--such things as the narrative and love duet of the first act and the death scene-did Mr. Lab? triumph, but in the ensembles and quieter moments which are the most grueling tests of the artist. And when sheer power was required, he poured it forth in stirring abundance.

There was another "first," the appearance of Ezio Flagello in the minor role of the Sergeant. It is highly amusing to hear sergeants and jailors loom out these days with superb rotund tones, when Mr. Flagello is singing the roles. But it will do this talented young singer no harm to perform some of the humbler tasks of opera on his way to leading parts, which he is already beginning to obtain.

Spectacular as was Mr. Lab?'s first Rodolfo, it was not the only memorable achievement of the evening. The whole performance was inspired and I do not think I have ever heard Victoria de los Angeles sing more ravishingly. Apart from a slight hardness in top tones, her vocalism was above reproach throughout, with countless phrases of such breathtaking tonal beauty that one remembered them afterwards with a feeling almost of incredulity. She sang the death scene so touchingly that everyone was in tears and Rodolfo's heartbroken "Mimi!" was really shattering.

The other members of the Bohemian quartet were Frank Guarrera, as Marcello; Clifford Harvuot, as Schaunard; and Jerome Hines, as Colline. And in other roles were Heidi Krall, as Musetta; Lawrence Davidson, as Benoit; Robert Nagy, as Parpignol and the Customs Officer; and Lorenzo Alvary, as Alcindoro.

No small credit is owing to Thomas Schippers, who conducts this work with wonderful sensitivity and searching detail. He obviously loves the music and he misses not a shade of Puccini's masterly scoring. It is reassuring to find a young American artist conducting Italian opera at the Metropolitan in such distinguished fashion.



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