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Rigoletto
Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, October 30, 1958
Rigoletto (384)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave
- Rigoletto
- Leonard Warren
- Gilda
- Roberta Peters
- Duke of Mantua
- Eugenio Fernandi
- Maddalena
- Bel?n Amparan
- Sparafucile
- Nicola Moscona
- Monterone
- Norman Scott
- Borsa
- Gabor Carelli
- Marullo
- Calvin Marsh
- Count Ceprano
- George Cehanovsky
- Countess Ceprano
- Madelaine Chambers
- Giovanna
- Thelma Votipka
- Page
- Mildred Allen
- Guard
- Louis Sgarro
- Conductor
- Fausto Cleva
- Director
- Herbert Graf
- Designer
- Eugene Berman
- Choreographer
- Zachary Solov
- Stage Director
- Hans Busch
Rigoletto received fourteen performances this season.
Review 1:
Review of Bernie Hodes in Billboard
Handsome Met Revival Can Move 'Rigoletto' Waxings
The Metopera's first "Rigoletto" in two years (October 30) was a triumph of the whole rather than the parts. The resplendent sets and costumes, the grace of the ballet and the beauty of the staging worked in harmony toward an artistic unity. Since this fine production will be toured (and broadcast) by the Met later, dealers on the route have the chance for tie-ins, displays and to stock the RCA Victor and Angel waxings.
Our greatest current Rigoletto, Leonard Warren, fitted his dark baritone and strong thesping to the tragic parts of the title role, with fullness and sonority carrying the day despite an early wide vibrato. Eugenio Fernandi played his first Duke here with striking appearance, but flatted and choked occasionally and sounded uneasy at the top. Roberta Peters has consistently grown in the role of Gilda, her "Caro nome" exemplifying the perfection of vocal command and the certainty of her grasp. Her histrionic detachment alone prevents her from being a coloratura second to none.
Search by season: 1958-59
Search by title: Rigoletto,
Met careers
- Fausto Cleva [Conductor]
- Leonard Warren [Rigoletto]
- Roberta Peters [Gilda]
- Eugenio Fernandi [Duke of Mantua]
- Bel?n Amparan [Maddalena]
- Nicola Moscona [Sparafucile]
- Norman Scott [Monterone]
- Gabor Carelli [Borsa]
- Calvin Marsh [Marullo]
- George Cehanovsky [Count Ceprano]
- Madelaine Chambers [Countess Ceprano]
- Thelma Votipka [Giovanna]
- Mildred Allen [Page]
- Louis Sgarro [Guard]
- Herbert Graf [Director]
- Eugene Berman [Designer]
- Zachary Solov [Choreographer]
- Hans Busch [Stage Director]