[Met Performance] CID:186440



Nabucco
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, December 7, 1960




Nabucco (7)
Giuseppe Verdi | Temistocle Solera
Nabucco
Anselmo Colzani

Abigaille
Leonie Rysanek

Ismaele
Eugenio Fernandi

Fenena
Rosalind Elias

Zaccaria
Jerome Hines

Anna
Carlotta Ordassy

High Priest
Bonaldo Giaiotti

Abdallo
Paul Franke


Conductor
Thomas Schippers







Review 1:

Review of Martin Bernheimer in the New York Herald Tribune

Colzani, Hines Take Over Roles in 'Nabucco'

There were two newcomers in "Nabucco" at the Metropolitan Opera House Wednesday night: Anselmo Colzani appeared in the title role for the first time with the company, and Jerome Hines sang his initial Zaccaria. Otherwise, the cast included Leonie Rysanek, Rosalind Elias, Eugenio Fernandi, Bonaldo Giaiotti, Paul Franke and Carlotta Ordassy. Thomas Schippers conducted.

Mr. Colzani possesses neither the biggest nor the most beautiful baritone in the world, but he knows how to make the most of what he has. His Nabucco was acted with unrestrained grandeur and sung with authority. Mr. Colzani made the King of Babylon an imposing and sympathetic figure even though he lacked the ultimate in musical finesse and dramatic subtlety.

As the Chief Priest of the Hebrews, Mr. Hines was not at his best. The exposed high phrases often required a bit too much effort on his part, and he did remarkably little in the way of tonal shading or characterization. It is hoped that Mr. Hines' difficulties were merely the result of a pardonable off-night; it would be most regrettable if last year's excursion into the Wagnerian "Heldenbariton" repertory had been damaging to this fine artist.



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