[Met Performance] CID:186800



Simon Boccanegra
Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, January 12, 1961




Simon Boccanegra (43)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave/Arrigo Boito
Simon Boccanegra
Frank Guarrera

Amelia
Renata Tebaldi

Gabriele Adorno
William Olvis

Jacopo Fiesco
Giorgio Tozzi

Paolo Albiani
Ezio Flagello

Pietro
Norman Scott

Maid
Maria Yauger [Last performance]

Captain
Robert Nagy


Conductor
Nino Verchi







Review 1:

Review of Martin Bernheimer in the New York Herald Tribune

Olvis is Adorno as Met Offers 'Boccanegra'

A new Gabriele Adorno in the person of William Olvis made news in the Metropolitan Opera's "Simon Boccanegra" last night. Although Mr. Olvis had sung the role with company on tour last spring, this was his first crack at it in New York.

Mr. Olvis cut a striking figure, and, for a tenor, turned in a remarkably convincing dramatic performance. His singing, too, was persuasive; he followed fastidious dynamic marking with more fidelity than do some of his colleagues, and carried his own in the ensembles. Since he had to sing with - and against - such formidable talent as Renata Tebaldi, Frank Guarrera, Giorgio Tozzi and Ezio Flagello in these big concerted numbers, that means something.

One danger signal, however, appeared intermittently in Mr. Olvis's vocalism. A rather throaty means of tone production causes him to force upon occasion. It would be most regrettable if a faulty technique were to be detrimental to one of our most promising young voices. Tenors in general are scarce; tenors with Mr. Olvis's potential are ever scarcer.

Incidentally, Miss Tebaldi deserves special thanks for artfully delaying her exit at the end of the Garden Scene. In doing so, she also delayed the invariable demonstration from her clap-happy fans, and thus saved one of the most beautiful moments of the opera; Simon's hushed octave drop on the word "figlia" as he bids a temporary farewell to his daughter.

Nino Verchi ably conducted a performance that was in general superior to the first of the season three weeks ago.



Search by season: 1960-61

Search by title: Simon Boccanegra,



Met careers