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Don Giovanni
Metropolitan Opera House, Tue, November 12, 1963
Don Giovanni (240)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Lorenzo Da Ponte
- Don Giovanni
- Giorgio Tozzi
- Donna Anna
- Teresa Stich-Randall
- Don Ottavio
- Leopold Simoneau [Last performance]
- Donna Elvira
- Lisa Della Casa
- Leporello
- Ezio Flagello
- Zerlina
- Jeanette Scovotti
- Masetto
- Theodor Uppman
- Commendatore
- Bonaldo Giaiotti
- Conductor
- Joseph Rosenstock
Review 1:
Review of John Ardoin in Musical America
The fourth "Don Giovanni" of the season brought an important change in cast: the first Don at the Metropolitan of bass-baritone Giorgio Tozzi. Of the Metropolitan Opera's four Dons, Tozzi's is certainly the most aristocratic. Where Siepi is a skirt chaser, London a sadist, and Hines just miscast, Tozzi was a complete noble in both bearing and voice. This is not to imply that his portrayal was cool; rather, it had the right balance of dignity and devilment.Tozzi did not pursue Zerlina in a lecherous or frantic manner, he simply acquired her by his "droit du seigneur."
Tozzi's singing was as stylish as his acting, though on a smaller scale than that of his three colleagues. He lacked the consistent plumpness of tone and caress that is Siepi's and the resonance that characterizes London and Hines. Even so, Tozzi remains the most satisfying Don I have heard since Eberhard W?chter.
Another Metropolitan first was Jeanette Scovotti's Zerlina, Miss Scovotti was lovely and mobile on stage, and her singing was professional and tasteful, though somewhat monochromatic and occasionally hard. First appearances of the season were made by Lisa della Casa, whose classic Elvira was as welcome as ever, Ezio Flagello, who has established himself in my mind. at least, as the best Leporello about, and Bonaldo Giaiotti, his usual sonorous self as the father-statue.
The high point of the evening was Teresa Stich-Randall's brilliant Anna, again seconded by the superb Ottavio of Leopold Simoneau, Completing the cast was Theodor Uppman, who still seemed unwilling to let Masetto be more than a dull-witted adolescent. Joseph Rosenstock was understandably pooped after his afternoon dress rehearsal of "G?tterd?mmerung" and there was little life in him or the orchestra.
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