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Rigoletto
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, November 19, 1966 Matinee
Rigoletto (452)
Giuseppe Verdi | Francesco Maria Piave
- Rigoletto
- Cornell MacNeil
- Gilda
- Roberta Peters
- Duke of Mantua
- John Alexander
- Maddalena
- Nedda Casei
- Sparafucile
- Bonaldo Giaiotti
- Monterone
- Raymond Michalski
- Borsa
- Gabor Carelli
- Marullo
- Robert Goodloe
- Count Ceprano
- Gene Boucher
- Countess Ceprano
- Loretta Di Franco
- Giovanna
- Carlotta Ordassy
- Page
- Karan Armstrong
- Guard
- Lloyd Strang
- Conductor
- Lamberto Gardelli
Review 1:
Review of Fred Kirby in Billboard
MacNeil Is Outstanding In the Met's "Rigoletto"
Cornell MacNeil, cast in the title role of Rigoletto, definitely is the outstanding singer in this season's performances of the Verdi warhorse at the Metropolitan Opera. MacNeil's rich baritone made up for some spotty singing by other principals last Saturday (19). An exception was Bonaldi Giaiotti's Sparafucile, which was a tower of strength. Giaiotti clearly is one of the company's most dependable artists.
Roberta Peters, as sweet a Gilda as ever, sang prettily, but sounded thin in spots, especially the "Caro nome" ending, while John Alexander, the possessor of a rich lyric tenor voice, seemed more interested in demonstrating it than in portraying the Duke. This was really evident at the ending of "La donna e mobile," when he lost Lamberto Gardelli, an experienced operatic conductor leading the opera for the first time at the Met this season.
The opera house's wealth of basses again was apparent in the fine job by Raymond Michalski in the small, but important role of Monterone. Nedda Cassei again was a competent Maddalena. The serviceable production seemed at home in the new house, but, MacNeil, in his two arias and in duets, was the afternoon's star. What a voice!
Search by season: 1966-67
Search by title: Rigoletto,
Met careers
- Lamberto Gardelli [Conductor]
- Cornell MacNeil [Rigoletto]
- Roberta Peters [Gilda]
- John Alexander [Duke of Mantua]
- Nedda Casei [Maddalena]
- Bonaldo Giaiotti [Sparafucile]
- Raymond Michalski [Monterone]
- Gabor Carelli [Borsa]
- Robert Goodloe [Marullo]
- Gene Boucher [Count Ceprano]
- Loretta Di Franco [Countess Ceprano]
- Carlotta Ordassy [Giovanna]
- Karan Armstrong [Page]
- Lloyd Strang [Guard]