[Met Performance] CID:210020



Madama Butterfly
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, April 5, 1967




Madama Butterfly (471)
Giacomo Puccini | Luigi Illica/ Giuseppe Giacosa
Cio-Cio-San
Raina Kabaivanska

Pinkerton
Barry Morell

Suzuki
Nancy Williams

Sharpless
Mario Sereni

Goro
Robert Schmorr

Bonze
Clifford Harvuot

Yamadori
Russell Christopher

Dolore
Lisa Puleo

Kate Pinkerton
Shirley Love

Commissioner
Gene Boucher

Registrar
William Stanz


Conductor
Francesco Molinari-Pradelli







Review 1:

Review of Theodore Strongin in The New York Times

RAINA KABAIVANSKA IN FIRST "BUTTERFLY"

Raina Kabaivanska sang the title role in "Madama Butterfly" for the first time with the Metropolitan Opera Wednesday night and she gave a fresh account of herself.

Deliberately avoiding clich?s, she stuck closely to dramatic values. In the first act, she was a somewhat mischievous and temperamental Butterfly. She reacted to the events of the second act with believable passion.

Sometimes, for the sake of characterization, she slighted the vocal amenities. Puccini's melodies were occasionally stiffened up, even made momentarily harsh, to get across a point in the libretto. There was always a sensible reason for these departures.

Elsewhere, her voice was warm, full, and very varied in color, and her phrasing supple.

Nancy Williams as Suzuki and Clifford Harvout as the uncle-priest were also firsts in the roles with the company. Miss Williams was a thoroughly acceptable if subdued Suzuki and Mr. Harvout a fearsome uncle.

Mario Sereni sang Sharpless for the first time this season. Singers in familiar roles were Barry Morell as Pinkerton, Shirley Love as Kate, Robert Schmorr as Goro and Russell Christopher as Yamadori. Francesco Molinari-Pradelli conducted.



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