Evaluate of Louis Snyder within the New York Herald Tribune
A much-heralded Italian soprano, Renata Scotto, lengthy heard about however by no means heard in New York, lastly made her Metropolitan Opera debut Wednesday evening within the title function of the season’s first efficiency of “Madama Butterfly.” It was an event for rejoicing, and there was loads of it within the type of applause and welcoming shouts to the brand new artist, who above all, is distinctly a person.
Miss Scotto, as a prima donna, harks again to the times when it was assumed that, to be imported by the Met, you had substantial voice and expertise, and the New York take a look at was one among communication of persona. Wednesday evening, Miss Scotto arrived with all three, and if she went her personal manner in portraying Cio-Cio-San-that is, outdoors the proscribed bounds of the efficient Aoyama production-hardly anybody cared.
For she sings musically and affectingly, with pathos and coloration and humor within the voice, in a fashion to enfold the listener within the first row of the orchestra or the final row of the household circle, Miss Scotto is a singer for all value ranges. They usually let her understand it Wednesday evening after “Un bel di” with as loud an ovation as has been heard within the Home this or perhaps even final season. It could appear to be a case of instantaneous love between Miss Scotto and the New York public.
Reverse Miss Scotto, John Alexander as Pinkerton did the type of clear, virile singing that has develop into ordinary with him. He regarded each inch the turn-of-century charmer, and made this ungrateful function not solely possible however sympathetic. Joann Grillo’s Suzuki was gracious and warm-voiced.
There have been two different debuts-John Robert Dunlap as Sharpless and Robert Schmorr as Goro. Mr. Schmorr has been seen and heard on this function elsewhere on the town, and it was no shock that his particular items of characterization gained a brand new dimension within the Metropolitan setting. Of Mr. Dunlap’s {qualifications} it’s tougher to guage. He definitely sounded and acted like an American counsel of lengthy tenure, however whether or not this suffices for membership in our nation’s main opera firm stays to be found.
George Schick, conducting rather than Fausto Cleva, offered a glowing orchestral texture for this thrilling night and Norman Scott, Gene Boucher, Russell Christopher, Shirley Love, William Stanz and Joyce Goldstein accomplished the solid.
Birthday anniversaries of composers Rafael Martínez Valls (1887) and Hugo Weisgall (1912), conductor Boris Khaikin (1904), and bass Enzo Dara (1938)
Glad seventy fifth birthday soprano Leona Mitchell
Glad 74th birthday mezzo-soprano Katherine Ciesinski
Glad 73rd birthday baritone Gregory Yurisich
