[Met Performance] CID:120640
Les Contes d'Hoffmann {56} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/8/1937.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
February 8, 1937
LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN {56}
Jacques Offenbach-Jules Barbier
Hoffmann................Sydney Rayner
Olympia.................Stella Andreva
Giulietta...............Helen Jepson
Antonia.................Eidé Norena
Stella..................Frances Walsingham
Lindorf.................Lawrence Tibbett
Coppélius...............Lawrence Tibbett
Dappertutto.............Lawrence Tibbett
Dr. Miracle.............Lawrence Tibbett
Nicklausse..............Irra Petina
Andrès..................Angelo Badà
Cochenille..............Angelo Badà
Pitichinaccio...........Angelo Badà
Frantz..................Angelo Badà
Luther..................Arnold Gabor
Nathanael...............George Rasely
Hermann.................Wilfred Engelman
Spalanzani..............Louis D'Angelo
Schlemil................Norman Cordon
Crespel.................Louis D'Angelo
Mother's Voice..........Anna Kaskas
Conductor...............Maurice Abravanel
Director................Herbert Graf
Set designer............Joseph Urban
Review of Francis D. Perkins in the New York Herald Tribune
'Tales of Hoffmann' Sung
Helen Jepson New Giulietta at Metropolitan
Meanwhile the Metropolitan Opera House entered the second half of its regular season last night with the third performance of Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffmann." As in the first performance of this revival Sydney Rayner sang Hoffmann, with Irra Petina as the monitory Nicklausse and Stella Andreva as the mechanical Olympia, while there was a new Giulietta. This, according to original plans, would have been Gladys Swarthout, but her recent indisposition caused the assignment of the role to Helen Jepson, who also had not sung it here before.
Miss Jepson looked well as the Venetian siren and, after somewhat reserved singing in the Barcarolle, was generally in good vocal form for the remainder of a role which gives its interpreter a rather limited musical opportunity. Mr. Rayner in this act often sang with considerable vocal luxuriance, but sometimes with some tonal tautness. Eide Norena sang Antonia for the first time here. Lawrence Tibbett again represented the four characters detrimental to Hoffmann's hopes, and Anna Kaskas and Messrs. Bada, Cordon, Gabor, Rasely, Engelman and D'Angelo were the other singers under Maurice de Abravanel's direction.