[Met Performance] CID:124090
Siegfried {181} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/28/1938.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
November 28, 1938
SIEGFRIED {181}
Wagner-Wagner
Siegfried...............Lauritz Melchior
Brünnhilde..............Marjorie Lawrence
Wanderer................Friedrich Schorr
Erda....................Kerstin Thorborg
Mime....................Karl Laufkötter
Alberich................Adolf Vogel
Fafner..................Norman Cordon
Forest Bird.............Natalie Bodanya
Conductor...............Artur Bodanzky
Director................Leopold Sachse
Set designer............Hans Kautsky
Set designer............Jonel Jorgulesco [Act III, Scene 2 only]
Siegfried received seven performances this season.
Review of Robert C. Bagar in the World Telegram
Melchior Siegfried at the Met
Number three in the Wagnerian tetralogy, "Siegfried," was the Metropolitan's choice for last evening. And the members of a large audience, come to get their four-hour quota of mythology with sound, stayed to the very end - minus a few who made an earlier departure.
Entrusted with the role of Siegfried was none other than Lauritz Melchior, as mature-looking a youth as has ever trod that sacrosanct stage - and no less so last evening. Yet his energetic deportment and the exuberance of his singing did much - as they generally do - to give the characterization a veritable realism.
Danish Tenor Amusing
The Danish tenor's voice sometimes was a little on the tight side in the upper register, but, gratifyingly, no such flaw was noticeable in the forging song. Nor did his last act vocalism have anything like a preponderance of it. When Mr. Melchior is in the vein, by the way, he can be very amusing with the business of the reed pipe. He was definitely in the vein this time and so much so that several good and life-sized chuckles greeted his antics.
Marjorie Lawrence, as Brünnhilde, gave a splendid performance. She was youth personified in looks. Hence she did the only plausible thing - she acted naturally. And since singing is almost as natural a function of hers as smiling - manifested on so many occasion and again last evening - there could have been only one possible result, a "Siegfried" Brünnhilde of the first order. Her high C's were gems of perfect intonation and solidly produced tone.
Schorr in Good Condition
Friedrich Schorr was in good vocal condition, save for topmost notes. But his delivery of the Wanderer's lines had nobility of style, point and implication. Kerstin Thorborg's Erda, a bit breathy, was adequate. Karl Laufkötter as Mime and Adolf Vogel as Alberich were creditable. Norman Cordon offered a deep-toned, articulate Fafner. Natalie Bodanya sang the Forest Bird's sequences clearly and pleasingly.