[Met Performance] CID:130100
Louise {35} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/11/1940.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
December 11, 1940
LOUISE {35}
Charpentier-Charpentier
Louise..................Grace Moore
Julien..................Charles Kullman
Mother..................Doris Doe
Father..................Ezio Pinza
Blanche.................Helen Olheim
Marguerite..............Edith Herlick
Suzanne.................Pearl Besuner
Gertrude................Irra Petina
Irma....................Maxine Stellman
Camille.................Thelma Votipka
Élise...................Annamary Dickey
Madeleine...............Anna Kaskas
Errand Girl.............Natalie Bodanya
Forewoman...............Maria Savage
Ragpicker...............John Gurney
Young Ragpicker.........Pearl Besuner
Coal Gatherer...........Anna Kaskas
Noctambulist............Alessio De Paolis
Newsgirl................Annamary Dickey
Junkman.................Louis D'Angelo
Milkwoman...............Maxine Stellman
Policeman...............Emery Darcy
Policeman...............Arthur Kent
Street Arab.............Natalie Bodanya
Streetsweeper...........Maria Savage
Painter.................Wilfred Engelman
Sculptor................George Cehanovsky
Songwriter..............Nicholas Massue
Student.................John Dudley
Poet....................George Rasely
Philosopher.............Norman Cordon
Philosopher.............Louis D'Angelo
Chairmender.............Anna Kaskas
Peddler.................George Cehanovsky
Artichoke Vendor........Thelma Votipka
Birdfood Vendor.........Unknown
Carrot Vendor...........Alessio De Paolis
Watercress Vendor.......Anna Kaskas
Greenpeas Vendor........Nicholas Massue
Old Clothes Man.........George Rasely
Pope of Fools...........Alessio De Paolis
Dance...................Monna Montes
Conductor...............Ettore Panizza
Director................Désiré Defrère
Designer................Joseph Urban
Louise received five performances this season.
Review of Pitts Sanborn in the New York World-Telegram
Miss Moore Sings Role of Louise
Stars at Best in Opera by Charpentier
In the Metropolitan's young season Charpentier's "Louise" had its turn last evening. If you admit a French opera without one French singer in the cast you may go far. But your first station for the night may be Metropolitan-atte-Bowe. However, let the night's lodging pass.
"Louise" makes an effect, thanks to a libretto which, demoded, if you like, or not, makes its effect. The thing is human, universal, "ideological," as you prefer. There is always the young girl drawn by the white lights, the moth and the flame, and there are also the parents, prejudice, and routine of what not.
Last night's performance made its due effect. Ettore Panizza conducted with authority, even if the purist might find fault with some of tempi, and the general results were impressive. Paris never looked in the old days quite like the backdrop of Act III, but what of that? Paris for some of us is always Paris.
Grace Moore (Louise), Doris Doe (the Mother), Charles Kullman (Julien) and Ezio Pinza (the Father) were all at their best, and the performance went. Here was opera very definitely about something, and the large audience approved and made known its approval.
Perhaps a special word should be said of Miss Doe and Mr. Pinza. Miss Doe has not only digested the character of Louise's mother but her low tones in the scene of Montmartre were eminently effective. Mr. Pinza, too, made good use of his excellent vocal resources.
Had it not been for a touch of exaggeration, which made one feel that the overanxious Father was a new immigrant in the 18th arrondissment, his acting and singing would have run away with the performance.
As it was, the representation stood high in the Metropolitan's present scale of achievement. But why not English instead of French of Metropolitan-atta-Bowe?