[Met Performance] CID:141750
La Bohème {395} Northrup Memorial auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota: 05/4/1946.
(Review)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
May 4, 1946
LA BOHÈME {395}
Mimì....................Dorothy Kirsten
Rodolfo.................Jussi Björling
Musetta.................Frances Greer
Marcello................John Brownlee
Schaunard...............George Cehanovsky
Colline.................Norman Cordon
Benoit..................Gerhard Pechner
Alcindoro...............Gerhard Pechner
Parpignol...............Lodovico Oliviero
Sergeant................John Baker
Conductor...............Cesare Sodero
Review of John H. Harvey in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press
"Met" Says Farewell
The Metropolitan Opera company Saturday bid goodbye to the Twin Cities with… an evening performance of Puccini's "La Boheme" in Northrup Memorial auditorium We did hear some remarkable singing and witnessed another of those closely-integrated, sharply-focused jobs of conducting by Cesare Sodero.
Jussi Bjoerling as Rodolfo displayed a ringing, silvery tenor which while beginning to tarnish slightly in the high spots, still is the best of the Metropolitan. That voice, combined with his emotional characterization sent pleasant tingles up the spine.
Dorothy Kirsten, singing her first season with the "Met," was a fine, appealing Mimi. Her voice and singing makes one wonder why the Metropolitan was so slow in signing her up. She has that rare thing in the Metropolitan these days - a big, easily-handled soprano voice with a rich timbre. It was used intelligently and effectively, creating a Mimi that will not soon be forgotten in these parts. You'll be hearing more of that young woman.
Frances Greer was a pretty, spitfirish Musetta but was small-voiced and not too distinguished musically. John Brownlee was an excellent Marcello, while George Cehanovsky was Schaunard and Norman Cordon, Colline.