[Met Performance] CID:143380
La Bohème {396} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/19/1946.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
December 19, 1946
LA BOHÈME {396}
Puccini-Illica/Giacosa
Mimì....................Bidú Sayao
Rodolfo.................Jussi Björling
Musetta.................Frances Greer
Marcello................John Brownlee
Schaunard...............George Cehanovsky
Colline.................Giacomo Vaghi
Benoit..................Salvatore Baccaloni
Alcindoro...............Salvatore Baccaloni
Parpignol...............Lodovico Oliviero
Sergeant................John Baker
Conductor...............Cesare Sodero
Director................Désiré Defrère
Costume designer........Blaschke & Cie
La Bohème received nine performances this season.
Review of Howard Taubman in The New York Times
"LA BOHÈME" DRAWS CAPACITY AUDIENCE
House Resembles an Open*ing Night as Bidu Sayao, Jussi Bjoerling Sing Lead Roles
The days before Christmas may mean a slowing down of business in the entertainment world, but you could not prove it by the turnout for the season's first "La Bohème" at the Metropolitan Opera House last night. The theatre was packed as solidly as if it were an open*ing night. Obviously there has been no decline in the appeal of "La Bohème."
Why should there be? The sentiment of Puccini's art, nowhere better expressed than in "La Bohème," remains direct and affecting. And if it is done with the honesty and simplicity, as it was last night, it evokes a nostalgia that would thaw the heart of the most resisting highbrow.
In Bidu Sayao and Jussi Bjoerling, the Metropolitan has singers who have the voices and lyric style for Puccini's music, and "La Bohème" needs such artists to achieve its sentimental glow. Miss Sayao, who acts and sings with a subtle and polished art that conceals art, is a fragile, tender sweet-voiced Mimi. There is no forcing, the melodic line is molded affectingly; the action is always in character.
Mr. Bjoerling, who made his first appearance of the season last night, sings Rodolfo with rich, vocal resource. His tope tones are round, full and unforced. His is a lyric voice with body and resonance. In recent years the voice has attained more warmth and color so that its affinity for Puccini's music is marked. In the first act and in the third act duet he sang with stirring impact.
The rest of the cast joined in a spirited and knowing presentation. Rodolfo's lively friends were sung and played with relish by John Brownlee, Giacomo Vaghi and George Cehanovsky. Frances Greer was an attractive Musetta. Salvatore Baccaloni did the two character bits of Benoit and Alcindoro with the flair of a distinguished comic artist. Cesare Sodero conducted a well-paced performance that proved once again there are sound reasons that "La Bohème" is one of the people's choices.