[Met Performance] CID:144740
La Bohème {403} Matinee ed. Opera House.Chicago, Illinois: 04/26/1947.
(Review)
Chicago, Illinois
April 26, 1947 Matinee
LA BOHÈME {403}
Mimì....................Bidú Sayao
Rodolfo.................Jan Peerce
Musetta.................Frances Greer
Marcello................Frank Valentino
Schaunard...............Hugh Thompson
Colline.................Virgilio Lazzari
Benoit..................Salvatore Baccaloni
Alcindoro...............Salvatore Baccaloni
Parpignol...............Lodovico Oliviero
Sergeant................John Baker
Conductor...............Cesare Sodero
Review of Felix Borowski in the Chicago Sun
Bidu Sayao Gives Delightful Performance in "La Bohème"
At its matinee yesterday, the Metropolitan Opera Co. offered Puccini's "La Bohème" to an audience so large that every seat in the Opera House was filled. This may have been due to Puccini's charming score, or to the company's expert singers, or perhaps to both.
In general the performance was of considerable merit,. The first and second acts moved with spirit and animation; and the emotion and poignancy of the scene at the Paris customs barrier was well sustained. Only in the first act did Cesare Sodero, the conductor, and the four Bohemians in their garret fail in artistic understanding; for the first twenty minutes of it were spent by the gentlemen in roaring at the top of their voices, with HughThompson - the Schaunard of the act - excelling in lung power any of his colleagues - yet all this was a radical departure for the nuances designated in Puccini's score.
A Delightful Mimi
Only with the appearance of Bidu Sayao, as Mimi, did the interpretation achieve musical integrity. Of Miss Sayao's singing, as of her characterization, words offered by honest admiration must be set down here. The vocal tone and line were of entrancing beauty, and so appealing and fastidious the histrionism, that not for many seasons has so delightful a Mimi appeared on the local stage.
Jan Peerce's Rodolfo also was well sung. The tenor is in possession of an attractive voice, vitalized and invigorated by an understanding of what his role is all about. The "Che gelida manina" of the [first] scene was delivered with eloquence, and even Mr. Sodero's orchestral hurly-burly was unable to prevent the singer from bringing success to it. The duet, too, with Mimi in the third act was accomplished with warmth and the emotional expression that was not overdone, as often it is, with Italian vocalists.
Fortunate Casting
One of the difficulties of many "Bohème" productions has been the discovery of a Musetta able to sing well as well as act. The Met has been more fortunate there than our local company. Frances Greer, who presented her ideas of the role yesterday was pert, coquettish, lively and virago-ish by turn and although not possessed by a large voice, made a brave show with the waltz song in the second act.
Francesco Valentino made an effective Marcello, and Salvatore Baccaloni was amusing in two parts - Benoit and Alcindoro.