[Met Performance] CID:146910
La Bohème {408} Matinee Broadcast ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 01/31/1948., Broadcast
(Broadcast
Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
January 31, 1948 Matinee Broadcast
LA BOHÈME {408}
Mimì....................Bidú Sayao
Rodolfo.................Ferruccio Tagliavini
Musetta.................Mimi Benzell
Marcello................John Brownlee
Schaunard...............Hugh Thompson
Colline.................Nicola Moscona
Benoit..................Salvatore Baccaloni
Alcindoro...............Salvatore Baccaloni
Parpignol...............Lodovico Oliviero
Sergeant................Lawrence Davidson
Conductor...............Giuseppe Antonicelli
Review of Cecil Smith in Musical America
Ferruccio Tagliavini sang his first Rodolfo of the season in the fourth "Bohème," and revived an ancient amenity by bowing and smiling in the direction of a standee - presumably a member of the claque - who shouted "Bravo!" at the close of the first-act narrative. In spite of his willingness to interrupt the flow of the story, Mr. Tagliavini made his Rodolfo as believable as any at the Metropolitan, illuminating his characterization with many whimsical touches and never forcing his action out of a discreet and appropriate frame. He sang beautifully, and more easily than at his debut last year, when he had not yet gauged the acoustics of the opera house altogether successfully.
The Mimi was again Bidu Sayao, in an altogether exquisite voice. Other artists heard in previous performances were John Brownlee, Hugh Thompson, Nicola Moscona, Salvatore Baccaloni (as both Benoit and Alcindoro), Mimi Benzell, Lodovico Oliviero and Lawrence Davidson. Giuseppe Antonicelli conducted.