[Met Performance] CID:149110
Louise {49} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/10/1948.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
December 10, 1948
LOUISE {49}
Charpentier-Charpentier
Louise..................Dorothy Kirsten
Julien..................Charles Kullman
Mother..................Margaret Harshaw
Father..................John Brownlee
Blanche.................Thelma Altman
Marguerite..............Jean Madeira
Suzanne.................Martha Lipton
Gertrude................Hertha Glaz
Irma....................Maxine Stellman
Camille.................Thelma Votipka
Élise...................Inge Manski
Madeleine...............Paula Lenchner
Errand Girl.............Lillian Raymondi
Forewoman...............May Savage
Ragpicker...............Nicola Moscona
Young Ragpicker.........Martha Lipton
Coal Gatherer...........Thelma Altman
Noctambulist............Thomas Hayward
Newsgirl................Paula Lenchner
Junkman.................Philip Kinsman
Milkwoman...............Inge Manski
Policeman...............Emery Darcy
Policeman...............Lawrence Davidson
Street Arab.............Lillian Raymondi
Streetsweeper...........Jean Madeira
Painter.................George Cehanovsky
Sculptor................Clifford Harvuot
Songwriter..............Hugh Thompson
Student.................Paul Franke
Poet....................Anthony Marlowe
Philosopher.............L Alvary
Philosopher.............Osie Hawkins
Chairmender.............Jean Madeira
Peddler.................George Cehanovsky
Artichoke Vendor........Thelma Votipka
Birdfood Vendor.........Paula Lenchner
Carrot Vendor...........Paul Franke
Watercress Vendor.......Thelma Altman
Greenpeas Vendor........Emery Darcy
Old Clothes Man.........Leslie Chabay
Pope of Fools...........Alessio De Paolis
Dance...................Marina Svetlova
Conductor...............Emil Cooper
Director................Désiré Defrère
Designer................Joseph Urban
Choreographer...........Boris Romanoff
Louise received four performances this season.
[Kirsten's Act IV costume was designed by David Laurence Roth.]
Review of Francis D. Perkins in the Herald Tribune
"Louise"
First Performance of Season at Metropolitan
Charpentier's "Louise" had its first performance of the season at the Metropolitan Opera House with Dorothy Kirsten, who had first sung "Louise" when this work was revived a year ago, again in the title role. The three other principal and thirty-five more or less minor characters in the most popular cast of the current repertory also were assigned to singers who had appeared in them before, except for Paul Franke, doubling as a student and a carrot vender, and Jean Browning-Madeira, tripling as Marguerite, a street sweeper and a chair mender.
"Louise" continues to be a work of much melodic appeal and some musical banality; while its drama is somewhat conditioned by its period, its principal factors and emotions are limited to no particular era, and its dramatic appeal can be persuasive today to an extent depending upon the performance. Yesterday's performance had its merits, but the general impression made upon one listener and spectator was one that went only occasionally beyond the point of respectability. There were times when the interpretation as a whole lacked momentum, especially in the first act; there was a gain in vitality, but musical and dramatic conviction seemed apparent only from time to time under Emil Cooper's conductorship.
Miss Kirsten's singing was generally pleasing: the high notes, at their best, were clear and firm, but the tonal standard varied; the dramatic interpretation had its likable features but did not give the sense of a complete realization of the character. Mr. Kullman, singing very creditably despite certain vocal limitations, was usually convincing as Julien; Miss Harshaw characterized Louise's mother with considerable vitality if with a touch of shrewishness in the first act. Mr. Brownlee, in that scene, was a kindly father, whose singing would have gained by a wider range of color. Several of the minor parts were effectively characterized.