[Met Performance] CID:149550
Carmen {443} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/20/1949.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
January 20, 1949
CARMEN {443}
Carmen..................Risë Stevens
Don José................Kurt Baum
Micaela.................Nadine Conner
Escamillo...............Frank Guarrera
Frasquita...............Thelma Votipka
Mercédès................Lucielle Browning
Remendado...............Alessio De Paolis
Dancaïre................George Cehanovsky
Zuniga..................Lorenzo Alvary
Moralès.................Clifford Harvuot
Dance...................Tilda Morse
Dance...................Aida Alvarez
Dance...................Leon Varkas
Conductor...............Wilfred Pelletier
Review of Quaintance Eaton in Musical America
The third performance of Bizet's opera brought two changes of cast. Kurt Baum sang his first Don José of the season, and Nadine Conner returned to the part of Micaela for the first time this year. Both contributed greatly to a performance of considerable merit. Mr. Baum was especially at ease in the Flower Song, which he sang with relaxed softness of tone at first, mounting to a poignant intensity at the climax. His voice was entirely under control throughout, more flexible than at some performances in the past, and often lustrous in sound. Miss Conner was an appealing and pretty Micaela, and sang with surety of pitch and projection, and purity of line and tone quality. She received the customary ovation after the third-act aria.
Risë Stevens' Carmen was handsome, bold, frankly sensual, and variegated in its coloration of moods. Often a new subtlety in the use of her voice constituted a notable refinement over her portrayal in other seasons. Frank Guarrera repeated his pleasing Escamillo. The quintet was expertly sung by Miss Stevens, Thelma Votipka, Lucielle Browning, Alessio De Paolis and George Cehanovsky, Lorenzo Alvary, as Zuniga, and Clifford Harvuot, as Morales, made the most of their roles. Wilfred Pelletier conducted.