[Met Performance] CID:164740
Boris Godunov {126} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/29/1954.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
January 29, 1954
In English
BORIS GODUNOV {126}
Boris Godunov...........Nicola Rossi-Lemeni [Last performance]
Prince Shuisky..........Charles Kullman
Pimen...................Norman Scott
Grigory.................Giulio Gari
Marina..................Blanche Thebom
Rangoni.................Clifford Harvuot
Varlaam.................Lorenzo Alvary
Simpleton...............Paul Franke
Nikitich................Lawrence Davidson
Mitiukha................Algerd Brazis
Woman...................Thelma Votipka
Shchelkalov.............Arthur Budney
Innkeeper...............Martha Lipton
Missail.................Thomas Hayward
Officer.................Osie Hawkins
Xenia...................Genevieve Warner
Feodor..................Mildred Miller
Nurse...................Jean Madeira
Marina's Companion......Maria Leone
Marina's Companion......Heidi Krall
Marina's Companion......Margaret Roggero
Marina's Companion......Sandra Warfield
Lavitsky................Osie Hawkins
Chernikovsky............Lawrence Davidson
Boyar in Attendance.....Gabor Carelli
Conductor...............Fritz Stiedry
Review of Ronald Eyer in Musical America
Lorenzo Alvary added another fine impersonation to his rapidly expanding repertoire on this occasion with his first appearance in the difficult and touchy role of Varlaam. The great problem in this part is to strike the right balance between oafishness and slapstick comedy. Properly done, Varlaam requires no overt clowning. Sufficient humor emerges naturally in a simple, unadorned performance of the drunken wayfarer and his blowsy songs just as they were set down by Mussorgsky. Obviously aware of these facts, Mr. Alvary sagely permitted the character to speak for itself and thereby obtained a truer, and thereby a more comic, effect than could be achieved by any number of antic routines. He also sang, rather than bellowed, the music, which was refreshing.
Assuming the title role for the second time this season, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni confirmed earlier impressions of the intensity of his dramatic perception. As Boris grappled deep in the darkness of his tortured soul, Mr. Rossi-Lemeni artfully set forth in turn his superstition, his hysterical fears, his sudden, typically schizophrenic change of mood from normal father-love for his son to blind rage against Shuiski and the fate that confronts him. It was a moving, almost frightening performance and its
climactic moments held the audience breathless.
Others in the familiar cast were Charles Kullman, Mildred Miller, Giulio Gari, Genevieve Warner, Jean Madeira. Blanche Thebom, Clifford Harvout, and Paul Franke. Fritz Stiedry conducted.