[Met Performance] CID:167080
Faust {519} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/18/1954.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
November 18, 1954
FAUST {519}
Gounod-Barbier/Carré
Faust...................Jan Peerce
Marguerite..............Victoria de los Angeles
Méphistophélès..........Jerome Hines
Valentin................Robert Merrill
Siebel..................Mildred Miller
Marthe..................Thelma Votipka
Wagner..................Lawrence Davidson
Dance...................Sallie Wilson
Conductor...............Pierre Monteux
Director................Peter Brook
Designer................Rolf Gérard
Choreographer...........Zachary Solov
Stage Director..........Robert Herman
Faust received seventeen performances this season.
Review of J. B. in unidentified newspaper
`FAUST' TITLE ROLE IS SUNG BY PEERCE
"Faust" had its first performance of the season at the Metropolitan Opera Thursday evening, with Pierre Monteux conducting and with Jan Peerce singing the title role for the first time there.
Mr. Peerce's Faust, as might have been. expected from so experienced and reliable a performer, was marked by high competence. Mr. Peerce has great vocal surety, and his singing is in tune. The high C of "Salut, demeure" elicited loud applause from last night's audience.
Victoria de los Angeles' Marguerite continues to be a well-sung and appealing characterization. Miss de los Angeles' performance of the "Jewel Song" had both virtuosity and tonal splendor. The fine singing of this artist throughout the opera was a highlight of the evening's music.
Another fine characterization was that of Jerome Hines as Mephistopheles. Mr. Hines' voice appears to gain in sonority each season. Last evening his singing was well-focused and secure as to intonation. As a stage devil his Mephistopheles is appropriately suave and sinister.
Robert Merrill, a last-minute replacement for Frank Guarrera who was indisposed, sang Valentin sonorously, and Mildred Miller was a capable Siebel. Thelma Votipka and Lawrence Davidson completed the cast. Mr. Monteux, in the pit, kept things moving at judicious speed,