[Met Performance] CID:168140
Arabella {5} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/2/1955.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
March 2, 1955
In English
ARABELLA {5}
Arabella................Eleanor Steber
Mandryka................George London
Zdenka..................Hilde Güden
Matteo..................Brian Sullivan
Adelaide................Martha Lipton
Count Waldner...........Ralph Herbert
Fortuneteller...........Thelma Votipka
Count Elemer............Gabor Carelli
Count Dominik...........Clifford Harvuot
Count Lamoral...........Lawrence Davidson
Fiakermilli.............Roberta Peters
Welko...................Benjamin Wilkes
Djura...................Matthew Farruggio
Jankel..................Paul Marko
Waiter..................Rudolf Mayreder
Conductor...............Rudolf Kempe
Review of Robert Sabin in Musical America
Strauss's lovely "Arabella" (which I consider one of his masterpieces and a work of enduring beauty in every respect) had its fourth performance of the season before an audience that was happily enthusiastic. The cast was the same as that at the premiere, with the exception of Martha Lipton, who again took the role of Adelaide, which was sung by Blanche Thebom at the first performance. Miss Lipton did not make a caricature of the worried and maternal, yet still flirtatious, Countess. Her singing had many admirable touches of color and emotional nuance. Eleanor Steber in the title rôle and George London as Mandryka were again superb; and they made the most of the piercing beauty and tenderness of the great love duets in Acts II and III. Hilde Gueden was as beguiling as ever, as Zdenka, and Roberta Peters had improved the vocal quality of her performance as Fiakermilli. Ralph Herbert, Brian Sullivan, Gabor Carelli, Clifford Harvuot, Lawrence Davidson and the others were also in top form. Rudolf Kempe made every measure eloquent; his conducting was a model of plasticity, emotional warmth, and architectural comprehension.