[Met Performance] CID:174270
Tosca {358} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/4/1957.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
March 4, 1957
TOSCA {358}
Tosca...................Licia Albanese
Cavaradossi.............Jan Peerce
Scarpia.................Martial Singher
Sacristan...............Salvatore Baccaloni
Spoletta................Alessio De Paolis
Angelotti...............Clifford Harvuot
Sciarrone...............George Cehanovsky
Shepherd................George Keith
Jailer..................Louis Sgarro
Conductor...............Dimitri Mitropoulos
Review of Louis Biancolli in the World Telegram and Sun
Albanese is Heard at Met
After the frenzied tumult of last week's Tebaldi demonstration, the Metropolitan settled down to a nice quiet "Tosca" last night. Featured In the title role of the Puccini thriller was that sterling, little artist of the Italian tradition, Licia Albanese. Miss Albanese applied to the part of the fine sense of theater and dramatic illusion that has always been one of her most cherished attributes.
Daughter of the Theater
One had only to watch her in the realistic business of the knife at the table before the killing of Scarpia to know this was a true daughter of the theater. One, of course, missed the vocal impact of other Toscas, the voice being subdued and withdrawn at times. But there were moments enough when the tones rose in easy brightness over the turbulent surface of Puccini's orchestra.
Young and Slender
I might add that I don't remember when Miss Albanese looked so young and slender and attractive. This was a very believable Tosca. Jan Peerce was his thorough artistic self as Mario Cavaradossi, carefully blending voice and feeling and acting with genuine force. I missed the malevolent note in Martial Singher's Scarpia - perhaps more in the voice than the gestures, Yet his, is a deft artistry of style.
Gifted Character-Singer
Of the others, I'd like to single out Alessio de Paolis this time. This gifted character-singer makes of Spoleta the creeping epitome of odious spying.
Dimitri Mitropoulos conducted with his usual intensity and zeal. There was no sensation at "Tosca" last night, which, for a change, was just as well. The crowd heard Puccini instead.