[Met Performance] CID:176830
Der Rosenkavalier {167} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/18/1958.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
January 18, 1958
DER ROSENKAVALIER {167}
Octavian.....................Mildred Miller
Princess von Werdenberg......Eleanor Steber
Baron Ochs...................Otto Edelmann
Sophie.......................Laurel Hurley
Faninal......................Ralph Herbert
Annina.......................Margaret Roggero
Valzacchi....................Alessio De Paolis
Italian Singer...............Nicolai Gedda
Marianne.....................Thelma Votipka
Mahomet......................Marsha Warren
Princess' Major-domo.........Robert Nagy
Orphan.......................Madelaine Chambers
Orphan.......................Emilia Cundari
Orphan.......................Helen Vanni
Milliner.....................Mildred Allen
Animal Vendor................Gabor Carelli
Hairdresser..................Steve Wiland
Notary.......................Gerhard Pechner
Leopold......................Rudolf Mayreder
Faninal's Major-domo.........Charles Anthony
Innkeeper....................Paul Franke
Police Commissioner..........Osie Hawkins
Conductor....................Karl Böhm
Review of Robert Sabin in Musical America
At this performance, the season's fifth, Eleanor Steber took the role of the Marschallin for the first time this season, and Nicolai Gedda was heard for the first time at the Metropolitan in the role of the Italian tenor.
Miss Steber had performed the tremendously difficult and brilliant title role of Samuel Barber's 'Vanessa" at the world premiere only three nights previously, so that it was understandable that she husbanded her resources at this performance. It was in the last act, in the glorious trio, that the familiar Steber voice came through in all its silvery radiance. Dramatically, too, she was at her best in this act.
Brief though it is, the role of the Singer in "Der Rosenkavalier" is supremely demanding. (The Hamburg Opera once approached Caruso to do it and desisted only when his fee proved too high for its resources.) I have never heard it sung with greater elegance or command than Mr. Gedda brought to it. Karl Boehm, who again conducted, should have given him a bit more leeway in tempo.
The rest of the cast was familiar, including Otto Edelmann. Mildred Miller, Laurel Hurley, Ralph Herbert, and a host of others, all excellent.