[Met Performance] CID:189300
La Fanciulla del West {44} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/23/1961.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
November 23, 1961
LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST {44}
Minnie..................Dorothy Kirsten
Dick Johnson............Sándor Kónya
Jack Rance..............Anselmo Colzani
Joe.....................Andrea Velis
Handsome................George Cehanovsky
Harry...................Robert Nagy
Happy...................Osie Hawkins
Sid.....................Calvin Marsh
Sonora..................Clifford Harvuot
Trin....................Gabor Carelli
Jim Larkens.............Roald Reitan
Nick....................Paul Franke
Jake Wallace............Ezio Flagello
Ashby...................Norman Scott
Post Rider..............Frank D'Elia
Castro..................Louis Sgarro
Billy Jackrabbit........Gerhard Pechner
Wowkle..................Margaret Roggero
Conductor...............Fausto Cleva
Review of John Gruen in the Herald Tribune
Konya Takes 'La Fanciulla' Role of Johnson
Sandor Konya sang the role of Dick Johnson last night at the Metropolitan Opera's subscription performance of Puccini's "La Fanciulla del West." This was the Hungarian tenor's second role of the season, the first having been a highly laudable Lohengrin, Moving from the Teutonic waters of Wagner to the glowing and impassioned world of Puccini caused not the slightest alteration in Mr. Konya's power to hold fast to a role and make it a convincing and forceful characterization.
His voice is an instrument of many shades. It is of a size that encompasses a whole spectrum of dynamics. It can soar with intensity or spin and weave softly in any register. Last year the tenor performed the role in San Francisco in his American operatic debut, thus a familiarity with the character aided in making his a most flowing performance. If fault can be found, it would be in terms of an exaggeration of gestures and an over-abundance of posturing that seemed out of place in a "strong man of the American West."
Also appearing as firsts were Osie Hawkins as Happy and Roald Reitan as Larken, They both acquitted themselves admirably in their respective roles. Dorothy Kirsten was the effectual Minnie; Anselmo Colzani was Jack Rance, and Fausto Cleva was the conductor.