[Met Performance] CID:189370
Lohengrin {515} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/29/1961.
(Debuts: William Dembaugh, Peter Sliker
Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
November 29, 1961
LOHENGRIN {515}
Lohengrin...............Sándor Kónya
Elsa....................Ingrid Bjoner
Ortrud..................Margaret Harshaw
Telramund...............Randolph Symonette
King Heinrich...........Jerome Hines
Herald..................Norman Mittelmann
Noble...................Charles Cooke
Noble...................William Dembaugh [Debut]
Noble...................Peter Sliker [Debut]
Noble...................John Frydel
Conductor...............Joseph Rosenstock
Review of Judith Robison in the New York Herald Tribune
Miss Harshaw in Lohengrin At Metropolitan
An unexpected change of cast in the Metropolitan's third "Lohengrin" of the season welcomed back Margaret Harshaw in her well-weathered role of Ortrud, replacing Irene Dalis who was indisposed.
Since Miss Harshaw was first heard in the role six years ago, her conception has gained in psychological subtlety to the point where the malevolent woman is not merely the personification of evil, opposing Elsa's innocence, but also a character torn and tormented by the attempt to bend the world to her own uses. One forgets how powerful Miss Harshaw's voice is, every pianissimo audible, enabling her to give the impression of covert plotting, conversational intimacy, distress and triumph.
Randolph Symonette was heard again as Telramund, Ingrid Bjoner as Elsa, Sandor Konya as Lohengrin and Jerome Hines as King Henry. Joseph Rosenstock was precise (except for the backstage trumpets) but somewhat unheroic.