[Met Performance] CID:189920
La Forza del Destino {104} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/20/1962.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
January 20, 1962
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO {104}
Giuseppe Verdi--Francesco Maria Piave
Leonora.................Eileen Farrell
Don Alvaro..............Jan Peerce
Don Carlo...............Anselmo Colzani
Padre Guardiano.........Jerome Hines
Preziosilla.............Joan Wall
Fra Melitone............Salvatore Baccaloni
Marquis de Calatrava....Louis Sgarro
Curra...................Carlotta Ordassy
Trabuco.................Andrea Velis
Surgeon.................George Cehanovsky
Conductor...............George Schick
Review of Judith Robison in the New York Herald Tribune
The Metropolitan Opera's fourth production of Verdi's "La Forza del Destino" Saturday evening was unexpectedly studded with four New York debuts in the opera. Veteran tenor Jan Peerce was heard for the first time in the role of Don Alvaro and sang in the grand Verdi style, full of sobs, sighs, and sentiment, succeeding in transforming the character's rather cardboard psychology into a dynamo of energy and passion. The role of his opposite, Don Carlo, was undertaken by baritone Anselmo Colzani, replacing Mario Sereni. Although Mr. Colzani's voice was resonant and imposing, his personification seemed too phlegmatic for the hot-blooded Spanish Don, and he inclined toward stubborn nastiness rather than aristocratic temper.
Among the minor roles, Andrea Velis sang his first Trabucco with fine, controlled characterization and amusing "antique" voice, while Joan Wall replaced Helen Vanni as the gay, vocally agile Preziosilla. The unbelievable plot as a whole was considerably aided by lyrical, evocative conducting from George Schick, and the old chestnut, in spite of conspicuous cuts, wound up as quite exciting theater.