[Met Performance] CID:208030
Turandot {73} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/26/1966.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
September 26, 1966
TURANDOT {73}
Puccini/Alfano-Adami/Simoni
Turandot................Birgit Nilsson
Calāf...................Franco Corelli
Lių.....................Teresa Stratas
Timur...................Bonaldo Giaiotti
Ping....................Theodor Uppman
Pang....................Robert Nagy
Pong....................Charles Anthony
Emperor Altoum..........Mariano Caruso
Mandarin................Robert Goodloe
Prince of Persia........David Milnes
Servant.................Lawrence Eddington
Servant.................Craig Crosson
Servant.................Harry Jones
Executioner.............Howard Sayette
Executioner.............Donald Mahler
Executioner.............William Burdick
Conductor...............Zubin Mehta
Director................Yoshio Aoyama
Director................Nathaniel Merrill
Designer................Cecil Beaton
Choreographer...........Mattlyn Gavers
Turandot received sixteen performances this season.
Unsigned review in the Journal-American
"Turandot": The Best To Date at New Met
The celebrating the open*ing of the new opera house over, the Metropolitan Opera settled for repertory last night and put on its best show to date.
Puccini's "Turandot" began the regular subscription season as a five-year old production that readily adjusted itself to new surroundings. It looked handsome, and it moved handsomely. Sighs. Birgit Nilsson and Franco Corelli took the leading roles as usual, the singing was magnificent.
What else is there to say! This was a beautifully knit performance. Cecil Beaton's sets and costumes rate among the best creations. Nathaniel Merrill has achieved some of the most imaginative staging. The cast is excellent.
A new element entered with Zubin Mehta taking the conductor's assignment. He imparts vitality and usually comprehends everything he does. The live acoustics of the pit led to overloud playing, but most interestingly he restrained himself in giving full rein to Puccini's romanticism.
The Orientalism in the music may be super-imposed, but its romanticism is ingrained. I missed both the lushness and the theatrical magic lurking in the score. In short, the orchestral playing had neither glow nor dramatic bite to do justice to this fullest-scored and most mature of Puccini's operas.
Just to hear Nilsson and Corelli almost sufficed last night since both were in superb voice. Yet Teresa Stratas gave such an artistically appealing portrayal of Liu that she deservedly belonged in their company. Bonaldo Giaiotti contributed a Timur of vocal and dramatic consequence.
Those conspirators Ping, Pang and Pong carried off their tricky roles more successfully than usual. I thought, thanks to the rapport of Theodor Uppman (new as Ping), Robert Nagy, and Charles Anthony. Thus the performance on stage had the best integration since the season began.
"Turandot" has found a sure place in the repertory; in fact, it could be developing into an old favorite. Outstanding success does pivot on the title role, to be sure, but at the moment that could not be better cast anywhere.