[Met Performance] CID:208550
Rigoletto {452} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/19/1966.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
November 19, 1966 Matinee
RIGOLETTO {452}
Giuseppe Verdi--Francesco Maria Piave
Rigoletto...............Cornell MacNeil
Gilda...................Roberta Peters
Duke of Mantua..........John Alexander
Maddalena...............Nedda Casei
Sparafucile.............Bonaldo Giaiotti
Monterone...............Raymond Michalski
Borsa...................Gabor Carelli
Marullo.................Robert Goodloe
Count Ceprano...........Gene Boucher
Countess Ceprano........Loretta Di Franco
Giovanna................Carlotta Ordassy
Page....................Karan Armstrong
Guard...................Lloyd Strang
Conductor...............Lamberto Gardelli
Review of Fred Kirby in Billboard
MacNeil Is Outstanding In the Met's "Rigoletto"
Cornell MacNeil, cast in the title role of Rigoletto, definitely is the outstanding singer in this season's performances of the Verdi warhorse at the Metropolitan Opera. MacNeil's rich baritone made up for some spotty singing by other principals last Saturday (19). An exception was Bonaldi Giaiotti's Sparafucile, which was a tower of strength. Giaiotti clearly is one of the company's most dependable artists.
Roberta Peters, as sweet a Gilda as ever, sang prettily, but sounded thin in spots, especially the "Caro nome" ending, while John Alexander, the possessor of a rich lyric tenor voice, seemed more interested in demonstrating it than in portraying the Duke. This was really evident at the ending of "La donna e mobile," when he lost Lamberto Gardelli, an experienced operatic conductor leading the opera for the first time at the Met this season.
The opera house's wealth of basses again was apparent in the fine job by Raymond Michalski in the small, but important role of Monterone. Nedda Cassei again was a competent Maddalena. The serviceable production seemed at home in the new house, but, MacNeil, in his two arias and in duets, was the afternoon's star. What a voice!