[Met Performance] CID:256190
Luisa Miller {39} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/13/1979.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
January 13, 1979
LUISA MILLER {39}
Giuseppe Verdi--Salvadore Cammarano
Luisa...................Renata Scotto
Rodolfo.................Plácido Domingo
Miller..................Sherrill Milnes
Count Walter............Bonaldo Giaiotti
Wurm....................James Morris
Federica................Jean Kraft
Laura...................Ariel Bybee
Peasant.................Dale Caldwell
Conductor...............James Levine
Review of Robert Jacobson in Opera News
On January 13 a nearly all-new cast populated Luisa Miller's Tyrolean village in preparation for the January 20 telecast, and a starry array it was, again intensely led by James Levine. One felt that by later performances all would find complete ease in their assignments, especially Renata Scotto, singing her first U.S. Luisa. She has everything for the role: voice, artistry, temperament. She kept her soprano light and flexible for the [beginning] music, later mustering the dramatic qualities needed. While her forte high notes now have a frayed, harsh, even bloodcurdling quality, the expressiveness of her work, dramatic insight and true comprehension of melodrama tended to carry her through. This Luisa could turn into a true firebrand, as in her compelling "Tu puniscimi, o Signore." Her scaling down of voice had wrenching pathos, but certain mannered eccentricities in performing diminished her real intentions in creating sympathy for this simple pawn of a peasant girl.
As Miller, Sherrill Milnes sailed forth in bold, brilliant voice, delivering his Act I aria and cabaletta with massive, burnished sound. Placido Domingo's Rodolfo was one of his best recent efforts, filled with golden sound and lyrical, but generous in the ardency of his phrasing, becoming effortful only on the very top. Bonaldo Giaiotti's warm-timbred bass proved welcome for Count Walter, providing fine contrast with the cleaner, younger American sound of James Morris as Wurm, and Jean Kraft lent strong personality to Federica, though encountering vocal uncertainties.