[Met Performance] CID:70940
Madama Butterfly {127} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 01/30/1919.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
January 30, 1919 Matinee
MADAMA BUTTERFLY {127}
Cio-Cio-San.............Claudia Muzio
Pinkerton...............Hipolito Lazaro
Suzuki..................Rita Fornia
Sharpless...............Luigi Montesanto
Goro....................Angelo Badà
Bonze...................Carl Schlegel
Yamadori................Louis D'Angelo
Kate Pinkerton..........Minnie Egener
Commissioner............Vincenzo Reschiglian
Yakuside................Francesco Cerri
Conductor...............Roberto Moranzoni
Review:
MUZIO PLEASES IN "BUTTERFLY"
Geraldine Farrar Unable to Sing at Postponed Matinee
Notwithstanding the postponement of the extra "Madama Butterfly" matinee from Tuesday to yesterday afternoon, Geraldine Farrar was too hoarse to sing and Claudia Muzio, on short notice but with considerable and gratifying experience in the role, was summoned to sing Cio-Cio-San for a large audience at the Metropolitan Opera House. It was Muzio's first appearance in the part here, and whatever disappointment there may have been over the absence of Farrar, was quickly forgotten in the singing and acting of the famous little Japanese sweetheart by the young Italian soprano, who won for herself an impetuous and sincere ovation at the end of the first act. It was also the first singing here of Pinkerton by Hipolito Lazaro and the local debut of Montesanto, as Sharpless. Indeed it was practically a new cast for the melodious Puccini opera and Rita Fornia as Suzuki, Minnie Egener as Kate, Bada, Schlegel, D'Angelo, Cerri and Reschiglian, united in spirit and effort to give what proved to be one of the best performances of the work has ever had. Mr. Moranzoni conducted.