Word: mezzos
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Haydn: Arianna a Naxos (Jennie Tourel; Haydn Society). The Greek legend of Ariadne appealed strongly to Haydn. When he was 58 he wrote a short, melodious and seldom-heard solo cantata in which the abandoned princess bemoans her fate. Mezzo-Soprano Tourel sings it in warm Italian. The accompaniment is played by Ralph Kirkpatrick on a recreated 18th century piano...
Mahler: Songs of a Wayfarer (Blanche Thebom, mezzo-soprano, with orchestra conducted by Sir Adrian Boult; Victor, I side LP). Mahler's hauntingly lovely song cycle here gets a pure and richly expressive performance. Recording: excellent...
Also notable is Cetra-Soria's Aïda (6 sides LP). An Italian cast, including Tenor Mario Filippeschi, Soprano Caterina Mancini, Mezzo Giulietta Simionato and Baritone Rolando Panerai, gives a fine performance, as does the Orchestra and Chorus of Radio Italiana under Vittorio Gui. The recording is excellent. Less successful: Remington's Rigoletto (6 sides LP), performed by undistinguished soloists and a lackluster orchestra and chorus of Florence's Maggio Musicale. The recording is fair...
...Mezzo-Soprano Rise Stevens has been singing the role of the wanton gypsy for seven years, but never in such abandoned and sultry fashion as last week. Her new Carmen was a personal triumph-and thoroughly in keeping with the vigor of the Met's new production...
...week's end, Bing had momentarily run out of new productions, but he put on a high-spirited Marriage of Figaro, and introduced a promising American newcomer while he was about it. Cleveland-born Mezzo-Soprano Mildred Miller sang a charming, properly boyish Cherubino, stopped the show with her second-act aria, Voi Che Sapete. It was, everybody agreed, the final bright spot in the Met's sparkling week...