Every little movement has a meaning all its own

On this day in 1958 soprano Inge Borkh made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Salome.

On this day in 1958 soprano Inge Borkh made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Salome. (Also on the bill… Gianni Schicchi?) 

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzdE2RmS7yw

Ronald Eyer in the March 1958 issue of Musical America:

Miss Borkh, who certainly possesses an Isolde-type voice, is a statuesque, but well-proportioned woman and clearly is not the fragile child-princess of Wilde’s, and Strauss’s, invention. But she has made a thoughtful, intelligent study of this impossible part; she has developed a characterization in which every detail is calculated, down to the smallest movements of the dance, and she produces an entity which is consistent and, therefore tasteful and, for many people, exciting. I personally prefer a more acidulous and penetrating voice, particularly in the lower reaches, and a somewhat simpler acting style (Strauss always deplored tendencies to overact the part.)

WindyCityOperaman

Dan Soda (Windy City Operaman) is a Chicago native whose first visit to opera was at age 17 and Massenet’s Werther with Troyanos and Kraus. Nothing was ever the same. Opera and concert performances, recordings and video are an obsession. He prepares Parterre Box’s daily birthday and anniversary tributes. He also enjoys concerts, live theater and movies.

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