On this day in 1966 Die Frau Ohne Schatten was first heard at the Met, featuring baritone Walter Berry making his debut as Barak.
Miles Kastendieck in the New York Journal-American:
Almost half a century after its Vienna premiere Strauss’ “Die Frau ohne Schatten’ had its first performance at the Metropolitan last night. To receive such lavish treatment, it could have been produced only in the new opera house anyhow. The evening became one of the most sumptuous in the history of the Met.
This was a magical occasion not only pictorially but musically. A truly fantastic production by the American team of Robert O’Hearn and Nathaniel Merrill created as much fantasy as the fairytale opera itself. Beautiful music surged through the house as Strauss poured out the wealth of warmth and humanity in his score.
The audience sat engrossed. Not only did the music catch it, but the production and the performance fascinated it. Cheers broke out after each act. There was no doubt that this opera was a masterpiece and the evening a great occasion.
While a case might be made that “Die Frau ohne Schatten” is the most pretentious opera in history, especially when so extravagantly mounted, that approach would violate the essence of Strauss. Given the fantasy by Hofmannsthal, he reached out to clothe it with penetrating understanding.
. . . .
Making his Metropolitan debut as Barak, the Dyer, to whom Strauss gave some of his loveliest music, Walter Berry disclosed a baritone of strong, resonant quality and acting of solid attainments. He made a forceful charter and sang his music movingly. He is most welcome at the Met.
