Beyond reasonable limits

John Briggs in The New York Times:

As at other hearings in this city, Miss Nelli revealed herself to be an extremely inconsistent performer. At her best she is superlative. Her voice is of fine quality, wide range and ample power. The trouble is that Miss Nelli hardly sings two phrases in succession the same way. Although she is capable of great suavity, her tone, when pushed beyond reasonable limits, becomes hard and strident. She does not have sure control of so basic a vocal feat as the crescendo-diminuendo called “messa di voce.” Though her Aida yesterday had its share of fine moments, the performance was on the whole an uneven one.

On this day in 1964 the the Metropolitan Opera presented the American premiere of Menotti’s The Last Savage.