by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Can there be any doubt as to the contents of the Italian First Opera Film Festival? Divided in four parts, the film offers highlights from a quartet of classic operas. Included are vignettes from Rossini's William Tell, Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, Donizetti's Don Pasquale and Bizet's Carmen. Among the featured artists is legendary tenor Tito Gobbi, who was making quite a few film appearances at the time. For the English-language version, an ongoing narration was added, spoken by New York Times music critic Olin Downes, whose sarcastic, semi-satirical tone is most unwelcome.
