Record

Like sopranos, unlike basses and baritones, tenor voices go to seed early. When golden-voiced Enrico Caruso died at 48, he had passed his prime. Jean de Reszke and gut-busting Francesco Tamagno retired at 51. But not yet retired is Giovanni Martinelli, 53, robust, white-mopped tenor who made his debut at Manhattan's Metropolitan Opera the year before the War. Never the undisputed best of the Metropolitan's chandelier-jigglers, Martinelli has been a dependable artist in an enormous repertory (57 roles). In two operas, Verdi's Otello and Halevy's La Juive, critics found him first-rate. Although a little worn at the edges, Martinelli's voice is still serviceable. To his sunny, bouncing personality, his fellow artists paid tribute at the completion of his 25th season last year (TIME, March 28, 1938). Last week, as Martinelli vacationed in Italy, the Metropolitan announced that it had signed him on for the 2jth year--a record for a big-league tenor. Chief Martinelli project for next season: his first Wagnerian role, Tristan, with the Chicago City Opera Company.

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