[Met Performance] CID:9190



Les Huguenots
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, December 3, 1890

Debut : Jennie Broch, Pauline Sch?ller-Haag, Juan Luria, Hannah Rothe


In German



Les Huguenots (15)
Giacomo Meyerbeer | Eug?ne Scribe/?mile Deschamps
Marguerite de Valois
Jennie Broch [Debut]

Raoul de Nangis
Heinrich Gudehus

Valentine
Pauline Sch?ller-Haag [Debut]

Count de Nevers
Juan Luria [Debut]

Urbain
Olga Islar

Count de Saint Bris
Conrad Behrens

Marcel
Emil Fischer

Tavannes
Edmund M?ller

Coss?/Bois-Ros?
Adolph Von H?bbenet

M?ru
Peter Mastorff

Lady of Honor
Hannah Rothe [Debut]

Maurevert
Bruno Lurgenstein

Watchman
Wilhelm Schuster

Dance
Miss Polednik


Conductor
Walter Damrosch


Director
Theodore Habelmann

Costume Designer
D. Ascoli

Costume Designer
Henry Dazian





Translation by unknown
Les Huguenots received three performances this season.
Sch?ller-Haag was often billed on company programs as Sch?ller.

Review 1:

Review in The New York Times

METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.

The first performance of Meyerbeer's popular opera, "Les Huguenots," at the Metropolitan Opera House last evening revealed the fact that the weak spot in the company would be in the same place as it generally is. The difficulty of securing a really fine colorature soprano who can sing the loading bravura r?les of what is known as the Italian repertoire with the German text is one that must not be underestimated. The habitu?es of the Opera House have undoubtedly learned by this time that there are grave obstacles in the way of singing brilliant ornamental music with German words, and few German artists are equipped with voice or temperament for this kind of work. If, therefore, Fr?ulein Jennie Broch, who made her American d?but last evening as Marguerite de Valois, did not obliterate memories of her Italian predecessors, no one should have been seriously disappointed.

The singer has some merits worth remembering. She is young and of pleasing appearance; she moves with ease and grace, and her facial expression is agreeable. Her voice is sufficiently flexible and shows the results of good training under her teacher, Mme. Marchesi. The trouble with the voice is that there is not enough of it either in volume or in compass. The upper register is extremely small, and last evening Fr?ulein Broch sang all her high notes in week head tones. This may have been the result of nervousness and she may appear to better advantage in the future. But it cannot be denied that last evening most of her ornamental passages were sung in a lamentably weak manner.

Frau Sch?ller, who was the Valentine, has a strong. dramatic soprano voice, and her style last evening was full of warmth and energy. She displayed a large amount of dramatic power in her singing and considerable ability as an actress. Her value as a member of the company cannot be definitely settled yet, but there every reason to hope that she will prove to be useful and agreeable. She achieved a decided success with the audience. Herr Gudehus, as Raoul was a pleasant surprise. His upper tones rang out with abundant power and richness. He sang in tune and with plenty of fervor. What one misses in his work are delicacy and refinement. He has no mezza voce, and there is little or no relief to the big volume of tone which he produces.

Another new member of the company who came forward last night was Herr Juan Luria as De Nevers. This gentleman has a serviceable baritone voice, somewhat hard, but otherwise of good quality and of sufficient strength. He sang his part conventionally, yet was generally acceptable, and will doubtless prove to be of good service in the course of the season. Olga Islar who sang the Shepherd in "Tannh?user" was the Page. She is a diminutive person. and has a light voice of nice quality. Her performance was tolerable.

It is hardly necessary at this late day in speak of Herr Fischer's Marcel. It is a broad and dignified performance conceived and executed with artistic spirit. Herr Behrens was a passable St. Bris. The performance, as a whole, was commendable. It is a great pleasure to note the improvement in the ensemble this season. The stage costumes and furnishings have been brightened up and the eye is refreshed with a general aspect of newness. The chorus last evening sang uncommonly well, the orchestra did its work excellently, and Walter Damrosch conducted with energy and judgment. The total merit of the performance was high. The audience was large and demonstrative.



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