Bateman French Opera: La Grande Duchesse de Gérolstein

“La Grande Duchesse is a very popular sovreign, and New Yorkers flock in crowds to her receptions every night at the Théâtre Francais. Offenbach’s melodies have become as popular as ‘Tramp, tramp, tramp,’ or ‘Mother, I’m all right,’ in this city. Every piano groans under the digital eulogy on the sabre de mon pere, and boarding school misses bawl out dites lui to their absent sweethearts. Mlle. Tostée is a very charming, very sprightly and very merry Grand Duchess. She has been recalled before the curtain with her father’s sword in her hand and overwhelmed with bouquets; but unfortunately our climate does not seem to agree with Mlle. Tostée, and latterly we have seen but little of her. She faints away in the beginning of the opera, of course in the most graceful and charming manner, and leaves the whole burden of royalty and the care of Fritz to poor Wanda. Now, Mr. Bateman must know by this time that Offenbach’s works are received with as much enthusiasm in Gotham as ever they were in Paris, and in view of his success he should provide himself with one or two spare Duchesses, and not depend on those capable of filling minor rôles alone. There are Schneider, Sully and perhaps a half dozen more in Paris who might be induced to come over on this side of the Atlantic. Why not send for some of them? Sickness and indisposition are very unfortunate things, to be sure; but they are of very rare occurrence when there’s a substitute of equal caliber to take the fair invalid’s place. Mlle. Tostée was all right last evening, however, and sang and acted with her accustomed spirit and inimitable archness and vivacity. The house was, as usual, crowded.” 

Announces that Mme. Tostee will return, following her illness.

“The ‘Grand Duchess of Gerolstein’ was represented before a large and fashionable house last night, and Mlle. Tostee sang with almost her wonted effect, though suffering from a slight cold.”

“The ‘Grand Duchess of Gerolstein’ was represented before a large and fashionable house last night, and Mlle. Tostee sang with almost her wonted effect, though suffering from a slight cold.”

The “Duchess of Geroldstein,” Miss Tostee, has just recently begun performing again after her illness and after Miss Felcourt filled in for her with equal success. Tostee seemed not yet fully recovered, however, at today’s performance, because she sang off-pitch and her acting lacked its usual freshness.