Bateman French Opera: La Belle Hélène

Event Information

Venue(s):
French Theatre

Proprietor / Lessee:
H. L. [impressario] Bateman

Manager / Director:
H. L. [impressario] Bateman

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
18 September 2017

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

27 Apr 1868, Evening
28 Apr 1868, Evening
29 Apr 1868, Evening
29 Apr 1868, 1:00 PM
30 Apr 1868, Evening
01 May 1868, Evening
02 May 1868, Evening
02 May 1868, 1:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Belle Hélène, La
aka Belle Helene, La; Schöne Helena, La; Schone Helena, La
Composer(s): Offenbach
Text Author: Halévy, Meilhac
Participants:  Bateman French Opera Company;  Monsieur Fleury (role: Euthycles);  Lucille [vocalist] Tostée (role: Hélène);  Onquot de [vocalist] Felcourt (role: Oreste);  Monsieur [baritone] Duchesne (role: Agamemnon);  Monsieur [vocalist] Guiffroy (role: Pâris);  Monsieur [tenor] Lagriffoul (role: Calchas);  Monsieur [tenor] Leduc (role: Ménélas);  Monsieur [tenor] Valter (role: Achille);  Mlle. [actor] Juliani (role: Bacchis);  Mlle. Marguerite (role: Loena);  Mlle. [soprano] Mathilde (role: Parthoenis);  Monsieur [tenor] Bendich (role: Ajax I);  Monsieur [baritone] Monier (role: Ajax II);  Monsieur [tenor] Hamilton (role: Philocomes)

Citations

1)
Announcement: New-York Times, 01 April 1868, 5.
2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 26 April 1868.
3)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 27 April 1868, 7.
4)
Announcement: New York Herald, 27 April 1868, 3.
5)
Review: New-York Times, 28 April 1868, 4.

“‘La Belle Hélène’ is played nightly to crowded audiences. It may be neither so good nor so popular as ‘La Grande Duchesse,’ but it certainly pleases.”

6)
Announcement: New York Post, 28 April 1868.

Reminder that La Belle Hélène is closing soon and of benefit for Bateman at the Academy of Music on Saturday.

7)
Review: New York Herald, 28 April 1868, 12.

“French Theatre.—‘La Belle Hélène’ is evidently destined for a long run and a happy reign. Of all the heroic burlesques ever presented to an American audience this one, which reproduces the heroine and the heroes of the Trojan war in a French extravaganza set to German music, ‘takes the rag off the bush.’ The argument, however, being the sprightliest of French fun and folly, the characters being thoroughly of the modern French, though presented as ancient Greeks, and the music being a continuous, never failing and never flagging rattle and clatter, and sprightly and sparkling concerts and choruses, the oftener this really wonderful production is seen and heard the more heartily it is enjoyed. You just get far enough into its merits at the first sitting to discover that it is a very funny and a very lively bagatelle; and at the second you only begin to realize the gems of Offenbach; but at the third you begin to thoroughly understand and appreciate them. So said a knowing French amateur last evening. The Druids of ‘Norma’ marching upon the stage in a happy condition, singing ‘We won’t go home till morning,’ with Hamlet chanting ‘John Brown,’ and the witches of Macbeth all engaged in a sailor’s hornpipe, if done up neatly, would be doubtless very amusing; but this composition would be flat compared with the sparkling wit, fun and frolic and rattling and excellent music of ‘La Belle Hélène.’”

8)
Announcement: New-York Times, 01 May 1868, 5.