Richings English Opera: Faust

“The second and last week of the Richings English Opera Company began well yesterday evening, notwithstanding the most discouragingly inauspicious weather, with Gounod’s grand opera, ‘Faust.’ This is perhaps too decidedly ‘grand opera’ for even the truly excellent company which is the present attraction at the French theatre. Miss Richings, however, sustained the rôle of Marguerite and Mr. Campbell that of Mephistopheles with more spirit and success than might have been expected. Mr. Castle as Faust, and Mrs. Seguin as Siebel, justified the claim of the former to be called one of the best English tenors and that of the latter to be called one of the best contralto singers of whom we can boast. The orchestra was necessarily augmented last evening, and with a larger proportion of stringed instruments and more skillfully conducted would have done better justice to the difficult and superior orchestration of Gounod’s admirable opera. The choruses of the Richings Company we have already remarked as exceptionally good; and it is but fair to say that few Italian opera companies have exhibited finer acting than this company.”

“‘Faust’ was performed last night at the French Theatre, by the Richings Opera Company; Miss Richings was the Margaret; Mrs. Seguin took the part of Siebel; Mr. Castle was Faust, and Mr. Campbell the Mephistopheles. The singing was generally good, although Mrs. Seguin was laboring under the effects of a cold.  The orchestra was incomplete, as usual. The costuming was in good taste and in harmony throughout. No such discrepancy was presented as in the ‘Sonnambula’ last week, where a number of peasants and soldiers were in the dresses of last century, and Mr. Campbell astonished the audience by appearing as a modern officer of French Zouaves.”