Grau French Opera Bouffe

Event Information

Venue(s):
French Theatre

Proprietor / Lessee:
Jacob Grau

Manager / Director:
Jacob Grau

Price: $1, reserved seats; $1.50 private boxes from 6 to 10; family circle $.30; half price after 9:30 p.m.

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
7 October 2019

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

28 Dec 1868, 8:00 PM
29 Dec 1868, 8:00 PM
30 Dec 1868, 8:00 PM
31 Dec 1868, 8:00 PM
01 Jan 1869, 8:00 PM
02 Jan 1869, 8:00 PM

Program Details

Eleventh and last week of Genevieve.
The Saturday 1/2/69 performance of "Genevieve" was substituted by "La Grande Duchesse", due to the illness of Mme Rose Bell. Mlle Desclauzas sang the role of the Duchess, for the first time in New York.

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Composer(s): Offenbach
Participants:  Marie Desclauzas (role: Boulotte);  Julien Carrier (role: Barbe Bleue)
3)
Composer(s): Offenbach

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 26 December 1868.
2)
Announcement: New York Herald, 28 December 1868, 5.

Genevieve has been very successful at the French Theatre.  Herve’s opera bouffe, L’ oeil Creve, will be produced next weekGenevieve has been very successful at the French Theatre.  Herve’s opera bouffe, L’ oeil Creve, will be produced next week.

3)
Announcement: New York Post, 28 December 1868, [2].
4)
Announcement: New York Sun, 28 December 1868, 2.
5)
Announcement: New-York Times, 28 December 1868, 4.
6)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 28 December 1868, 7.
7)
Review: New York Herald, 29 December 1868, 3.

“The public feeling exhibited last evening did not differ from that shown when the famous ‘Genevieve’ was first presented. It was that of unbounded applause and hearty approval, not only in token of the general excellence of the numerous artists, but in appreciation of the ‘splendid mise en scene, which has characterized the entire production at the French theatre. Beyond question Mr. Grau has done every credit to Offenbach, and it is questionable whether ‘Geneviève’ was ever produced elsewhere with equal magnificence. Its premature withdrawal will probably cause some regret; but novelty is the order of the day, in view of which important fact ‘L’Oeil Creve’ is to be produced on Monday next. Whether it will be attended with the same success as ‘Geneviève’ yet remains to be seen.”

8)
Review: New York Post, 29 December 1868.

“A clever imitation of Gabel in his celebrated part of Pitou was given at the French theatre the other night by M. Petit. Gabel was sick, and Petit flung himself into the breach so effectively, that it is doubtful if the audience would have known without previous announcement that there was any change in the cast. M. Musset took Petit’s part of Narcisse, and everything thus went happy as a marriage bell.”

9)
Announcement: New-York Times, 30 December 1868, 4.
10)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 02 January 1869, 310, 3d col., bottom.
11)
Review: Courrier des États-Unis, 05 January 1869, 1.

"Genevieve de Brabant had to be replaced Saturday by La Grande Duchesse, and Mlle Desclauzas, fortunately spared by the scourge [of illness], was prepared to do anything, from morning till night, to play the crushing role orf the Duchess, which she had never before played in New York, for the month. That trial was favorable to the lovely artiste who now counts upa trilogy of hits. If in order to be the grand duchess it's enough to possess supreme beauty, the distinction of a highborn family, an inborn elegance, sumptuous costumes, and to join to all that a very pretty voice, Mlle Desclauzas is certainly the most magnificent of all the grand duchesses, past, present and future. But in the unique duchy of Gerolstein, and seen from their rough ways, that has to be heightened by a speck of bad manners, a grain of Schneiderian schtick, and a soupcon of accentuated cancan, in which the capers and contortions make the blase spectator laugh till he cries. This trivial note, I swear, is lacking completely in Mlle Desclauzas, for which I give her my sincere compliments."

12)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 09 January 1869, 318, 2d col., top.