Societe des Bals d’Artistes Francais Annual Opera Balls: 1st

Event Information

Venue(s):
French Theatre

Performance Forces:
Instrumental

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
13 June 2020

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

22 Dec 1869, Evening

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Bals d’artistes, Les
Composer(s): Unknown composer
2)
Cancan
aka Can can

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 09 December 1869, 12.

The “Second Regular Season of Opera Balls.” Lists dates of all events through the Lenten season (of 1870).

2)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 09 December 1869, 7.
3)
Announcement: New-York Times, 22 December 1869, 4.

“The first opera ball of the season comes off to-night at the Theatre Français. We trust the various promises of the projectors as regards the enforcement of order, no less than as insuring the gaiety and enjoyment of their visitors, may be suitably fulfilled. Should they be, the occasion may present no features to invite censure or entail regret.”

4)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 22 December 1869, 7.

Includes directions for how and where carriages should approach the theater, how coaches should be got after the event, and charges per passenger.

5)
Review: New York Herald, 23 December 1869, 7.

Mixed review; describes the crowd, dresses, decorations, platform, and general behaviors of the attendees. Very brief mention of music:

“THE DANCING.

“The dancing began with the march entitled Les Bals d’Artistes and continued with quadrilles, waltzes, lancers, mazurkas, redowas and all the fancy figures of the jolly cancan…”