New-Yorker Stadt-Theater Opera: Il Trovatore

Forthcoming season of German opera.

“’Il Trovatore’ was the opera of last evening at this theatre. The attendance was extremely large and the frequent outbursts of applause marked the high appreciation in which the leading singer, Mlle. Louise Lichtmay, was held by the audience. It would be perilous to say that no exaggeration distinguished the warm feeling of admiration which Mlle. Lichtmay created, because that her voice and style of acting, though not in the exact alignment of the Italian mode, were, nevertheless, exceedingly correct and pleasing for a German performance. Mlle. Frederici took the part of Azucena, and acquitted herself very well. Herr Bierling [Vierling]was the Count de Luna, and both acted and sang his part with rare spirit and finish. Manrico was personated by Herr Manrico [Bernard], and Fernande by Herr Formes. The performance was a complete success, judging from the lively satisfaction shown by the audience, and it is seldom the Stadt Theatre held so large, respectable and appreciative an audience.”

“The German opera troupe gave an enjoyable performance of ‘Trovatore’ at the Stadt Theatre last night, Mlle. Lichtmay, Madame Frederici and Messrs. Bieling and Formes taking the principal parts. The audience was large and enthusiastic; and the opening night promises well for the success of the season.”

“A season of German opera was opened last night at the Stadt Theater with a performance of ‘Trovatore,’ by a company which in its most important members is quite new to this city. The soprano, Frau Lichtmay, is a lady of prepossessing appearance, with a rich and resonant voice, cultivated far beyond the point which is generally thought sufficient for German opera in New-York. Despite a tendency to sing flat, which was chiefly perceptible in her first scena, and may have been consequent upon the nervousness of a debut, she made an excellent impression, and obtained an amount of applause which fell little short of an ovation. The contralto was Madame Frederici, favorably known in this city for many years, and the tenor and baritone were Mr. Bernard and Mr. Bierling [Vierling], both of whom were most heartily greeted. All the members of the quartette, in fact, are abundantly gifted. A patriotic hymn and prologue gave opportunity for the display of a good deal of the German enthusiasm. The house was crowded, and the season promises to be unusually successful.”

“Operatic performances in German, whenever given at what are termed popular prices, have usually been extremely successful. The conditions of their prosperity, it is true, do not permit the formation of a company of first-rate merit, but they are not sufficiently onerous to preclude the possibility of enjoying a representation of much evenness and of reasonable interest. The entertainments now being given at the Stadt Theatre prove a recognition of these facts. The artists have earnestness and talent, and the voice of Fraulein Louise Lichtmay, the soprano singer, is still fresh, as well as flexible, strong, and extended. ‘Il Trovatore’ was interpreted last evening by this lady and her associates, in presence of an immense and most enthusiastic audience. Herr Bernard, a tenor robusto, whose occasional uncertainty of attack—witness the first note of the Di Quella Pira—may be attributable to the uneasiness of a first appearance before an assemblage of strangers, shared the honors of the affair with Fraulein Lichtmay. It is needless to write at greater length of the interpretation of a work so familiar as ‘Il Trovatore,’ than to say that it was given with spirit and fidelity, yesterday. The change of bill which is to be made every night will offer a better opportunity than does a début to speak with decisiveness of the claims of the performers to attention.”

“People who have travelled abroad are very fond of recalling the facilities they have enjoyed in foreign cities, in hearing opera at unusually low prices; but they may not be aware that an admirable company is giving opera in this city, at the Stadt Theatre in the Bowery, at rates of admission ranging from twenty cents in the gallery to two dollars in the boxes.

“The troupe includes in Mlle. Lichtmann a prima donna with a powerful voice and average culture a contralto or mezzo soprano in Madame Frederici, who possesses great artistic merit; an experienced and effective tenor in Herr Bernard, who is, we believe, quite new to opera-goers in this city; and a careful and pleasing young baritone in Herr Bierling [Vierling]. These artists, aided by Wilhelm Formes, gave on Saturday night a most enjoyable performance of ‘Trovatore,’ to which a goodly audience listened with enthusiastic delight. Carl Formes was in one of the stage boxes; and the body of the house was well filled by our German citizens.

“The encores were frequent. The tenor was obliged to repeat the brilliant movement which closes the third act. Frederici was called before the curtain after the dramatic scene in the same act; and in the closing scene the applause was as earnest as it was judicious. The tenor sang the tower song with charming taste, and the whole performance gave undoubted gratification.”