French Opera Bouffe: Les Brigands

Event Information

Venue(s):
Grand Opera House

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
21 May 2023

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

26 Dec 1870, Evening
26 Dec 1870, 2:00 PM
27 Dec 1870, Evening
31 Dec 1870, Evening

Program Details

The cast alternates in the major roles of Fiorella and Fragoletto.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Brigands, Les
aka Banditen, Die
Composer(s): Offenbach
Participants:  French Opera Bouffe Company;  Lea Silly (role: Fragoletto);  Celine Montaland (role: Fiorella);  Suzanne [soprano] Thal (role: Fragoletto);  Elise Persini (role: Fragoletto);  Marie Aimée (role: Fiorella)

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 25 December 1870, 9.
2)
Review: New-York Times, 27 December 1870, 5.

“Mlle. AIMEE took part at the Grand Opera-house last evening the part of Fiorella, which she filled when ‘Les Brigands’ was first represented in Paris. Though suffering from a cold, the effects of which lessened the fullness of her voice, the new artist sang the pretty music allotted to the brigand’s daughter with the unusual refinement and finish which her execution of the numbers in ‘Barbe Bleue’ induced us to look for in her after-efforts. A fresh song, introduced into the second act, had the honors of a demand for a repeat, while the waltz couplets in the first enjoyed a similar assurance of approval. Mlle. AIMEE acts the part, too, with a great appreciation of detail, and she and her associates were especially well rewarded for their exertions last night, by the applause of an audience that crowded the theatre. The representation progressed with exceptional vivacity and success, for the scene in which Fragoletto is invested with the insignia of the robber band was rendered again in its entirety, and the laughing chorus was exacted four times.”

3)
Article: New York Herald, 29 December 1870, 4.

“GRAND OPERA HOUSE—ILLNESS OF MLLE. AIMEE.—This artist was announced to appear for the first time as Fiorella in ‘Les Brigands’ last night [sic] the role which has already been filled by Mlles. Persini, [Lea] Silly and [Celine] Montaland. Indisposition, however, interfered and compelled the management to postpone the occasion until this evening, when Mlle. Aimee will certainly appear. Montaland played Fiorella last evening [Tuesday].”

4)
Review: New York Clipper, 07 January 1871, 318.

“At the Grand Opera House on Monday evening, Dec. 26th, Mlle. Aimee sang her original role of Fiorella in the ‘Brigands’ for the first time in America. Although suffering from hoarseness, she sang the music admirably and with artistic execution and finish. She paid great attention to the acting of the character, which added greatly to the general effect of the performance. A fresh song introduced by her in the second act was encored, and the whispering chorus at the end of the first act was loudly re-demanded. The laughing chorus received four encores.”