French Opera Bouffe: Le Petit Faust

Event Information

Venue(s):
Grand Opera House

Proprietor / Lessee:
James, Jr. Fisk

Manager / Director:
John F. [manager] Cole

Conductor(s):
Carlo Patti

Price: $.50 general admission; $1 balcony; $1.50 parquet; $.30 family circle; $8 private box for 4; $15 proscenium box for 6

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
30 May 2023

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

17 Oct 1870, 8:00 PM
18 Oct 1870, 8:00 PM
20 Oct 1870, 8:00 PM
22 Oct 1870, Matinee

Program Details

Choreography by Signor Costa.



Celine Montaland was scheduled to sing the role of Marguerite at all four performances, but owing to indisposition only did so on Thursday. Suzanne Thal sang the role on Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Petit Faust, Le
Composer(s): Hervé
Text Author: Crémieux
Participants:  French Opera Bouffe Company;  Lea Silly (role: Mephisto);  Celine Montaland (role: Marguerite);  Constant Gausins (role: Faust);  Suzanne [soprano] Thal (role: Marguerite);  Monsieur [bass] Varlet (role: Valentin)

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 16 October 1870, 7.
2)
Review: New-York Times, 18 October 1870, 4.

“’La Petit Faust’ was sung at the Grand Opera-house last evening, Mlle. Susanne Thal representing Marguerite for the first time. Mlle. Thal acted and sang very acceptably, but future performances will better enable the formation of a definite opinion as to her talent. Mlle. Montaland was absent through indisposition, and Mlle. Silly suffered from a sore throat, although she struggled to the end of the piece with commendable bravery.”

3)
Review: New York Clipper, 29 October 1870, 238.

“...The change [in cast] was no improvement, upon the whole. Mlle. Thal has a better voice, and sang the music more satisfactorily than Mlle. Montaland, but could not compare with her in personnel or in acting. Mons. Varlet was sadly deficient in comicality, and by bringing himself into direct comparison with such an artist as Mons. Hittemans was certainly an error, and the artist’s reputation suffered in consequence.”