French Opera Bouffe: La Grande duchesse de Gérolstein

“The ‘Grand Duchess’ was again put upon the stage at the Grand Opera House last evening. America will soon be the only refuge of this eccentric dignitary. The French are said to have driven her from their stage because Offenbach is a German, and the Germans won’t have her because she comes from Paris.

All the queens of opera bouffe try their hands at the representation of the character. It is the brightest, and best that Offenbach has conceived. Mlle. Aimée is the last of the grand ducal line, and we may safely say one of the best. Her acting is vigorous and sprightly, and her singing meritorious. Perhaps her can can might be toned down to advantage. Her dress was rather an innovation on the traditions, but one inspired by good taste. Gaussins has been heard before as Fritz, and Duchesne’s General Boum is almost world famous.

The house was an overflowing one.”

“The spacious and splendid hall of the Grand Opera House was crowded last night to its utmost capacity on the occasion of the revival of ‘La Grande Duchesse,’ with new scenery, dresses and decorations. Mlle. Aimée, in the title rôle, which she has sustained upwards of 370 times in the theatres of France and Brazil, gave a sparkling freshness to it which it has never worn on the New York stage since the disappearance of Mlle. Tostée. On the famous and familiar airs of ‘Le Sabre de Mon Pere’ and ‘Dites-lui’ she conferred a new lease of life and popularity, by the verve and the finesse with which she sang and acted. M. Gaussins added to his recognized claims as an actor of consummate taste and skill by the decided originality of his rendition of the rôle of Fritz. Mr Edgard was an excellent Baron Puck, and, although neither M. Legros nor any one else can hope to replace M. Le Duc, M. Duchesne, the ‘real original’ General Boum, by flashes of his old fire, carried us all back to the early palmy days of opéra bouffe in New York. The ‘incidental ballet’ was favorably received, notwithstanding that there was somewhat too much of a good thing in its proper place. The complete success of the reproduction of ‘La Grande Duchess’ is an augury of the success that now might be safely predicted for the reproduction of ‘La Belle Hélene’ and of ‘La Vie Parisienne,’ the most rattling, exciting and brilliant of Offenbach’s works.”

“At the Grand Opera House, the novelty of the past week consisted of the reproduction of ‘La Grande Duchesse,’ with the following cast [see above]. The opera was sung on Monday [Tuesday?] and Saturday evenings, on the first of which M’lle. Aimée sang the title role for the first time in America. She rendered the music in a charming manner, and acted the character with a deal of abandon and vivacity, and is certainly the best representative of the part since M’lle. Tostée. Duchesne, the original General Boum in this country, sang and acted that role with his usual excellence. Legros, as Prince Paul, deserves high praise. The performance was a highly enjoyable one, and attracted large audiences.”