Venue(s):
Olympic Theatre
Proprietor / Lessee:
Samuel Colville
James E. [manager, proprietor] Hayes
Manager / Director:
Samuel Colville
James E. [manager, proprietor] Hayes
Carlo A. Chizzola
Conductor(s):
Charles [conductor] Van Ghel
Price: $1; $.50-$1 extra reserved; $.50 family circle; $10, $15, $18 boxes
Event Type:
Opera
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
28 July 2024
“Although the power of ‘La Périchole’ to draw and delight did not make a change of programme at the Olympic Theatre necessary, ‘La Grande Duchesse’ was sung at that house last evening. The recital of the well-worn but still pleasing work does not call for an extended notice. Mlle. Aimée’s personation of the fanciful Sovereign is, of course, conspicuous for vivacity, and M. Juteau’s embodiment of Fritz, as might have been forseen after his performance of Piquillo, is exceedingly elaborate, and particularly welcome because of the artist’s fresh voice. Yesterday’s rehearsal introduced to a very numerous and brilliant audience, besides these players, two newcomers—Mlle. Rolland, a clever and animated young songstress, who supplied an unusually spirited sketch of Wanda, the rustic love of Fritz; and M. Lécuyer, than [from?] whom we should like a more pompous representative of General Boum. The general work was most satisfying, and the stage costume all that could be desired. It is impossible to pass a merrier evening than at the Olympic Theatre, now that the season of opera bouffe is fairly underway.”
“’La Grande Duchesse’ was presented at the Olympic Theatre last evening, with Mlle. Aimée as the Duchess, supported by singers who were nearly all strangers to this city. Monsieur Juteau appeared as Fritz, and the favorable impression he made as Piquillo was in no way impaired. Mlle. Aimée’s impersonation of the heroine in Offenbach’s most popular work won the favor of New York audiences some years ago. She displays much archness in the character, and gives to it a delicate tone which is lacking in the part when rendered by others whose names are associated with it. Last evening the characters of General Boum and Prince Paul were brought into prominence by MM. Lecuyer and Marcas. M. Duchesne sang Baron Puck. The whole performance was most pleasing and creditable.”
“The presentation last night of the ‘Grande Duchesse,’ with Mlle. Aimée in the title rôle, filled the Olympic, notwithstanding the unfavorable nature of the weather. It is saying a good deal for the popularity of opéra bouffe that it could bring together so large an audience under such adverse circumstances. When we remember that the performance is in a foreign language, and that therefore some of the finest points cannot be fully enjoyed by the general public, the wonder will be increased. But in defiance of all obstacles opéra bouffe appeals to the public taste, and will undoubtedly establish itself here as one of our recognized amusements. Without any very exalted pretentions to high arts, there is sufficient musical ability displayed to make the entertainment interesting even from the musical point of view, while the drollery of the caricatures, which are lightly but artistically sketched, supplies the occasion of a good, hearty laugh. Aimée was as usual arch, brilliant, sung well and acted efficiently. She was very well supported by M. Juteau, who comes to us from the Bouffes Parisiennes. He has a good voice, and his acting in the part of Fritz is finished and well considered. M. Lecuyer as General Boum, M. Marcas as Prince Paul and M. Duchesne as Baron Puck gave general satisfaction, and proved themselves experienced and skillful artists. As a whole, the performance was remarkably complete, and if we except a certain weakness in the female voices that we would like to see remedied, leaves little to be desired.”
“Mlle Bonelli sang in ‘La Grande Duchess,’ at the Olympic Theatre, last evening. The lady’s début was quite successful, and the whole programme passed off to the delight of an audience which filled the theatre to overflowing.”
“The début of Mlle. Bonelli as the Grande Duchesse took place last evening at the Olympic Theatre before a crowded audience. This lady is described on the programme in choice laudatory phrases, which convey, in short, that she is a soprano who has sung and acted at the Varieties in Paris. We have described previously the merits of the combination which is now engaged in presenting opéra bouffe at the Olympic, and have particularly notified our appreciation of the cast which has appeared in Offenbach’s ‘Grande Duchesse.’ It therefore only remains to be said that, outside of a hoarseness, which prevents M. Lecuyer as General Boum from singing a note audibly, the disposition of characters can be praised. Mlle. Bonelli, the débutante of last night, it must be supposed, is not seriously intended to perpetuate this rôle, in which she suffers by contrast with the brilliant Aimée to an unfortunate degree. Mlle. Bonelli is a shapely and good-looking blonde, with a certain amount of opéra bouffe chic, which expression conveys vivacity, nonchalance and a hundred minette graces familiar to Parisians and to Parisiennes only except through the medium of opéra bouffe. It was this chic which mainly gave Mlle. Schneider her fame in this rôle, and in a minor degree what has carried Mlle. Aimée successfully so far. But voice is wanted also, and if Mlle. Bonelli’s efforts last evening are a fair indication of her forces in this direction we must confess she has not satisfied us. Her voice is not strong, and, in the sabre song this want was very apparent. Earlier, in the song ‘J’aime le Militaire,’ it was attributed to nervousness, but in the piece de résistance of the opera the true cause became visible. She sings correctly and her best success was the pleading morceau ‘Dites Lui.’ Here she exhibited her best vocal points, which are more in passages requiring delicate phrasing and emotional expression. Her performance was deserving on the whole, but would indicate that she will be better placed when not supporting the weight of an entire opera.”
“Seven performances of the Opera Bouffe were given at the Olympic Theater last week—five of ‘La Perichole’ and two of ‘La Grande Duchesse.’ To the representation of the first piece we referred on Tuesday. The second was performed on the evenings of Friday and Saturday. On the first occasion The Duchess was Mlle. Aimee. She filled a perfect ideal of wanton feminine beauty and joyous animal vivacity, and she sang the music of the part with taste, with vigor of feeling, and with an execution at all points effective. The touch of droll humor and the spice of wickedness were not lacking; and the sparkling presence of the gay Duchess was made brighter yet with the loveliness of rich and varied costume. Aimee’s personation of The Duchess is the best we have seen. It is full of spirit, yet is delicate in form; and at all the salient points it fulfills expectation, as to dash and merry abandon. On Saturday evening this part was assumed by Mlle. Bonelli, who therein made her first appearance in America. She had a cold, and she was, manifestly, in a state of trepidation. She had witnessed, on the previous night, the great success achieved by Mlle. Aimee, and the presence of that actress, in one of the stage-boxes, probably did not tend to animate her confidence. Under the happiest conditions, however, Mlle. Bonelli would still prove, we think—as certainly she proved on this occasion—unequal to the character, both musically and dramatically. Her voice is small and weak; and, though she is a good singer,--as to method and finish,--this feebleness is something for which [illegible] of execution does not atone. Her voice was several times drowned by the orchestral accompaniment. When heard, though, it was heard to be a pure soprano, thin in quality but sweet in tone. As an actress Mlle. Bonelli was monotonous, somewhat inflexible, and full of effort. Her appearance is agreeable. She has a pretty face, of the aquiline order, dark eyes; a little, tantalizing mouth; and a ripe figure, charmingly arrayed. The peculiarity of her demeanor,--and doubtless, therefore, of her personality,--is a certain childlike ingenuousness. Mlle. Bonelli was vigorously, though not judiciously, applauded. Her exceedingly weak rendering of the saber song was asked for a second time, and flowers were handed to her across the footlights. This floricultural business, by the way, has been utterly used up; it deceives nobody; it annoys intelligent observers; and it ought to be discarded. With respect to other features in the rendering of ‘La Grande Duchesse,’ a few words will suffice. The work, as a whole, is not as well done as it was by the famous Tostée Combination, brought over by Mr. Bateman; and, probably, the equal of that performance will not be seen. Yet it is done well. We still have Duschene. He has not been seen as General Boum and as Baron Puck. Of him it may be said that his sense of character is wonderfully acute, and that it expresses itself spontaneously in a thousand outward manifestations, all of which are welded together with the finest instinct of artistic symmetry. Light and shade are naturally and beautifully blended in the acting of Duchesne, and for every moment he has its appropriate business and by-play; and over all he casts a glamor of droll and genial humor. The Prince Paul of M. Marcas—who conceived the part as something between a jerky automaton and a blubbering lout; and whose execution of the music was totally ineffective. Leduc, who use to play this, is dead. In the Prince Paul that he represented there was unconscious, insinuating grace, sweet humor, delicate grotesquerie, and consummate elegance; and he sang the music of the part—now droll and whimsical, and now strangely plaintive—with just the right feeling and accentuation, neatly, prettily, and with that total freedom from effort which is the crowning glory of art. After such an actor (when comes there such another?) it is not easy to be patient with the inefficiency of M. Marcas. The General Boum on Saturday night was M. Lecuyer, and he was not good in the part—which he played for the first time. Effort was constantly visible. But M. Lecuyer has a fine voice and is a capital singer, and his temperament seems hearty and kindly. His performance was intelligent and full of fun. He made the mistake of letting it be seen that he appreciated the ridiculous absurdity of what he was doing. These musical farces require, above all things, that the performers in them should be in dead earnest. M. Juteau acted Fritz, and acted it superbly—with delightful freshness, animal spirits, and mischievous drollery. In this part we have not seen his superior. He moves with easy vigor; he enjoys every moment, and imparts his joy; and he keeps—by taste rather than set intention, as it seems—within the bound of delicacy. The Wanda of Mlle. Rolland and the Nepomuc of M. Berthon were careful and creditable utility performances. It would be trite to comment on the plentitude of taking airs and comical incidents in ‘La Grande Ducnesse.’ These are known, and have made it the most popular of all the operas of its class. The piece is provided with a sumptuous stage-setting at the Olympic Theater; is gayly dressed; and has the advantage of a very numerous, strong, and well-trained chorus.”
“The ‘Grande Duchesse’ was represented on Saturday evening at the Olympic Theatre. Of course that fact of itself has no special significance, and we mention it only to note that the occasion furnished the opportunity for one more prima donna to present herself before the public in the character.
The list of those who have assumed the rôle in this city is longer than that of Blue Beard’s wives, and nearly as long as that of Solomon’s. We cannot, with truth, say that Mlle. Bonelli, the new comer, throws any specially new light on the character of the royal flirt. She looks pretty enough for a grand duchess, and sings about as well as such titled amateurs may be expected to.
Her voice is pleasant, and with attentive listening can, we should think, be heard even on the back seats. Her action is humorous, without coarseness, and her representation of the character, on the whole, an acceptable, though not a very strong one.”
“The occasion was one of more than ordinary interest from the fact that Mlle. Bonelli, a popular favorite with Parisian audiences, made her first appearance in America as the lively heroine. She showed herself to be possessed of rare talents for the rendering of such parts, although her style is more vigorous than Mlle. Aimée’s, and her voice is not so good. She was warmly received. The supporting cast included M. Juteau, whose impersonation of Fritz is capital, and other favorite members of the company.”
“On Friday evening, ‘La Grande Duchesse’ was sung, with Mlle. Aimee in the title role. Her interpretation of ‘Dites Lui’ was marked with much delicacy of expression, depth of feeling and purity of tone. Mons. Juteau, as Fritz, more than confirmed the good opinion formed of him. Mons. Lecuyer made his American debut as General Boum. He has a good voice, and evidently learned his art in a good school, but although his impersonation of that character may be commended, we do not think it equal, in all respects, to that hitherto given by Duchesne. The latter gentleman filled the role of Baron Puck, and added importance to it by his excellent acting. Mons. Marcas, who likewise made his debut, was seen to advantage as Prince Paul. Mons. Berthon was effective as Nepomuc and Mlle. Rolland as Wanda lent a charm to that character by her beautiful personal appearance and correct acting. On Saturday evening ‘La Grande Duchesse’ was repeated, with Mdlle. Bonelli, making her American debut in the title role. She has a beautiful, expressive face, a well rounded figure, and a good, though not very strong, soprano voice; while in her acting she displays much chic and abandon. During her first song, ‘I love the military,’ she evidently labored under considerable nervousness. In her interpretation of ‘The Sabre Song,’ and ‘Dites lui,’ it became apparent that her voice, though sweet and pure in tone, lacked vigor and strength. It should, however, be borne in mind that she only arrived in this city on Thursday morning after a long sea voyage, which may possibly have affected her voice, and we would prefer to hear her in other roles before absolutely confirming that opinion. In the acting of the role she won much favor. The balance of the cast was the same as the previous evening. Mons. Lecuyer’s performance of General Boum was much marred by the same hoarseness under which he was laboring. The costumes worn in both operas were magnificent. The chorus and orchestra are good, and the prospects for a successful season are flattering. The attendance, notwithstanding the advanced prices, was very large during the week, every seat in the auditorium being sold, and on several evenings many persons were unable to obtain standing room.”