Aim�e Opera Bouffe: La Grande Duchesse de G�rolstein

“The return of Mlle. Aimée to a public which long ago recognized in that vivacious and accomplished lady the best representative opera bouffe has ever had in this country, was greeted at the Academy of Music, last evening, by an audience quite strong in numbers and decidedly brilliant. Mlle. Aimée and the artists whose performances at the outset of the present season were noticed in these columns time and again, then sang ‘La Grand Duchesse,’ the most worn opera of the repertory, but by no means the least liked by American audiences. From this statement of fact, it will be inferred that a careful review of the representation will not be attempted. Under the circumstances, it behooves us only to say that, although the company gave evidence of the fatigue consequent upon a nine hours’ journey, the recital was smooth and very spirited, Mlle. Aimée, as usual, bearing off the larger part of the honors, and having to do twice her allotted duty at the most familiar stages of the story.”

“An opera bouffe performance by Mlle. Marie Aimée and her troupe has come to be synonymous with Mlle. Aimée. Last evening’s rendering of ‘La Grande Duchesse’ was more thoroughly illustrative of that fact than any given heretofore. It is true, we had around the central figure Mlle. Roland as Wanda, M. Juteau as Fritz, M. Duchesne as General Boum—and so on to the end of the cast—but withal, ‘La Grande Duchesse’ was La Grande Duchesse herself, and La Grande Duchesse was—Mlle. Aimée.”

“Mlle. Aimee will favorably compare with any opéra bouffe artist who has made the lightsome measure and seductive can-can of Offenbach a feature on the stage. She has all the peculiar characteristics of the bouffe prima donna. Last night she appeared as La Grande Duchesse at the Academy of Music, and there were many people present. Mlle. Aimee gave to the rôle of the grand comic lady all the élan and verve that might be expected, and had she been under the aegis of Bateman a few years ago, the name and fame of Tostée would be now forgotten. But the rest of the cast, mehercule! It was bad, in the broadest sense of the word. Juteau plays Fritz as if he was connected with Tony Pastor’s, and poor Duchesne’s voice has departed long since. The absence of Leduc as Prince Paul was severely felt and even De Felcourt, who was so much abused in the city papers as Wanda, was much better than Mlle. Roland last night. It is a great mistake, besides, to give opéra bouffe on the stage of the Academy of Music. The delicatesses and peculiar effects of this species of entertainment cannot be presented in such a building. This is particularly the case with a mere traveling company, which depends entirely on the prima donna for success. Mlle. Aimee is a charming opéra bouffe artiste, but she has a very bad company. She must reorganize this company before she ventures the big Opera House again.”