Mexican Juvenile Opera: La Grande Duchesse de G�rolstein

Company’s arrival in New York from San Francisco.  

“Twenty-seven juvenile artists, all of singular talent”

“The Juvenile Mexican Opera Company gave last evening the first of a series of performances at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. They sang with surprising correctness and skill, considering their very tender ages, ‘The Grande Duchesse.’ The acting of these little folks was even more to be wondered at than their singing. They evidently have very precocious intelligence or very highly developed imitative powers. Their ages range from 6 to 15 years. An audience of excellent quality was present and lavish of applause, which was evidently spontaneous.” 

“A company of Mexican children last evening performed ‘The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein’ at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. These youngsters were discovered by Mr. Daly in San Francisco. All the most gifted ones belong to one family, their father being the manager of the troupe, and their grown-up brother being the leader of the orchestra. ‘The Grand Duchess’ has been put upon the stage in a handsome manner, the chambers of the ducal palace being garnished with appropriate gorgeousness. The pieces of furniture are several times larger than the performers, who appear to be even smaller than most children of the same ages are. The Duchess is impersonated by one of the most remarkable children ever seen upon the stage here. Nina Carmen Unda y Moron is a very small girl with pretty and mobile features and expressive eyes, who is said to be only eight years old. Attired in the usual costumes of the impetuous Duchess, with her trains supported by a baby-boy, she goes through the whole opera with apparent zest, singing all the airs allotted to her in a pleasant voice, of wonderful power for so young a girl, and acting in a remarkably effective manner. Her actions are elfish, and neither her features nor her body are for a moment at rest. She crosses and recrosses the stage continually, in the conventional manner of old-time actresses, except that it takes her some little time to make the journey. The effect which this child manages to give to the sabre song and the ‘Dites lui’ is wonderful, and the action with which she accompanies the melodies, although exaggerated, of course, in the manner of children, shows the possession of rare intelligence. Carmen’s sister, Guadalupe, an infant aged six years, sings and acts Wanda in a much more acceptable manner than half a dozen actresses who have attempted the part in New York before they have done it; and her two brothers, Estevan and Gabriel, are the representatives of Fritz and General Boum. There are besides these about twenty other children, of all ages from five to twelve years, who sustain the minor parts and sing in the chorus, and who all seem to know perfectly well what they are doing, and show much more interest in their work than many older performers we have seen. Only Carmen, however, is a phenomenon; only this wee creature excites the spectator’s wonder, for the others are merely children, acting as children might be expected to act, after severe training. But at the sight of the tiny Duchess, in her green satin gown, her gold wig and her plumed hat, excitedly snapping the riding-whip in her little hand, in time with the measures of ‘J’aime les Militaires,’ the sternest moralist must be amused, whatever prejudices he may have in favor of putting babies to bed early, and bringing them up in the sunlight, and among the flowers rather than under the glare of stage chandeliers in an aroma of cosmetics and pearl powder. Those words of the opera which have been retained from Meilhac and Halévy’s book have been translated into the musical Spanish. Of course the vulgar parts of the piece are omitted as far as possible, and whatever coarseness there is inseparable from the story is rattled over innocently by the children. The audience last evening included a number of Spaniards, and it was consequently a highly appreciative assemblage.”

“At this house last night the Juvenile Mexican Opera Troupe made their first appearance and gained well deserved applause by their precocious performance. The opera was ‘The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein,’ with Nina Carmen y Moron in the title rôle. Nina Carmen has reached the mature age of eight years and is the prima donna of the troupe. Wanda and Fritz were played by Nina Guadalupe, aged six, and Nino Estevan. The score has been considerably changed to suit their youthful voices, but the libretto is preserved almost intact. Nina Carmen, as the Grand Duchess, made a most successful début. She is a very pretty child, with most winning manners and dramatic talents such as are rarely seen in adult actresses. Her voice is sweet and has remarkable tone for so young a child. Her rendering of the part was admirable and her little bits of stage business capital. In the first song, ‘Oh! que j’aime les militaires!’ she sang with great fluency and was much applauded; also in the Sabre Song and the Legend of the Glass. Nino Estevan made a capital Fritz and distinguished himself particularly in his duet with Wanda in the first act. The latter lady, who is the most petite of the troupe, sang with great spirit, and although not equal to Nina Carmen, either in voice or dramatic power, made a great hit. The other parts were well filled, particularly that of General Boum. It is impossible to give any idea of the naiveté of the young ladies and the mature grace and power of their acting. In several scenes the byplay was as good as we have ever seen, and many a Grand Duchess might have taken a lesson from the charming little lady who filled that part. The scenery was of course all that could be wished, and the orchestra added much to the completeness of the piece. The leader, Don Eduardo Unda y Moron, appears to understand his troupe well, and they in turn place entire confidence in him, so that the piece runs smoothly. The engagement of the little Mexicans lasts only for one week, but every one should take this opportunity of seeing these eleven little ones. Although there was much applause, there were no encores. The audience, indeed, could hardly expect the small performers to exert themselves more than they did. The management hope to be able to secure the troupe for another week and bring out Offenbach’s ‘Robinson Crusoe.’”

“’The Grand Duchess’ is now interpreted at the Fifth Avenue Theatre by a full troupe of Lilliputian artists. The prima donna, we believe, is about eight years of age, but some of the older performers are quite fifteen, When it is remembered that Offenbach’s whole opera is not merely sung, but merrily acted, by these mites, who are twenty-two in number, and are attired with quite as much elegance and appropriateness as their senior rivals, some idea of the amusing and not uninteresting impression of their work can be arrived at. Out of simple curiosity, the public ought to make their single week’s sojourn at the Fifth Avenue Theatre pleasant and profitable.”

“The Mexican Infantile Opera-Bouffe Troupe, who made their American debut at Platt’s Hall, San Francisco, Cal., on June 22, made their first appearance in this city at the Fifth-avenue Theatre on Aug. 30, performing in the Spanish language, ‘The Grand Duchess.’ Considering their tender years, their performances were really surprising. The prima donna Nina Carmen U. y Moron, who is said to be only eight years of age, and her appearance does not belie the statement, is a remarkable prodigy. As an actress she possesses abilities which no amount of tuition could ever have imparted to her. They are intuitive. Her vocal merits, although not equaling her histrionic powers, are highly commendable. She acted the Grand Duchess with much chic and abandon, and was frequently interrupted by applause, and compelled to repeat many of the most popular numbers. The supporting cast was quite competent, and the opera was very satisfactorily rendered; but it did not attract largely during the week. Owing to the manager of this theatre being involved in legal complications, the opera-troupe will continue the present week, appearing in ‘Robinson Crusoe.’”