Aim�e Opera Bouffe: La Jolie Parfumeuse

Event Information

Venue(s):
Lyceum Theatre

Conductor(s):
Charles [conductor] Van Ghel

Price: $1; $1.50 reserved seat; $.50 family circle; $15 proscenium boxes; $1 reserved balcony stall

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
28 August 2025

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

14 Apr 1875, Evening
15 Apr 1875, Evening
16 Apr 1875, Evening
17 Apr 1875, Evening

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Jolie parfumeuse, La
Composer(s): Offenbach
Participants:  Aimée Opera Bouffe Company;  Marie Aimée (role: Rose Michon);  Mlle. Cantrelle (role: Le Julienne);  Blanche Gandon (role: Clorinde);  Monsieur Debeer (role: La Cocardiere);  Charles Kolletz (role: Poirot);  Mlle. [soprano] Nardynne (role: Blavolet);  Mlle. [soprano] Sivoy (role: Arthemise);  Mlle. [soprano] Vandelet (role: Madelon);  Mlle. [soprano] Delmas (role: Justine);  Mlle. [soprano] Coraglia (role: Lise);  Mlle. [soprano] Defrang (role: Mirette);  [baritone] Arrigatti (role: Germain)

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 11 April 1875, 11.
2)
Review: New York Post, 15 April 1875, 2.

“‘La Jolie Parfumeuse’ was reproduced at the Lyceum Theatre last night, after a brief interval, during which the stage on which its scenes of jollity and abandon are enacted has been given up to Ristori and Italian tragedy. The distribution of the parts in this merry little work, which from a musical point of view is one of the poorest, but in its vivacity and grotesque humor is one of the best we have yet had here, has been somewhat improved. M. Debeer now displays his wonderful powers of facial expression and his agility to good advantage as La Cocordiere and Mlle. Gandon is Clorinde; while Mlle. Aimée, as a matter of course, retains the principal part—that of Rose Michon, the pretty performer, and M. Kolletz and Mlle. Nardynne are still the representatives of Blavolet and Poirot. As we have said, the score of ‘Le Jolie Parfumeuse’ is not one of particular merit, even for an opera bouffe. Here and there a familiar air of Verdi is suggested, and there are innumerable reminiscences of Offenbach’s former successes. But the book is cleverly constructed, and the actions are funny (and both are rather indecent), and there are at least three songs which are melodious and lively enough, and which offer splendid opportunities for buffoonery to their singers. There are the song of the ‘Polish Draughtsman’ in the first act:

Place au grand Verroulilaski,

which Kolletz renders admirably, and two songs of Rose Michon, one in the first act:

Vá des gens qui a’ imagin’bièn,

and the other in the second act—

A Toulouse, en Toulousain.

The last song was redemanded three times last evening. Mlle. Aimée was never in better spirits or better voice than she was last night. The piece is well set at the Lyceum Theatre, and it will probably keep the stage for the whole of next week.”