New-Yorker Stadt-Theater Opera: La Belle H�l�ne

Brief.

Full cast list with roles.

“Offenbach’s beloved operetta ‘Die schöne Helene’ was first performed yesterday before a good house. ‘Die schöne Helene’ is one of those Offenbach works that enthralls and entertains not only through musical worth, but also through its plot and witty, pointed dialogue. The management has found an excellent representative of the title role in Fräulein Lina Mayr, who in both acting and singing, overshadows almost all of her predecessors. The role of ‘Helene’ gives the guest artist another opportunity to showcase her singing and her outstanding ability to portray Offenbach’s characters. Last night, almost every scene in which she appeared received thunderous applause. Herr Schütz was also superb as ‘Paris’ and Herr Schönwolff as ‘Calchas.’ The opera will remain on the stage throughout the week.” 

“‘La Belle Hélène,’ one of Offenbach’s most tuneful, most laughable and most improper works, was produced last evening to a large audience at the Stadt Theatre. The principal rôle was sustained by Miss Lina Mayr, whose fun was sufficiently broad and whose gestures were sufficiently suggestive to please the free-and-easy young gentlemen in the pit, and even made the good-natured ladies in the balcony laugh against their will. The remainder of the cast calls for no especial comment. The singing was very fair, and the acting had much of that dash and verve which we are only wont to expect from Mlle. Aimée’s countrymen and country women. There was none of the proverbial German phlegm about it. The audience relished the taking airs, broad jokes and doubtful hints with which this opera abounds, and rewarded Mr. Neuendorff’s troupe liberally with applause.”