Strakosch Italian Opera: Mignon

“Mlle. Albani appeared at the Academy of Music last evening, giving her final impersonation of the heroine of Thomas’ opera. The familiar numbers of the title rôle received unusual care at her hands, and in every scene her acting was charming. In the first concerted piece which follows the entry of Guglielmo, the prayer, ‘Santa Virgine Maria,’ was full of childlike devotion and contrasted with the brilliant roulades of the heartless, designing actress, Filina. In the touching description of her native land, ‘Non conosci il bel zuol,’ and in the ‘Swallows’ duet the tender feeling of Mignon was well portrayed by Mlle. Albani. In the second act the toilet scene, including the well known ‘Styrienne,’ was full of artless gayety and innocent coquetry. The despair and jealousy of Mignon in the third act, when she contemplates suicide, were forcible and natural and devoid of mere staginess. Very beautiful, also, was the lyric and dramatic picture presented in the last scene by Mlle. Albani of Mignon’s return to her ancestral home. Mlle. Heilbron, who undertook the rôle of Filina, was evidently laboring under the effects of illness, as her voice was weaker than usual. She managed, however, to secure an encore in the Polacca. Miss Cary, Debassini, Fiorini and Scolara appeared as Federico, Guglielmo, Lotario and Laertes, and filled the rôles in the same manner as at the first representation of the opera this season.”