Soldene English Opera Bouffe: La Grande Duchesse de G�rolstein

“Yesterday, the company of Fräulein Emily Soldene gave at the Lyceum Theater for the first time Offenbach’s popular operetta ‘Die Grossherzogen von Gerolstein.’ Compared to the troupe’s previous performnaces, one can describe their ‘Grossherzogin’ as tolerable. The editors, or more precisely the translators, did not dare to treat this popular operetta in the way they did ‘Genovesa’ and ‘Tochter der Madame Angot;’ consequently the music has been retained in its entirety. Soldene plays the title role with fresh, witty humor, but her singing sometimes achieves greatness where bad taste and being out of tune are concerned. Herr Beverley’s deteriorating, small voice and his rather awkard, angular acting make the usually cheerful ‘Fritz’ into a real sleepyhead. Herr H. Lewens exaggerated the part of General Boum to the best of his ability. Of the soloists, only Herr J. B. Rae, who took the part of ‘Prince Paul,’ satisified. The scenery for the opera, however, is brilliant.”

“A revival of ‘La Grande Duchesse’ by Miss Emily Soldene and her company, attracted a large audience to the Lyceum Theatre last evening. The Soldene Troupe represent ‘La Grande Duchess’ as briskly as they do the other elements of their répertoire, and the opera has been set with costumes as brilliant and scenery as artistic as if it were intended to keep it upon the bills three months, instead of a week. Last night Miss Soldene personated The Duchess…[lists cast]. ‘Dites-lui,’ which Miss Soldene sings exceedingly well, although it must be rather difficult to make an effective rallentando on such a euphonious phrase as ‘Idiotic I’m Getting,’ was redemanded; As a comic effort Mr. Lewens’ portrayal Général Boum was really mirth provoking. We need but add that the concerted numbers went admirably; so good a general performance of opera bouffe as that of Miss Soldene’s company is, as we have already had occasion to note, very seldom witnessed.”

“Offenbach’s ‘Grande Duchesse’ was given by Miss Soldene’s troupe last evening at Fourteenth street with all the usual splendor of mounting which characterizes the representations of this company, and with more than the usual flow of muscular jollity which seems conventional in the piece. Perhaps a [illegible] critic might suggest that the company rather burlesque a burlesque—carry absurdity to the second power, as a mathematician would put it; but then one does not go to opera bouffe for new conceptions of classic symmetry and moderation in action, music, or execution. ‘The worst grows the best to the brave,’ says the poet. The frank audacity of the buffo artist, which knows no check or limit short of physical exhaustion, is apt to hit the keynote of the time, and earn an applause which would be grudged to the noblest efforts of Talma or Rachel.”

“Miss Emily Soldene and her company of singers and comedians last evening appeared in a version of ‘The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein.’ Miss Soldene was the Duchess…[lists cast]. The piece was set with pretty scenery, the costuming was remarkable for that artistic blending of colors which has been noticed in former representations of this troupe, and the acting and singing, as may be surmised from the distribution of the principal parts, was beyond reproach. Miss Soldene’s Grand Duchess is the best thing she has yet done in New York. Popular approval was bestowed upon her Drogan, and her conception of Mlle. Lange received merited praise; but in her amusing and graceful realization of the imperious and refreshingly eccentric heroine of Offenbach’s best work Miss Soldene more fully attains to the high standard of excellence as a singer and an actress that has been set for her by the leading journals of London. The comic arrogance, the irresistible impetuosity, the vivacity and burlesque ardor were most amusingly displayed, and the music, from the ‘I love the Military’ air to the recurrence of the drinking song, which closes the piece, was deliciously rendered. The two great hits last evening were ‘Dites lui,’ which was enthusiastically encored, and the drinking song, whose last stanza with the laughable refrain (to which Miss Soldene imparted a different effect in each repetition), was demanded five times. Of course the ‘Sabre’ song was well sung, and was received with gratification, and the other familiar airs were welcomed, but the two numbers we have mentioned would alone serve to make Miss Soldene’s Grand Duchess a popular commendable performance.

Mr. Beverly was a capital Fritz. He looked his part admirably well and sang his music with taste and expression. Mr. Lewens was a funny General Boum, singing ‘Piff, Paff, Pouf’ with good effect, and never overdoing his assumption of mock heroism. Mr. E. Marshall was a careful representative of the preceptor, Baron Puck, while Mr. J. B. Rae played Prince Paul with becoming mildness, and sang his one solo with judicious care. The minor parts were well played, although Baron Grog’s nose might be a little toned down, to the improvement of the general effect of his performance. Miss Lizzie Robson, the second lady of the company, who made such a charming Clairette in ‘Madame Angot,’ last evening appeared as the first Maid of Honor to the Duchess. It is one of the most commendable features of this troupe that its principal members, when not cast in leading characters, assist in subordinate parts, thus making the representations more complete and enjoyable.”

“The musical attractions for the past week have been the representations of an Anglicized adaptation of Offenbach’s opera-bouffe of ‘La Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein’ at the Lyceum Theatre, where it achieved a decided success for the Soldene troupe, who have made quite a hit in it by their clever expression of the music and their admirable conception of the various characterizations. This English adaptation is probably one of the best that have been presented here, and the company succeeded in rendering it with much of the original vivacity and abandon. When we take into consideration the anti-mercurial temperament of the English, and the want of adaptability of the English words to the musical score, it is according this company the highest praise to say that they have made a pronounced success. Miss Soldene, as the Grand Duchess, has a most happy conception of the part, and gives to it a brilliant and graceful interpretation, retaining enough of the original raciness to make the impersonation vivacious and sparkling, without being objectionable to English auditors. She sang the several numbers with admirable taste, and deservedly won numerous encores, notably in the aria ‘Say to Him’ and the ‘Drinking Legend,’ which latter was given with such capital effect as to be redemanded several times. Miss Clara Vesey, as Wanda, is a handsome little lady, who prettily looked the part and neatly acted it. E. D. Beverly as the stupid Fritz, J. B. Rae as the foppish Prince Paul, E. Marshall as the eccentric Baron Puck, H. Lewens as the grotesque General Boum, and H. Laurent as the preposterous Baron Grog, cleverly enacted their several personations, and with the chorus—who were well in hand and sang with admirable effect, especially in the ‘Drinking Legend,’—gave a rendition of this opera which afforded an agreeable surprise, as it could hardly be supposed that a company of English artists would give so capital an exposition of the French opera-bouffe school of music.”