Grover German Opera: Robert le Diable
Event Information
Venue(s):
Academy of Music
Manager / Director:
Leonard Grover
Conductor(s):
Carl Anschütz
Price: $1 to all parts of the house
Event Type:
Opera
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
22 July 2011
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
24 Sep 1864, MatineeProgram Details
Meyerbeer, Robert le diable includes: Grand ballet in Act III (Theresa Wood and corps de ballet).
Performers and/or Works Performed
1)
aka Robert the devil;
Robert der Teufel
Composer(s): Meyerbeer
Participants: Grover German Opera Company; Corps de ballet, unidentified; Johanna Rotter (role: Alice); Bertha Johannsen (role: Isabella); Karl Johann Formes (role: Bertram); Theodore Habelmann (role: Riambaud); Theresa Wood [dancer-voc] (role: Elena); Franz Himmer (role: Robert)
Citations
4)
“On Saturday the last grand matinee will take place, Robert le Diable being the attraction, with Karl Formes as Bertram—his greatest role.”
6)
“Musical. THE GERMAN OPERA. There was a very large audience assembled at the Academy of Music yesterday at the matinée. Manager Grover seems to bid defiance to the elements, and fills his house [in] spite of rain, fog, and mud. The opera Robert le Diable was much better sung than on any previous occasion by this troupe. Karl Formes, as Bertram, is truly grand. His lower notes are still admirable, while he acts the part to perfection. Mme. Rotter surprised us by her performance of the role of Alice. We have never seen this artist to such advantage. She has a most artistic conception of this role, and, taking into consideration her capabilities, does wonders in it.”
7)
“’Robert le Diable’ was played at the matinee on Saturday. The house was well attended, although not so crowded as it would have been had the weather been less threatening. The opera was given with a great deal of spirit, and we were glad to notice that Mme. Rotter was in much better voice than heretofore. She was frequently and justly applauded. Herr FORMES’ Bertram was admirable”
8)
“GERMAN OPERA.—The matinee of Saturday, at the Academy of Music, was well attended, notwithstanding the bad weather. . . . The success of the German opera for the past two weeks has been very extraordinary–the attendance, in fact, overflowing–and would warrant the manager in giving works ‘on the European plan,’ that is with a proper force of orchestra, chorus, choice of artists, new and suitable scenes and perspective grand ballet, etc.–elevating the opera from the provincial to the metropolitan rank.”
9)
Mentioned in a general review of the season. “Herr Himmer is evidently a thoughtful, earnest artist. It is only to be regretted that his voice is not sufficient for the demands of his intelligence, though it might be rendered far more effective by a more open production of tone. Nothing can be said against his conception and representation of character; as . . . Robert . . . his acting not unfrequently [sic] reaches the sublime. . . .
. . . Formes is still superb at times in Bertram. . . . But alas, that years of carelessness have in part destroyed an organ once so fine! . . .
‘Robert’ was put upon the stage after a single rehearsal and went indifferently as regards theatrical effects, in consequence. The second performance was altogether an improvement on the first. ”
. . . Formes is still superb at times in Bertram. . . . But alas, that years of carelessness have in part destroyed an organ once so fine! . . .
‘Robert’ was put upon the stage after a single rehearsal and went indifferently as regards theatrical effects, in consequence. The second performance was altogether an improvement on the first. ”