Grover German Opera: Faust

     "It is announced, somewhat abruptly as it seems to us, that the season of German opera will end with this evening’s performance.  We have of course seen, and with constant regret, that the attendance was not of a remunerative character, but the Academy has not been worse off in this respect than any other place of amusement.  The mute agony of that terrible 14th of April, has not yet been comforted.  With the last few days there has, however, been a more cheerful disposition on the part of the public, and we certainly expect that Mr. Grover would be able to profit by it.  He is the very last man to be discouraged.  We have not in fact heard him complain.  Still, as we see it announced that the season will positively close with to-night’s performance of ‘Les Huguenots,’ we may reasonably conclude that he has urgent reasons for his course of action.  The business, in truth, has been bad, and the company quarrelsome.  So far as the members of the latter are concerned, it became absolutely necessary to disband them, and so dispose of certain antagonistic elements which interfered with the free action of the management.  Mr. Grover, who has, we believe, prospered with the German opera, will, we presume, speedily crystallize a new company.  The public will be glad to see him return to management, for he has displayed energy and a desire to please.  In the meantime the wreck will drift through the country.  There will be half a dozen German opera companies, and in six months as many failures.  No one should neglect the opportunity of hearing Meyerbeer’s grandest work to-night.  It is excellently rendered by Mr. Grover’s artists.  The matinee on Saturday was, of course, badly attended.  Who could be expected to go through such weather even for ‘Faust?’  The distribution of the parts was not particularly interesting.  Mlle. Canissa, who appeared in the character of Marguerite, lacks voice, method, and personal appearance for the role.  She cannot be favorably compared with Mlle. Frederici, who at least possess [sic] two or three essentials.  The same remark applies, but with less force, to the Siebel of Mlle. Djiuba, heretofore played by Madame Johannsen.”