French Opera: La fille du régiment

“A right gallant audience assembled at the French theatre last night to greet the production of ‘La fille du Regiment.’ Owing to the double attraction of Donizetti and Mlle. Naddie the house was crowded in all parts, and presented a brilliant aspect. Mlle. Naddie lent great spirit to her impersonation of Marie, giving it with a piquancy and naiveté which secured her continual outbursts of applause. In the singing season she was quite charming, expressing her impatience at the trammels of her new course of life at once truthfully and prettily. Her voice is clear and fresh, and she possesses that power of modulation and exertion which many artistes of high celebrity might envy. Mr. Anthelme supported her as Tonio, and sang his part well. His duet with her in the first act was encored, and their trio, with M. Walter [sic], who impersonated Sulpice, was rendered with éclat. In the chorus there is room for improvement. They sang both out of tune and but for the admirable rendition of the parts, they might have greatly marred the success of the evening.”

“The opera of ‘The Daughter of the Regiment’ performed before a large audience last night. Our native lovers of the opera are beginning to learn that music may be rendered quite as agreeably in the French as in the Italian language. Last night there was the added pleasure of hearing a French opera sung by French men and French women; for, in spite of Donizetti’s nativity, ‘The Daughter of the Regiment’ is French in plot, method, and in the style of the music; and it could not well have been better rendered than upon this occasion. Mlle. Naddie sang and acted Marie with care and spirit. Her voice is somewhat too delicate and sweet for the bravura music of the part, and in the first scene she did not seem to have it under complete control, but she soon overcame these difficulties, and in both the song of the ‘Ra-ta-plan’ and the ‘Salut à la France’ she sang gloriously, and brought out an enthusiastic demand for encores, which was satisfied. Mr. Anthelme sang the part of Tonio with his usual earnestness and artistic finish. His is not a robust tenor voice, but it is of excellent quality, is always kept in hand, and with that knowledge and discretion which prove not only thorough training in a good school, but superior taste and fine feeling. As Sulpice Mr. Vert was in every way satisfactory. He not only looked the disciplined old soldier, but sang and acted most admirably. The happy, funny Chol appeared as the Intendant. The chorus was admirable although a little more drill will improve it.”

“There was a good house last Tuesday, at the Fille du Régiment. The audience was excellent: attentive, intelligent, prompt with their bravos. The public, it is true, is what the artists make it, and we must attribute the honor of thus stirring it up to Mlle Naddie. She is completely delightful in the role of Marie, which has never been done as well in New York, though some famous singers have attempted it. The aria Au Bruit de la Guerre, [and] that of the singing lesson, the Salut à la France, were sung with a verve and brio that enraptured the audience. When Mlle Naddie, holding the French flag in her hand, finished the latter piece, the bravos lasted several minutes. Everybody applauded—the solemn ones, the young, the old, even the ladies, and the singer had to repeat the last phrases of her number. Mlle Naddie is a total artist, for she acts as well as she sings, with marvelous wit, perfect distinction, inestimable tact and ineffable grace. ‘Cette grace plus belle encore que la beauté.’

A propos Mlle Naddie, there is a place for her admirers to imagine some anxiety. She sang the Fille du Régiment the day before yesterday, and we see in the announcements that she sings Galathée this evening in New York, tomorrow night in Zampa in Philadelphia, and the following day in a matinee, in New York, of the Diamants de la Couronne. Mustn’t one be afraid that she will tire herself out or drain her strength, all the more because, always full of fire, she never spares herself? We are alarmed for her at so much exertion, and it would be unbearable if that were followed by a weariness that would oblige her to withdraw from our stage for some time. She is the soul and life of the Théâtre Francais, and she owes it to the public that she has conquered to have the necessary regard for herself.

The apt tribute of praises that we dedicate to Mlle Naddie doesn’t make it right for us to forget to render justice to M. Anthelme who, in the Fille du Régiment, is a charming Tonio, nor to M. Vert, who acts and sings Sulpice to a marvel, nor to Mme Daire and M. Chol, who each knew better than the other how to please the audience.” [Remainder of article is about subscriptions to the French Theater.]