French Opera: Orphée aux Enfers

“The French opera of ‘Orphée aux Enfers’ was so successful on Thursday evening that it is to be repeated to-night.”

“Orphée aux Enfers, presented by the associated comedians on Thursday, was repeated last evening with good effect.  Careful rehearsals had done away with occasional hitches in the dialogue and greatly improved the orchestral performance, which was at least passable.  Being adapted to the dramatic rather than to the operatic stage, Offenbach’s work was very well enacted by the dramatic company, and Mlle. Naddi, who sang the more difficult couplets of the piece, supplied the musical element so satisfactorily as to cause the indulgent audience to overlook the defects exhibited in the singing of one or two of the other artistes.  The burlesque was given with great brio, and the hits upon which its success in a measure depends were productive of great merriment, their desired result.”

Quotes Weekly Review: “French opera is no longer in existence, although the effort to revive it in the shape of ‘Orphee aux Enfers,’ which was made a week ago, may be called pretty successful, the cast being, in some respects, better than before, and there being even a sprinkling of clouds in the second act, which is played in Olypm.  At the first performance the Olymp consisted of a common drawing-room. The opera was pretty well given, with the exception of the music, which seemed to be regarded as a secondary matter.  There is no prospect of another revival of opera at the French opera-house.”