Metropolitan Opera Archives

Why Meyerbeer's opera, "Le Prophete," should be performed in these days of growing musical taste might be difficult to explain were we not reminded by frequent bursts of applause that the tour de force of a brass-throated tenor is still regarded by a considerable portion of the community as a notable achievement in musical art. The most abandoned devotee of the Italian stage cannot carry the process of examination of this opera further than the second act without giving it up in despair as the most hopeless labyrinth of absurdities. It even exceeds "L'Africaine," in which Vasco di Gama, who, according to history, was always loaded with honors by an appreciative monarch, is refused a ship by the Inquisition, is put in prison, where he lays out his course on a Mercator chart. which was invented 32 years after he died, and not made trustworthy for half a century later.

However, these matters are hardly worth discussing at this time, for the critical minority of the public has long since decided that the libretti of Meyerbeer's operas were not built on the same principle as the telescope, which is intended to be seen through. Herr Perotti was the John of Leyden last evening. He sang with all his might and main, and the piddle rose at him. Shakespeare made some pointed remarks about tearing a passion to tatters, and also about mouthing words. His speech was addressed to actors; but we have frequently had occasion to regret during the present season that Herr Perotti has never had the good fortune to appear as the First Actor and have that speech impressed on him by Edwin Booth.

Frau Moran-Olden sang Fides with splendid originality - as to pitch. Fräulein Föhström was the Bertha. Herr Robinson the Oberthal, and Herren Mödlinger, Muthe, and Sedlmayer the three Anabaptists. The ballet was in good form, and helped those who were obliged to stay through the opera to endure their existence. Tomorrow evening the atmosphere will be cleared by "Die Meistersinger."

Search by season: 1888-89

Search by title: Le Prophète,

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