[Met Performance] CID:8010



Die Königin von Saba
Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, November 29, 1889

Debut : Conrad Behrens, Edward Schlömann, Margaretha Urbanska




Die Königin von Saba (30)
Karl Goldmark | Hermann Salomon Mosenthal
Queen of Sheba
Lilli Lehmann

Assad
Julius Perotti

Sulamith
Sophie Wiesner

King Solomon
Joseph Beck

Astaroth
Charlotte Huhn

High Priest
Conrad Behrens [Debut]

Baal-Hanan
Edward Schlömann [Debut]

Dance
Margaretha Urbanska [Debut]

Dance
Miss Louie

Dance
Josefine Ambroggio


Conductor
Anton Seidl


Director
Theodore Habelmann

Set Designer
Henry E. Hoyt

Costume Designer
Henry Dazian

Lighting Designer
James Stuart, Jr.





Die Königin von Saba received seven performances this season.

Review 1:

Review in The New York Times

METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.

Goldmark's opera, "The Queen of Sheba," was brought forward to fill the second subscription night at the Metropolitan Opera House last evening. The familiar work received a cordial welcome, as it certainly deserves to. It is an opera of what may be called the fleshly school. Its beauty is of a sensuous nature, both in the story and the music. The amour of the Queen and its disastrous consequences furnish material for a book full of throbbing passion and dramatic situations.

The music is excellently suited to the book, being fluent and characteristic in its melody, rich in harmony, and opulent in instrumental coloring. In addition to all this, the author and composer have made use of the numerous opportunities offered by their subject for theatrical display. Thus the opera gives scope or an exhibition of the resources of our opera house in the scene and costume departments. There is no lack of liberality in the way the work is presented to the public. The stage last night was crowded with a small army of persons in varied and gorgeous attire, with supernumeraries of more than one race, with ballet dancers conspicuous among them the new premiere, Mlle Urbanska, of whom more hereafter, and even with a property elephant, whose crowding was as effective as it was, was picturesque. The procession at the entrance of the Queen was one of the most gorgeous spectacles ever witnessed in opera in this city.

The performance, which in the minds of music lovers is actually more important than the temptations of the eye, seductive as they are, was worthy of much praise. Frau Lehmann made her reappearance before this public as the Queen, a rôle which she has not sung here before. It is pleasant to record the fact that the famous dramatic soprano was in fine voice. Her artistic accomplishments are thoroughly familiar to operagoers in New York. Last night she sang with her customary intelligence, taste and power. She proved to be what everyone expected she would be - an adequate representative of Solomon's questionable visitor.

Herr Perotti also made his reappearance, singing the rôle of Assad, in which he achieved an emphatic success. The impassioned measures lend themselves readily to his impetuous style, and his strong, vibrant upper notes rang out with splendid effect. The duet between Assad and the Queen, in the second act, in the hands of two such singers as Lehmann and Perotti could not fail to go with fine effect. Throughout the opera, it may be noted, Perotti's work was well done,

Fräulein Wiesner assumed the role of Sulamith, which she sang agreeably. Conrad Behrens made his début as the high Priest. He has a good sonorous bass voice, and sings with judgment. He will be a valuable member of the company. Edward Schlömann appeared for the first time as Baal-Hanan, displaying a good voice, but somewhat too much tremolo. Herr Beck was the Solomon. He sang the music of his part with great judgment and taste. This singer has been deservedly growing in public favor, and he deserves his increasing popularity. The work of the chorus and the army of auxiliaries was well done last evening, and the orchestra under Herr Seidl discharged its duties efficiently.



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