[Met Performance] CID:9380



Fidelio
Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, January 5, 1891




Fidelio (25)
Ludwig van Beethoven | Joseph Sonnleithner
Leonore
Antonia Mielke

Florestan
Heinrich Gudehus

Don Pizarro
Juan Luria

Rocco
Emil Fischer

Marzelline
Olga Islar

Jaquino
Adolph Von Hübbenet

Don Fernando
Conrad Behrens

First Prisoner
C. W. Ecklemann [Last performance]

Second Prisoner
Wilhelm Schuster


Conductor
Anton Seidl





The quartet, Mir ist so wunderbar, was repeated

Review 1:

Review in The New York Times

METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.

The public gave evidence of its appreciation of the repetition of Beethoven's "Fidelio" at the Metropolitan Opera House last evening by filling the large auditorium. The applause was frequent and enthusiastic, and there could be no doubt whatever of the enjoyment of those who listened to the lofty measures. The performance was carried forward in the same reverent spirit as its predecessor, and with the same artistic merit. Frau Mielke repeated her strong impersonation of Leonora, a part for which she is much better fitted by nature than she is for Senta. Her powerful voice and dignified phrasing, her intelligent treatment of the music, and her excellent acting were again warmly welcomed.

Herr Fischer was again the Rocco, a rôle in which he shines to fine advantage, and Herr Gudehus repeated his earnest interpretation of Florestan. Fräulein Islar deserves commendation for both singing and acting in Marcellina, and Herr Luria was more satisfactory than before as Pizarro. Herr Hübbenet appeared once more as Jacquino. The chorus was not in the best of form, and the tenors sang flat in the finale of the first act.

A little incident not down in the programme was the lowering of the curtain in the middle of the quartet of the first act while the number was being repeated in response to an encore. The cause was a simple one, which might have caused excitement in the audience if it had been known. The ropes which support the roof of Hunding's house in "Die Walküre" are kept stretched by means of five-pound weights when not in use. One of these ropes came in contact with a border light and was charred. It looked for a moment as if the rope would be burned through and the weight would fall to the stage, perhaps striking one of the singers. So the curtain was lowered for a minute while the cause of the danger was removed.

Die Meistersinger" is to be brought forward next week, and Marchner's " Templar and Jewess" the following week.



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