[Met Performance] CID:10550



L'Africaine
Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, January 25, 1892


In Italian



L'Africaine (10)
Giacomo Meyerbeer | Eugène Scribe
Sélika
Lillian Nordica

Vasco de Gama
Jean de Reszke

Inès
Sofia Ravogli

Nélusko
Jean Lassalle

Pedro
Edouard de Reszke

Diégo
Lodovico Viviani

Alvar
Mr. Grossi

Grand Inquisitor
Enrico Serbolini

High Priest
Mr. Ricci [Only appearance]

Anna
Ida Klein

Usher
Antonio Rinaldini


Conductor
Auguste Vianesi







Review 1:

Review in The New York Times

METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.

This is Meyerbeer week at the opera, and, as the present company has thus far appeared to the best advantage in the works of that composer, the results of the week will probably be very gratifying to that part of the public, which is patronizing the opera this season. The work presented last evening was "L'Africaine," which has been performed once before. A. good-sized audience was present last evening, and, though there was, as a matter of course, less enthusiasm than the début of M. Lassalle caused at the first performance of "L'Africaine," still there was an abundance of applause, giving sufficient evidence that the audience was well pleased.

There were some changes in the east, but only one touched a principal part. This was the substitution of Sofia Ravogli for Mlle. Pettigiani as Inez. Inez is not one of the latter's best parts, and perhaps this made Mlle. Ravogli's performance appear the more creditable under the test of those comparisons which are uncritical, but inevitable. Mlle. Ravogli's voice is of considerable power, and of a quality by no means bad; but it is so inflexible, and her delivery is so laborious, that her singing possesses very little charm.

The minor changes last night were the substitution of Miss Klein for Mlle. Bauermeister as Anna and of Signor Ricci for M. Vinché as the Grand Inquisitor. These changes affected the general merit of the evening's work little, except that Signor Ricci was even a more ghostly father than M. Vinché.

Mlle. Nordica was again the Selika, M. Jean de Reszke the Vasco, M. Edouard de Reszke the Dom Pedro, and M. Lassalle the Nelusko. Jean de Reszke's voice showed some traces of the singer's recent indisposition, but his art was, as it always is, altogether lovely. His brother, the great basso, was in sufficiently good voice, and sang excellently. M. Lassalle's Nelusko does not call for anything but an expression of warm praise. It is an admirable and convincing piece of work, dramatically and vocally.

The opera was well put on the stage, and the pageantry of the fourth scene was excellently devised and executed. Taken all in all, the presentation of "L'Africaine" is one of the best of the current season and reflects great credit on the enterprising managers. Tomorrow evening "Le Prophete" will be repeated.



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