[Met Performance] CID:16070

Metropolitan Opera Premiere, New Production

Les Pêcheurs de Perles
La Navarraise
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, January 11, 1896 Matinee





Les Pêcheurs de Perles (1)
Georges Bizet | Eugène Cormon/Michel Carré
Léila
Emma Calvé

Nadir
Giuseppe Cremonini

Zurga
Mario Ancona

Nourabad
Vittorio Arimondi


Conductor
Armondo Seppilli


Director
William Parry

Composer
Georges Bizet


La Navarraise (4)
Jules Massenet | Henri Caïn/Jules Arsène Arnaud Claretie
Anita
Emma Calvé

Araquil
Albert Lubert

Garrido
Pol Plançon

Remigio
Armand Castelmary

Ramon
Georges Mauguière

Bustamente
Maurice Devries


Conductor
Enrico Bevignani


Georges Bizet



Les Pêcheurs de Perles received one performance this season.
Acts I and II of Les Pêcheurs de Perles were performed

Review 1:

Review in the Brooklyn Eagle

METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE

It was a Calvé matinee at the Metropolitan Opera House on Saturday afternoon, and anyone knowing this great artist who desired to test the popularity she has won among the fair sex could have had a splendid opportunity in witnessing the enthusiastic applause that marked her efforts. The house was tested to its capacity, and in addition to several curtain calls at the end of each act Calvé and her support made so many tours across the stage that finally a bow at the entrance was all that checked the applause. The programme consisted of two acts from Bizet's "Les Pecheurs do Perles" (The Pearl Fishers), an opera that had its initial presentation In New York, and Massenet's "La Navarraise." The "Pearl Fishers" has its plot in a tradition to the effect that Leila, an Indian princess, is called to stand on the summit of a rock overlooking the water, as the fishers throw out their nets, she is veiled and sings to the gods to bring them good luck. Zurga and Nadir, both of whom have fallen in love with her, seek to speak to her. During the night as she stands alone she unveils herself and Nadir approaches and declares his love, which she reciprocates. They are about to part, with promises to meet nightly when they are discovered by Nourabad, the priest, and are condemned to death for violating the laws of the gods. In the last act, which was not given, however, Zurga, who, notwithstanding his love for Leila, is a friend of Nadir, and gives them an opportunity to escape, for which act he is condemned to death. The setting of the piece in its two scenes was in keeping with its scene of action, but with the exception of the costumes of the principals those worn could have fitted any other country as well. Calvé was Leila, and impersonated the young princess with all the grace needed to make her part in keeping, while in the vocal numbers she was as completely the mistress of the score as she ever was in anything she has attempted. Bizet has developed this opera from a very uncertain [beginning] to a score that is full of sympathetic music, with a few concerted pieces that rank well with other light operas. In "Full well I remember," in the second act, Calvé gave full range to her voice and in her shading of the turns from full throat tones to those that seemed to come from her head she strung them together with the fineness of a spider web. In the first act Ancona, who impersonated Zurga, and Cremonini. Nadir, were compelled to repeat their duet, which was the second best number of the opera. Arinondi was Nurabad, but to Ancona, in spite of an occasional flatness, is due the credit for the finest rendition of the male roles. The orchestra, under Seppilli did not hold the key to the mark throughout, playing almost with a degree of uncertainty at certain critical moments.

''La Navarraise" gave Calvé a second opportunity to display her talent, and in this opera her ability as an actress had better play. Her Anita needs no further recommendation than it has already received, that of being a finished performance. Lubert, as Araguil, was in splendid voice, and made a dramatic lover, while Garrido, in Plançon's hands, becomes a most dignified and acceptable general, Castelmary and Maguiere were Remigio and Ramon, respectively. Bevignani conducted, a fact that was apparent as soon as the first chord of the overture was struck. The beauty of the camp scene as night closed in was marked by the suddenness with which the mountains, which had been tipped with the rays of the setting sun, went out.



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Search by title: Les Pêcheurs de Perles, La Navarraise,



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