Metropolitan Opera Archives

Meyerbeer's popular opera, " Les Huguenots," was given at the Metropolitan Opera House last night. In spite of the fact that this is the most discouraging part of the year for amusements, there was a fairly large audience. Those who were present apparently enjoyed the performance extremely, for their applause was frequent and hearty and, at times, had the ring of genuine enthusiasm. The evening's work was well deserving of applause, for the ensemble was excellent, and there were familiar individual merits of a high order: Mme. Melba was made the object of a special demonstration of delight at the end of her florid aria in her [first] scene as Marguerite de Valois. Indeed, she merited it, for she was in fine voice and sang with ravishing beauty of tone and consummate skill. There is a reposeful simplicity about Mme. Melba's cantilena, and there is a freedom from cheap trickery in her fiorituri which singers of less prominence would do well to copy. There are many things to praise in Mme. Melba's singing, but nothing is more praiseworthy than the purity of her style.

Nothing new can be said of M. Jean de Reszke's Raoul, but attention may well be called to the splendor of his voice, which never flowed with greater freedom and more noble sonority than it does this season. The preservation of the organ is due not only to M. de Reszke's temperate and well-regulated life, but also his superb art. He sings not simply like a great artist, but like a master. Every phrase is instinct with intelligence, which is backed by artistic emotion. It is a privilege always to listen to such a singer. M. Edouard de Reszke's big, sonorous Marcel is a fine foil to his brother's Raoul. He was in good voice last night and did his work admirably. Signor Ancona was a respectable de Nevers and M. Lassalle a stately St. Bris.

Mme. Litvinne was more satisfactory as Valentine than she has been in some of her other parts. The public has not done this lady justice. She is, indeed, not one of the great "stars," but she is an experienced artist, who possesses a good voice and a fair amount of skill. "Les Huguenots " was well put on the stage last night and the performance as a whole moved with spirit.

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