Metropolitan Opera Archives

Note: Suzanne Adams sang Marguerite de Valois in French.
Suzanne Adams sang Marguerite de Valois in French.

Review 1:

Review in a Philadelphia newspaper

THE OPERA SEASON: "GLI UGONOTTI."

Yesterday's matinee performance of "Gli Ugonotti," or, as it was expressed on the programme, "Les Huguenots," in Italian very nearly failed to materialize. Mme Nordica, who was to have taken the part of Valentine found at the last moment that it would be impossible for her to sing, owing to the rapid and unexpected development of a slight sore throat, which had made itself felt on the previous evening. Mme. Suzanne Adams was telegraphed for and a notice of the change, together with the statement that it would entail a delay of three-quarters of an hour in the commencement of the performance, was posted at the Academy doors.

Mme. Adams received her summons in New York at 12.30, caught the first train and arrived in Philadelphia at 3.16. Meanwhile the opera had commenced at 3 o'clock, with the programme amended, so as to put Mme. Clementine De Vere in Nordica's role, leaving Marguerite de Valois to be taken by Mme. Adams. The first act introduced Cornubert for the first time in Philadelphia, as Raoul de Nangis. M. Cornubert is a substitute tenor, who has only recently been added to Mr. Grau's company to fill out the gap caused by the regrettable illness of M. Saleza. It cannot be said that he is a graceful singer to listen to; his intentions are good, he is thoroughly conversant with his music and he keeps strictly to the key. Moreover, no fault can be found with his stage presence, but there is a certain strident quality and roughness of tone in his singing that more than neutralizes his other good qualities. The success of the afternoon was the really brilliant and very beautiful singing by Suzanne Adams of the florid music of the [first] aria in the second act, "a questa voce sola." (Mme. Adams sang it in French). Something of the freshness and limpid purity of tone that she showed in "Romeo et Juliette" last season was again apparent. There were times when some of the high notes trembled for a moment in the balance, but they were successfully passed and, taking into consideration the circumstances of her hurried summons, it was an achievement that deserved, as it received, warm applause. Mme. De Vere did her best with Valentine's role, but the change at the last minute was no doubt very trying to her. Mme. Mantelli was very much at home in her role of the page and sang "Nobil donna" very charmingly. With Edouard de Reszke as Marcel, the opera passed off a great deal better than might have been anticipated.

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