[Met Performance] CID:42490



Faust
Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, December 24, 1908




Faust (259)
Charles Gounod | Jules Barbier/Michel Carré
Faust
Riccardo Martin

Marguerite
Geraldine Farrar

Méphistophélès
Adamo Didur

Valentin
Jean Noté

Siebel
Rita Fornia

Marthe
Marie Mattfeld

Wagner
Paolo Ananian

Dance
Gina Torriani


Conductor
Francesco Spetrino







Review 1:

Review in the Sun

'FAUST' INSTEAD OF 'AIDA'

Mr. Caruso and Mme. Eames Both Sick and Fail to Appear

Mr. Gatti-Casazza may or may not know the good old hymn, "There is a happy land far, far away." But if he does he probably hummed it last night, surly, like the hymn of the Roundhead who rode far below in the poem of Tennyson. For 'twas the night before Christmas and all though the house not a creature was sitting in many seats which would have been occupied had not Caruso and Emma Eames succumbed to the weather. The skipper of the seagoing craft when he is held at sea by stress of weather so long that his cargo is damaged can file a protest when he reaches his port, and that saves him financially.

But what can a poor impresario do? In that happy land of Milan (far, far away) when the soprano or the tenor falls ill the manager just postpones the performance and closes the house, while the public says "Diavolo" and plays diabolo till every one is well again. But in New York there must be an opera, if not the one announced, then some other. And when it is some other, money has to be given back.

Last night there was to have been a repetition of "Aida," and Mme. Flahaut, one of the singers not yet heard in opera, was to have emerged as Amneris. But with Mme. Eames and Mr. Caruso both indisposed, there was no way to feed the public from the fleshpots of Egypt. Some other opera it was, and what other than the ever ready "Faust."

These are young Richard Martin's busy days and if he does not gain experience it will be his own fault. For the second time this week he substituted for Mr. Caruso, and very acceptably too. He sang Faust most agreeably and seemed to give much pleasure to people who had probably decided that they were going to be disappointed.

The other members of the cast were Miss Farrar as Marguerite, Miss Fornia as Siebel, Miss Mattfeld as Martha, Mr. Noté as Valentine, Mr. Didur as Mephistopheles and Mr. Ananian as Wagner. Mr Spetrino conducted. The audience was not large, but was of excellent disposition.



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