The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-01
Academy OF Music-"Fsobert lie Dtable.''
The Opera season At the Academy of Music com
menced last evening with the performance Of Meyerbeer
greatest work the roles distributed as follows

The Opera season At the Academy of Music was
menced evening with the performance Of Meyerbeers
greatest work. the roles distributed as follows
Ahce... .......................M Nine. dc la Grange.
Isabella. ..,....................Mn Mne carroll
Helena. ..........',.,.....,....M Mile holia
Robert lie Diable Sgnor Bignardi
Deiuam ;. ''.'..'''.'''.'''' ''... herr rormcs.
Haimbant. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Sgnor lapoceu@
The orchestra conducted by Carl Anschuz and the stage
directed by Amati Dubreul.
II is twenty six years since this grand work was
presented at the Grand OPERA Paris, for whchth il
especially written The composer had before endeavor
please the Germans by writing in the schoas
school, and this resulted failure at Vienna Charmed
with the flowing melodies Of 'Tancred which had just
come out he went upon Rossinis own ground without
however, achieving more than respectable success He
attempted sacred music and finally with OF
the skill of accomplished mechanic than the inspiration
Of great master, he united in Robert 10 Diable" the
French Italian and German schools. The recitatve is
declamaory each phrase being perfect in itself many Of
the solos, particularly the "Robert to que ame' have
the sympathetic sweetness of the Italian masters, while
the choruses, concerted pieces and Instrumentation are
thoroughly German in their skful and elaborate con-
struction and scientific detail Desiring TO avoid
technicalities far possible, We have thus
present brief analysis of the ground work
of this opera The Paris Immediate and
continued sufficiently long to insure the fortune OF the
composer 1t has since been performed all over Europe,
in French, German and Italian. In America 1t has not
heretofore been well treated with one exception The
lbretto being powerfully dramatc-moo dramatic in fact
requires extraordinary effects scenery costumes &c,
&c beautiful ensemble cannot be had without money,
and the Opera here has chiefly been ranstory affair."
managers have endeavored TO pick up many dollars
possible without paying away any more than was alb
soutcly necessary The exception at the French
Na lDnhar
believe for the first time the United States 1t has
been sung in New York in Italian and German
veral times Maretzek gave it at the Astor Place
Opera House to crowded houses for two weeks,
and Nine. Sontag sang il twice at Castle Garden.
Its performance previous to that under review
was by the German Opera Company at Nibo's Garden,
about year since.
The breo Of "Robert e Diable is one of the best Of
forts of Scribe II is story of German mysticism and
diabe the turning point of the action being in the char
acer of Bertram the Mephsophees of the drama This
Bertram the father of Robert Duke of Normandy the
relationship being unknown TO the latter Robert not the
most ambe of princes has been driven out of Norman
dy and appears at the Court of Sicily, at tournament,
accompanied by Bertram comrade- inarms Robert
here has a slight difficulty with Raimbant, who sings
ballad which is Extensively personal to the Duke. lie
is about TO kill the troubadour when Alice, -
sister TO the Duke, and the fdncee of Raimbfnv,
interferes and her lovers life. Robert next
acquants Alice with the particulars of slight nirta-
ton which he has had with sabeathat he has attempted
abduct the lady, and narrowly escaped with his own
life Alice and Rambant both vassals Of Robert and
the young lady dplomases for his consent to the
riage, promising 10 arrange matters with Isabella. To
this consents and there is rencone between Bcrram
and Alice when she away frightened and believing
him to be the devil himself There is light and pleasant
Robert TO gamble until he loses everything-money,
horse armor-except, as he pleasantly remarks ere
vengen We are afterwards introduced to the fair Isa-
bella who has a wicked father who will permit the
attentions Of Robert whom she loves but commands her
TO wed Prince OF Granada, whom she detests She be-
walls this awful state Of things in the rectave and
aria "Que e hais In grandeur" eve compile this from
the French libretto, which is the best) The oper
was sung last night In Italian, Of course, and the
order OF events somewhat altered Alice procurcs her
interview with Robert and aer the faithful princess has
been made acquainted with tho condition of her lovers
financial affairs, she promises 10 equip him for the tilt
Berram, however, gets up duel between Robert and
the prince which prevents the appearance OF the former
at the tournament Thus Alces plans all at fault
The scene the third act is laid the ruins OF convent
with the cross In the foreground Alice has here ap
pontment with Raimbant "by moonlight alone" but the
tenor probably having another affair hand, walks OF
before she comes She relieves her feelings in
nice little air, "Quand 10 quttai Ia Nor
mandie," when Bertram, who has come hero
to work out incarnation in shady cave, is heard
TO call on Robert Alice peeps in at the cave
thing awful runs pursued by Bcrram to the foot Of
the cross Robert enters in very bad state Of mind
Alice does not dare tell him of his danger, and
away. Bcrram Informs Robert that he can secure
Isabella by charm which exists In olive branch, which
81
goes first to the tomb and brings the from their
graves 10 assist him should Robert These do
not appear have been at all ascetc the contrary,
they indulge a dance of temptation, and Robert being
an mpressibe person, becomes victim to their fascna
tons and the branch In the concluding there
d grand struggle between good and evi-that R between
Alice and Bcrtram for the possession OF Robert. He
finds that Bcrtram is his father, and that Alice the
bearer of the will of his mother. He charms Isabella
but touched by her appeal In the cavana Robert TOD que
dime he reens his purpose and breaks his branch.
The deuoxerent the striking Of midnight when Ber
power ceases he returns TO the lower regions
TIN curtain falling upon ,dbieau q happiness.
We have noticed in the part of this article the cha
racer Of the music which illustrates this romantic story
Some Of the airs such song the first act, the trio
at the end OF the second and the cayana just mentioned
are quito familiar to everybody hcdrnmatc part Of the
opera was admirably illustrated The scenery Of the third
act and the chapel in the fifth the finest
here would be credabe any o the beat European
theatres The production OF the opera such style was
decidedly the greatest event In the history Of the In
this country.
weare very glad to say that the importance Of the per
formance Of last night fully understood by the public
was the Waterloo Of the managers and they have come
out like Wellington. The Academy bcset long before
the opening OF the doors and the crowd particularly for
the upper part Of the house. great that The ladies'
dresses tom into ribbons in The popular
cashier Of the Academy Mr. ormsbce, carried away
by the Tuctonc rush the second tier door and
ly escaped being rampled into Inconsistencies There
were 2soo people In the third tier and amphheatre while
below every taken, and every place commanding
view Of the stage nled with standing committee.
The money receipts were $500 the greatest ever