The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-23
A M U S E M E rs.

THE FRENCH THEArRE.-The first representation OF
''Gcneyeve de Brabantn was witnessed and ap
pauded last evening by a crowded ana fashionable
house. The mise scene OF the opera was superb
The first scene, the city OF Curacao, Brabant the
eighth, the Forest and the ninth, the Grand Hall
OF the Palace. were painted by M. Cambou, OF the
Grand Opera at Paris The second scene, Gene
vievcs Boudoir; the fourth, the Northern Railway
Station. and the seventh. the Chateau OF Asnieres by
NJ Fromant. OF the Theatre Imperial du Chatelet:
and the third scene. sifroy's Bedchambcr the NTH
the Ravine ard the sixth, the Apparition by Messs
H. & w. Cayo. OF New York. The costumes have
never been exceeded in splcEdor. In fact the
scenery and costumes alone would suffice to secure
for this opera decided success OF CURIOSITY,
at least AS for the opera ITSELF while the
partition, which has already been fully described
our musical columns, offers occasional "reminiscences
Of other works OF Oirenbach, 1t seems to contain
fewer airs like those IN the Grande Duchessen the
"3elle Helene" and the "Barbe Bleue," which strike
the popular ear at once and commit themselves to
memory; but the music is throughout full of richness
and variety. After few more representations GER
tain passages may become equally familiar and pop
ular as the most favorite gems of the operas which
we have mentioned. The airs which chiefly hit the
fancy OF the audience last evening were the
AIDE and in this balcony scene both Mile. Rose Bell,
peared to the best ADVANTAGE, the Corico song Of
N. Carrier, as Sroy, Duke OF Cufacoa "Une Poulc
Plus Ou'i nc FautD the Crusade song of NJ. BccKers,
as Charles Marte the song OF the ladies OF honor at
work around table sewing on lace wrapper. and
espccallythe funniest song OF allthat of Grabuge,
the Sergeantat-Arms tM B0urgoin) and Pton.
common soldier and uncommon good bOufe
singer IN. PitOn. This latter song was given
three times and was heartily applauded every
time. The opera will bear considerably more
cutting than 1t has already undergone. Certain
parts OF 1t dragged almost intoerably, and 1t was
concluded at so late an hour that shall only
have time to repeat that the highest praise must be
| accorded to its scenery and Costumes and tG the
| spirited manner In which the principal performers
acted their several roles, and to add that although
it lacks anything like the slender but delight
full thread OF plot which runs through the "Granie
DucheSSe,n IL Is full Of delicious surprises and as
whole is carnavale5que that it will not be
prisng il the public shall bcstow It popularity
like that BY other favortc operas OF Ofenbach.
As for the gfiDOisefes In which the librettO abounds
it ia but just TO say that many Of them entirely
omitted, ana that the actors very properly avoid
making the others extensively prominent. The ballet
part OF the opera was, in tile opinion OF some Of the
spectators, sadly curtailed; but the majority OF
theatreg0ing population have had quite enough OF
Black Cr00kism elsewhere, and will not complain II
II briiIe par SON absence ct the French theatre.