Reviews — The New York Times

From the New York Times - May 27, 1894

A WEEKS’ MUSICAL TOPICS
Gossip of Concert Hall and
Opera House
The Coming Saengerfest at the Madi-
son Square Garden - To Be Preceded
by a Torchlight Procession - Pres-
entation of Sir Augustin Harris -
Massenet’s New Opera - Josef Haf-
mann in London.

     A new one-act opera comique by Jules Massenet was produced in Paris on the evening of May 8. The mere title “Le Portrait de Manon,” is enough to suggest the subject. For Manon is, of course, none other than Manon Lescaut, whose portrait the Chevalier des Grieux dotes upon in his old age, as he had loved the original in his youth; but his own disappointment - have made him cautious, and he will not hear of the marriage of his young relative, the Vicomte Jean de Mortcerf, with a sweet girl, Aurore, with whom he has fallen in love. In vain does his friend Tiberge seek to move him. Des Grieux remains inflexible.
     Fortunately the upsetting of a casket leads to the discovery of the portrait which the accident gives Tiberge the idea of dressing Aurore in the costume of Manon. When des Grieux sees this living portrait of his lost love enter the room he bursts into tears, and, being thus overcome by his emotion, can no longer refuse his consent to the union of Jean and Aurore. The author of this unpretending little piece is M. Georges Boyer, who has a special faculty for writing verses adapted to music and whose song “Les Enfants,” also set my M. Massenet, has achieved extraordinary popularity. There is said to be graceful melody in the slight epilogue to the moving drama of “Manon,” and M. Massenet, it is said, has set off his taking themes with orchestration of rare delicacy and never-failing effect.

Last updated December 30, 2006