Life, 1893-12-07 · page 10 of 16
Life — December 7, 1893 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 366 of Life Magazine - Opera Review This page reviews the Metropolitan Opera House's production of "Faust," featuring Miss Eames, De Reszkes, and M. Lassalle. The text praises the performance as exceptional—"hard times" had never brought such a brilliant audience to the opera house. The illustration labeled "REAL ENTHUSIASM" depicts hunters with rifles attempting to photograph a large bird (possibly an ostrich or similar creature) in a desert landscape with palm trees. The hunter says: "HOLD UP! BOB. DON'T SHOOT UNTIL I SNAP THE CAMERA. I'LL NEVER GET ANOTHER CHANCE LIKE THIS." The joke satirizes the audience's fervent enthusiasm for the opera—comparing their excitement to hunters so eager to capture a rare moment they nearly miss the actual event. It's social commentary on American audiences' competitive desire to document and display cultural experiences.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“At Pa Opera there ; And she looked like a queen in a book that night, 7 With the wreath of pearl in her raven hair, And the brooch on her breast so bright.” is it was at the HE Opera has been the chosen scene and the in- spiration of many a- writer, but never was there’a more brilliant assemblage, nor a more inspir- ing fout ensemble, than that contained in the Metro- politan Opera House on this season’s open- ing night. Everything joined to make the memorable. occasion The house itself was practically a new one, the opera was “Faust,” the cast was strong, and the mounting was such as perhaps Gounod’s greatest opera never had before. The Metropolitan Opera House, as it was before the fire, ranked among the best in the world, The architects and decorators have changed and improved it materially. The color scheme is far lighter and, in combination with the lavish use of electroliers, serves to make it bright, and at the same time a most becoming background to an audience. The seating capacity has been considerably increased, but by the removal of some of the old boxes this has been done without cramping the spectators, In fact, the chairs at the Metro- politan are the most comfortable to be found at any place of amusement in New York. The audience at the opening performance was as brilliant as the house could hold. One would think from its appear- ance that such a thing as “ hard times” had never been heard of. Every seat and every box was occupied. In dress and jewels this audience could vie with any similar gathering the world over, but, being in America, the element of feminine personal beauty was added to a degree which should make any fair-minded foreigner admit that it excelled any audience ever in an opera house, It was such an audience that the one poor foolish woman who wore a large theatre hat was an object of such marked notice that she would fain have con- cealed herself in its depths. To this audience was given “ Faust" with Miss Eames, the De Reszkes and M. Lassalle. This cast is so well known to the American musical public that to describe its perform- ance is almost to write history. Mme, Scalchi was to have been the Srede/, but to the disappointment of the audience her place was supplied by a most inadequate substitute. The minor parts were acceptably done and the numerous chorus was as effective as could have been expected at a first REAL ENTHUSIASM. ‘Hotp up! Bos. Don't sHooT UNTIL I SNAP THE CAMERA. ULL NEVER GET ANOTHER CHANCE LIKE TH comicbooks.com