Faust Opened Oct. 22, 1883, as First Opera in Met Opera’s First Season

Summary: Faust opened Oct. 22, 1883, as the first opera in Met Opera’s first season, 1883-1884.

Christine Nilsson as Marguerite in Met Opera's first opera, Faust; photo by Mora: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook. Oct. 22, 2015

Faust premiered Oct. 22, 1883, as the first opera in Met Opera’s opening season, 1883-1884.

The dramma lirico in cinque atti (five-act lyric drama) by French composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893) received 16 performances, sung in Italian, during Met Opera’s first season. The Monday, Oct. 22, premiere and the second (Saturday, Oct. 27), third (Friday, Nov. 9), fourth (Saturday, Nov. 24), fifth (Monday, Dec. 10) and 16th, closing (Saturday, March 15) performances were staged at the Metropolitan Opera House. The sixth (Wednesday, Dec. 26) and seventh (Saturday, Jan. 5) performances were held at the Boston Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. The eighth performance, Tuesday, Jan. 8, took place at the Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York. The ninth performance, Monday, Jan. 14, was given at the Chestnut Street Opera House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 10th (Monday, Jan. 21) and 11th (Saturday, Jan. 26) performances were offered at Haverly's Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. The 12th (Tuesday, Feb. 5) performance took place at the Olympic Theater in St. Louis, Missouri. The 13th (Monday, Feb. 11) performance was given at the Music Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio. The 14th (Monday, Feb. 25) was staged at the National Theater in Washington, D.C. The 15th (Saturday, March 1) was held at the Academy of Music in Baltimore, Maryland.

Auguste Vianesi (Nov. 2, 1837-Nov. 4, 1908) conducted the Monday premiere. The French-naturalized, northwestern Italy-born conductor held the baton for all 16 performances.

Italo Campanini (June 30, 1845-Nov. 14, 1896) appeared in the title role as Faust. The Italian operatic tenor sang Faust for nine (Oct. 22, Nov. 9, Nov. 24, Dec. 10, Dec. 26, Jan. 14, Feb. 5, Feb. 11, Feb. 25) of the season’s 16 performances.

Italo Campanini shared the title role with Victor Capoul. The French operatic tenor (Feb. 27, 1839-Feb. 18, 1924) appeared in seven performances (Oct. 27, Jan. 5, Jan. 8, Jan. 21, Jan. 26, March 1, March 15).

Christine Nilsson (Aug. 20, 1843-Nov. 20, 1921) appeared as Marguerite, an innocent young woman who suffers from Faust’s contract with Méphistophélès. The Swedish bel canto operatic soprano sang Marguerite in all 16 performances.

Franco Novara (1859-Jan. 7, 1899) performed as devilish Méphistophélès. English bass Francis Naish, whose stage name was Franco Novara, sang in all 16 performances.

Giuseppe Del Puente (Jan. 30, 1841-May 25, 1900) appeared as Valentin, Marguerite’s military brother. The Italian baritone and composer sang Valentin for nine of the season’s 16 performances. He appeared in the first six performances (Oct. 22, Oct. 27, Nov. 9, Nov. 24, Dec. 10, Dec. 26) and again in the 12th through 14th performances (Feb. 5, Feb. 11, Feb. 15).

Giuseppe Del Puente shared the role with Giuseppe Kaschmann (July 14, 1850-Feb. 11, 1925). The Croatian-Austrian operatic baritone sang Valentin for seven of the season’s 16 performances. Giuseppe Kaschmann appeared in the seventh through 11th performances (Jan. 5, Jan. 8, Jan. 14, Jan. 21, Jan. 26) and again in the last two performances (March 1, March 15).

Sofia Scalchi (Nov. 29, 1850-Aug. 22, 1922) appeared in the breeches role of Siébel, Valentin’s friend who loves Marguerite. The Italian operatic contralto-mezzosoprano sang the lovesick role for the first 14 of the season’s 16 performances.

Sofia Scalchi shared the role with Louise Lablache (1855?-1926). The French mezzo-soprano sang Siébel for the season’s last two performances, Saturday, March 1, and Saturday, March 15, of Faust.

Louise Lablache’s Met Opera debut preceded her two appearances as Siébel. She sang Marthe Schwertlein, Marguerite’s guardian, for the premiere. The French mezzo-soprano also appeared as Marthe for the opera’s second performance, Saturday, Oct. 27, and then returned in the role for the closing afternoon performance, Saturday, March 15.

Louise shared the role of Marthe with her mother. Emilie Deméric-Lablache (Oct. 6, 1830-?), credited as Emily Lablache, sang the role for 13 performances. She was Marthe in the third through the 15th performances.

Emily Lablache’s Met Opera debut preceded her appearance, Friday, Nov. 9, in the first season's third performance of Faust. She had debuted Monday, Nov. 5, as Flora in the opening season's sixth premiere, La Traviata by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

Ludovico Contini appeared as Valentin's friend Wagner, whose death in battle is forecast by Méphistophélès. He sang Wagner in all 16 performances. His premiere appearance marked his Met Opera debut.

Faust's directors were Mr. Corani (Henry De Courtney Corani, ca. 1849-May 1905) and Mr. Abbiati are identified as the production’s directors. Charles Fox, Jr., William Schaeffer, Gaspar Maeder (ca. 1840-Jan. 18, 1892) and Mr. Thompson designed the production's sets. Henry Dazian (May 3, 1854-May 4, 1937) and D. Ascoli designed the production's costumes.

Henry Dazian (May 3, 1854-May 4, 1937) and D. Ascoli designed the production’s costumes. Manhattan, New York-born Henry Dazian was a partner in Dazian’s, a theatrical goods and costumers’ supply emporium founded in 1842 by Henry’s father, Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany-born Wolf Dazian (1818-Jan. 10, 1902). The directors, set designers and costume designers all made their Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 22, 1883, in the production's premiere.

Faust numbered as the first of two Gounod operas in the Metropolitan Opera's inaugural season lineup of 20 premieres. The second Gounod opera, Roméo et Juliette, premiered Wednesday, April 16, 1884, as the 20th first season premiere.

Faust premiered Monday, Oct. 22, 1883, as the first opera in the Metropolitan Opera's inaugural season, 1883-1884. Lucia di Lammermoor, by Italian opera composer Gaetano Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848), premiered Wednesday, Oct. 24, 1883.

The takeaways for Faust opening Oct. 22, 1883, as the first opera in Met Opera’s first season are that the devilish opera by French composer Charles-François Gounod received 16 performances; that Swedish bel canto operatic soprano Christine Nilsson sang the tragic role of innocent Marguerite; and that the mother-daughter team of Emily and Louise Lablache shared the role of Marthe, Marguerite’s guardian.

Italo Campanini as Faust in the Metropolitan Opera's first opera; photo by Mora: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook. Oct. 22, 2015

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Christine Nilsson as Marguerite in Met Opera's first opera, Faust; photo by Mora: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook. Oct. 22, 2015, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.10156268592180533/10156268592530533/?type=3

Italo Campanini as Faust in the Metropolitan Opera's first opera; photo by Mora: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook. Oct. 22, 2015, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.10156268592180533/10156268592280533/?type=3

For further information:

"Debuts: Italo Campanini, Christine Nilsson, Franco Novara, Giuseppe Del Puente, Sofia Scalchi, Louise Lablache, Ludovico Contini, Auguste Vianesi, Mr. Corani, Mr. Abbiati, Charles Fox, Jr., William Schaeffer, Gaspar Maeder, Mr. Thompson, D. Ascoli, Henry Dazian." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID:1000 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Faust {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/22/1883. Metropolitan Opera Premiere Opening Night {1}.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1000

Marriner, Derdriu. "Charles Gounod, Whose Faust Opened Met Opera, Was Born June 17, 1818." Earth and Space News. Monday, June 17, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/06/charles-gounod-whose-faust-opened-met.html

Marriner, Derdriu.“Metropolitan Opera Premiered 20 Operas During Opening Season 1883-1884.” Earth and Space News. Monday, June 14, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/06/charles-gounod-whose-faust-opened-met.html

The Metropolitan Opera Guild @metropolitanoperaguild. "The countdown to the Met’s 130th season begins! The very first opening night performance was Gounod’s Faust on October 22, 1883, and took place at the original Metropolitan Opera House located on Broadway between 39th and 40th Streets. The cast included Christine Nilsson, Italo Campanini, Giuseppe Del Puente, and Franco Novara. The cheapest seats in the house were $3 (approx. $50 today), but you can catch this year’s performance for FREE in Times Square!" Facebook. Sept. 17, 2014.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/metropolitanoperaguild/photos/a.10150144873997754/10152780123452754/

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Faust.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1000 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Faust {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/22/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1000

"Metropolitan Opera Premiere: La Traviata.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1080 Metropolitan Opera Premiere La Traviata {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/5/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1080

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Christine Nilsson as Margherita. Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera Archives.” Facebook. Oct. 22, 2015.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.10156268592180533/10156268592530533/?type=3

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Italo Campanini as Faust. Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera Archives.” Facebook. Oct. 22, 2015.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.10156268592180533/10156268592280533/?type=3

Rous, Samuel Holland. The Victrola Book of the Opera: Stories of One Hundred and Twenty Operas With Seven-Hundred Illustrations and Descriptions of Twelve-Hundred Victor Opera Records. Fourth revised edition. Camden NJ: Victor Talking Machine Company, 1917.
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/victrolabookofop00vict