Carmen Opened Jan. 5, 1884, as 16th Opera in Met Opera's First Season

Summary: Carmen opened Jan. 5, 1884, as the 16th opera in Met Opera's first season, 1883-1884.

19th-century French operatic mezzo-soprano Zelia Trebelli originated the role of Bizet's Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera with her Jan. 5, 1884, performance in the opera house's first season; undated portrait of Zelia Trebelli by German photographer Julius Cornelius Schaarwächter (July 14, 1847-Oct. 14, 1904), Berlin, Germany; collection of Bergen Public Library Norway: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Carmen premiered Jan. 5, 1884, as the 16th opera in Met Opera's opening season, 1883-1884.

The four-act tragic opéra comique (comic opera) by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875) received 10 performances, sung in Italian, during Met Opera's first season. Carmen's Friday premiere took place at Boston Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts. The second performance took place Monday, Jan. 7, at the Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York. The third (Wednesday, Jan. 9) and fourth (Saturday, Jan. 12) performances were held at the Metropolitan Opera House. The Chestnut Street Opera House in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosted the fifth performance, Saturday, Jan. 19. The sixth performance, Saturday, Jan. 26, was offered at Haverly's Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. The Olympic Theater in St. Louis, Missouri, hosted the seventh performance, Thursday, Feb. 7. The eighth performance, Saturday, March 1, was held at the Academy of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. The ninth (Monday, March 17) and 10th (Friday, April 4) performances were presented at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Cleofonte Campanini (Sept. 1, 1860-Dec. 19, 1919) conducted all performances of Carmen in Met Opera's first season. The Italian conductor had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, Nov. 3, 1883, in the second performance of the opening season's fifth opera, Mignon by French composer Ambroise Thomas (Aug. 5, 1811-Feb. 12, 1896).

Zelia Trebelli (Nov. 12, 1836-Aug. 18, 1892) is credited with originating the role of Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera with her premiere appearance Friday, Jan. 5. The French operatic mezzo-soprano sang Carmen in all 10 performances. Zelia Trebelli's performance April 4 marked her last performance at Met Opera. She had made her Met Opera debut Friday, Oct. 26, 1883, as Azucena in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Il Trovatore by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

Italo Campanini (June 30, 1845-Nov. 14, 1896) sang opposite Zelia Trebelli, in all 10 performances, as Don José, whose obsessive passion for Carmen proves fatal. The Italian operatic tenor, who was the older brother of conductor Cleofonte Campanini, had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 22, 1883, in the title role in the opening season's opening premiere, Faust by French composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893).

Alwina Valleria (Oct. 12, 1848-Feb. 17, 1925) originated the role of Micaëla, Don José's childhood friend, who loves him. The American soprano sang Micaëla in nine of the season's 10 performances of Carmen. She had made her Met Opera debut Friday, Oct. 26, 1883, as Leonora in the first season's third premiere, Il Trovatore by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

Alwina Valleria shared the role with Ida Corani, who sang in the season's fifth performance (Jan. 19). Ida Corani had made her Met Opera debut as Enrichetta in the opening performance, Monday, Oct. 29, 1883, of the opera house's fourth premiere, I Puritani by 19th century Italian opera composer Vincenzo Bellini (Nov. 3, 1801-Sept. 23, 1835).

Giuseppe Del Puente (Jan. 30, 1841-May 25, 1900) sang opposite the title role as Escamillo, Don José's successor on Carmen's roster of bullfighter lovers. The Italian baritone appeared in all 10 performances. Giuseppe Del Puente had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 22, 1883, as Valentin in the opening season's opening premiere, Faust.

Ida Corani sang dual roles in Carmen. She appeared in her second role, as Carmen's companion, Frasquita, in the first four and the last five performances.

Ida Corani shared the role with Emily Lablache. Emilie Deméric-Lablache (Oct. 6, 1830-?), credited as Emily Lablache, sang Frasquita in the fifth (Jan. 19) performance while Ida Corani sang Micaëla in Alwina Valleria's absence. French mezzo-soprano-contralto Emily Lablache had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Nov. 5, as Flora in the opening season's sixth premiere, Verdi's La Traviata.

Louise Lablache (1855?-1926) sang Carmen's companion, Mercédès, in all 10 performances. Emily Lablache's appearance as Frasquita in the fifth performance placed her in the same performance as her daughter. French mezzo-soprano Louise Lablache had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 22, 1883, as Marthe in the inaugural season's first premiere, Gounod's Faust.

Amadeo Grazzi sang smuggler Remendado in all 10 performances. He had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Oct. 24, 1883, as Normanno in the inaugural season's second premiere, Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

Baldassare Corsini appeared as smuggler Dancaïre in all 10 performances. He had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Oct. 31, 1883, as Laërte in the season's fifth premiere, Mignon by German Jewish opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer (Sept. 5, 1791-May 2, 1864).

According to the Metropolitan Opera Archives Database (MetOpera Database), Achille Augier and Ludovico Contini shared the roles of Lieutenant Zuniga and Corporal Moralès. For the eighth (March 1) performance, however, MetOpera Database lists the singer of Moralès as "unknown."

Achille Augier sang Zuniga in the premiere (Jan. 5), third (Jan. 9), fourth (Jan. 12), fifth (Jan. 19) and eighth (March 1) performances. He sang Moralès in the second (Jan. 7), sixth (Jan. 26), seventh (Feb. 7), ninth (March 17) and 10th, closing (April 4) performances. Achille Augier had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Oct. 24, 1883, as Raimondo in the inaugural season's second premiere, Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

Ludovico Contini sang Moralès in the premiere (Jan. 5), third (Jan. 9), fourth (Jan. 12) and fifth (Jan. 19) performances. He sang Zuniga in the second (Jan. 7), sixth (Jan. 26), seventh (Feb. 7), ninth (March 17) and 10th, closing (April 4) performances. Ludovico Contini had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 22, 1883, as Wagner in the season's inaugural premiere, Gounod's Faust.

Malvina Cavalazzi (Cavallazzi) (ca. 1851/1862-1924) is credited for Dance for all 10 performances. The Italian ballet dancer and teacher, who was the Metropolitan Opera's first ballerina, had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Nov. 5, in the season's sixth premiere, Verdi's La Traviata.

The Metropolitan Opera's first production of Carmen was directed by Henry De Courtney Corani (ca. 1849-May 1905) and Mr. Abbiati. The production's set designers were Charles Fox, Jr., William Schaeffer, Gaspar Maeder (ca. 1840-Jan. 18, 1892) and Mr. Thompson. Henry Dazian (May 3, 1854-May 4, 1937) and D. Ascoli were the production's costume designers. All members of the production team had made their Met Opera debuts in the opera house's first production, Faust.

According to the MetOpera Database, Henry Eugene Abbey (June 27, 1846-Oct. 17, 1896), general manager of the Metropolitan Opera House, had expected at least 11 performances of Carmen, with a matinee scheduled for Saturday, April 12. The illnesses of title singer Zelia Trebelli (Nov. 12, 1836-Aug. 18, 1892) and of rostered substitutes Louise Lablache (1855?-1926), Marcella Sembrich (Feb. 15, 1858-Jan. 11, 1935) and Christine Nilsson (Aug. 20, 1843-Nov. 20, 1921), as well as the Europe-bound departure of Alwina Valleria, had necessitated the cancelled matinee of Carmen.

Carmen was staged as the 16th opera in the lineup of 20 operas in the Metropolitan Opera's first season, 1883-1884. Le Prophète, by German Jewish opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer (Sept. 5, 1791-May 2, 1864), succeeded Carmen as the 17th premiere in Met Opera's opening season.

The takeaways for Met Opera's premiere of Carmen are that the tragic opéra comique (comic opera) was staged as the 16th opera in Met Opera's first season, 1883-1884, and that title singer Zelia Trebelli made her last Met Opera appearance in the season's 10th and final performance of Carmen.

The Carmen lineage at the Metropolitan Opera traces back to Zelia Trebelli as the opera house's original Carmen: Met Opera Guild @MetOperaGuild, via Twitter July 2, 2020

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

19th-century French operatic mezzo-soprano Zelia Trebelli originated the role of Bizet's Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera with her Jan. 5, 1884, performance in the opera house's first season; undated portrait of Zelia Trebelli by German photographer Julius Cornelius Schaarwächter (July 14, 1847-Oct. 14, 1904), Berlin, Germany; collection of Bergen Public Library Norway: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zelia_Trebelli-Bettini_portrait_(11063956813).jpg

The Carmen lineage at the Metropolitan Opera traces back to Zelia Trebelli as the opera house's original Carmen: Met Opera Guild @MetOperaGuild, via Twitter July 2, 2020, @ https://twitter.com/MetOperaGuild/status/1278790575697924096/photo/1
For further information:

Bernheimer, Martin. "The Management Regrets . . . But Is Sometimes Witness to History in the Making." Ravina Backstage Blog. April 11, 2016.
Available @ https://backstage.ravinia.org/posts/2016/8/11/the-management-regrets-but-is-sometimes-witness-to-history-i.html

"Cancelled Performance." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID:354614 Cancelled Performance. 04/12/1884.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354614

"Debut: Baldassare Corsini." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID:1050 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Mignon {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/31/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1050

“Debut: Cleofonte Campanini.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1070 Mignon {2} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/3/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1070

"Debut: Emily Lablache, Giuseppe Barberis, Malvina Cavalazzi." 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

"Debut: Giovanni Mirabella, Ida Corani." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID:1040 Metropolitan Opera Premiere I Puritani {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/29/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1040

"Debut: Roberto Stagno, Alwina Valleria, Zelia Trebelli." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1020 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Il Trovatore {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/26/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1020

"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. "Carmen Is the Feb. 2, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast." Earth and Space News. Monday, Jan. 28, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/01/carmen-is-feb-2-2019-met-opera-saturday.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Carmen Is the Feb. 11, 2017, Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast." Earth and Space News. Monday, Feb. 6, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/02/carmen-is-feb-11-2017-metropolitan.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Carmen Was Franco Zeffirelli’s 10th Met Opera Production." Earth and Space News. Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/08/carmen-was-franco-zeffirellis-10th-met.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Metropolitan Opera Premiered 20 Operas During Opening Season 1883-1884." Earth and Space News. Monday, Sept. 14, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/10/metropolitan-opera-premiered-20-operas.html

Met Opera Guild @MetOperaGuild ."This month, we'll look back at some of the different looks of classic operas in our #OperaThroughTheYears series. Today we start with femme fatale #Carmen, as portrayed by: #ZeliaTrebelli #GeraldineFarrar #RosaPonselle #RegineCrespin #DenyceGraves #AnitaRachvelishvili #TBT." Twitter. July 2, 2020.
Available @ https://twitter.com/MetOperaGuild/status/1278790575697924096/photo/1

The Metropolitan Opera Guild @metropolitanoperaguild. "This month, we will be taking a look back at some of the different looks of classic operas in our #OperaThroughTheYears series. Today we start with our favorite femme fatale Carmen, as portrayed by: Zelia Trebelli (1884) Geraldine Farrar (1914) Rosa Ponselle (1935) Régine Crespin (1975) Denyce Graves (2005) Anita Rachvelishvili (2012) #TBT #Carmen #Bizet #ZeliaTrebelli #GeraldineFarrar #RosaPonselle #RegineCrespin #DenyceGraves #AnitaRachvelishvili." Facebook. July 2, 2020.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/metropolitanoperaguild/photos/a.10150144873997754/10158843373827754/

The Metropolitan Opera Guild @metropolitanoperaguild. "The first performance of CARMEN at the Metropolitan Opera House was on January 9, 1884 -- but this was actually the third time the company had performed the opera! Can you name the other location(s) where the Met had previously performed CARMEN? #TriviaTuesday (Hint: Both performances took place less than a week before the NYC debut.)." Facebook. July 7, 2015.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/metropolitanoperaguild/photos/a.10150144873997754/10153527934582754/

"Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Carmen.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1560 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Carmen {1} Boston Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts: 01/5/1884.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1560

"Mr. Abbey at His Wit's End; The Difficulties That Prevented His Matinee Yesterday." The New York Times, Sunday, April 13, 1884.
Available @ https://www.nytimes.com/1884/04/13/archives/mr-abbey-at-his-wits-end-the-difficulties-that-prevented-his.html

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