Manru Opened Feb. 14, 1902, as First Polish Opera Staged at Met Opera

Summary: Manru opened Friday, Feb. 14, 1902, as the first Polish opera staged at Met Opera and, 119 years later, remains the opera house's only Polish opera.

Polish coloratura soprano Marcella Sembrich appeared as Ulana in the United States premiere of Polish composer and pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski's Manru, presented by the Metropolitan Opera in the opera house's 1901-1902 season: The Sembrich @TheSembrich, via Facebook Dec. 10, 2018

Manru opened Friday, Feb. 14, 1902, as the first Polish opera presented by the Metropolitan Opera and remains, 119 years later, as Met Opera's only Polish opera.

The dramma lirico in tre atti (three-act lyrical drama) by Polish composer, pianist and statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski (Nov. 18, 1860-June 29, 1941) received nine performances, sung in English, in the Metropolitan Opera's 1901-1902 season. Manru is Maestro Paderewski's only opera.

The original Polish libretto was written by Polish artist and writer Alfred Nossig (April 18, 1864-Feb. 22, 1943). Nossig's libretto was based upon Chata za wsią (The Cottage Outside the Village), a folk novel written in 1842 by Polish writer Józef Ignacy Kraszewski (July 28, 1812-March 19, 1887). American music critic and historian Henry Edward Krehbiel (March 10, 1854–March 20, 1923) translated the original libretto into English.

The United States premiere of Manru took place Friday, Feb. 14, at the Metropolitan Opera. The second performance, Tuesday, Feb. 18, was presented in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The third (Thursday, Feb. 20) and fourth (Saturday, March 8) performances were staged at the Metropolitan Opera. The fifth performance, Saturday, March 15, was offered in Boston, Massachusetts. The Metropolitan Opera was the venue for the sixth performance, Tuesday, March 25. The seventh performance, Saturday, April 5, took place in Chicago, Illinois. The eighth performance, Tuesday, April 15, was given in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The ninth, closing performance, Saturday, April 19, was held at Music Hall in Baltimore, Maryland.

Walter Johannes Damrosch (Jan. 30, 1862-Dec. 22, 1950) conducted all nine performances of Manru. The German-born American conductor and composer had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1885, in the opera house's eighth performance of Tannhäuser by German Romantic era composer-librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883).

Alexander Von Bandrowski (April 22, 1860-May 28, 1913) sang the title role of gypsy Manru in all nine performances. The Austrian-Polish tenor's premiere appearance Friday, Feb. 14, marked his Met Opera debut. The Metropolitan Opera Archives Database (MetOpera Database) notes his ninth, closing appearance (April 19) as his last Met Opera performance.

Marcella Sembrich (Feb. 15, 1858-Jan. 11, 1935) sang lovelorn Ulana in all nine performances. The Polish coloratura soprano had made her Met Opera debut Wednesday, Oct. 24, 1883, in the title role in the opera house's first season (1883-1884) premiere of Lucia di Lammermoor by Italian opera composer Gaetano Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848).

David Bispham (Jan. 5, 1857-Oct. 2, 1921) appeared in all nine performances as Urok, a dwarf and sorcerer whose magic potion only temporarily reunites Ulana with Manru. The American operatic baritone had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1896, as Beckmesser in the opera house's 50th performance of Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

Louise Homer (April 30, 1871-May 6, 1947) sang as Ulana's mother, Hedwig, in all nine performances. The American operatic contralto had made her Met Opera debut Wednesday, Nov. 14, 1900, as Amneris in the opera house's 55th performance of Aida by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

Fritzi Scheff (Aug. 30, 1879-April 8, 1954) appeared in the first seven performances (Feb. 14, Feb. 18, Feb. 20, March 8, March 15, March 25, April 5) as Asa, the alluring gypsy who beguiles Manru away from Ulana. The Austro-American soprano had made her Met Opera debut Friday, Feb. 14, 1902, as Musetta in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of La Bohème by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924).

Fritzi Scheff shared the role with Camille Seygard, who sang Asa in the eighth (April 15) and ninth, closing (April 19) performances. The French soprano had made her Met Opera debut Oct. 12, 1901, in the title role in the opera house's 82nd performance of Roméo et Juliette by French composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893).

Robert Blass (Oct. 7, 1867-Dec. 3, 1930) sang in all performances as Gypsy fiddler Jogu, whose music recalls Manru to his roving life. The American bass had made his Met Opera debut Tuesday, Nov. 13, 1900, as Hermann in the opera house's 96th performance of Wagner's Tannhäuser.

Adolph Mühlmann (Dec. 26, 1866-April 27, 1938) appeared in all performances as Gypsy chief Oros, who loses his title to Manru but then regains it. The Moldavian Jewish baritone had made his Met Opera debut Nov. 7, 1898, as the Herald in the opera house's 121st performance of Wagner's Lohengrin.

Marie Van Cauteren appeared as a Maiden in the Friday, Feb. 14, premiere, and again in the third (Feb. 20), fourth (March 8) and seventh (April 5) performances. The American soprano had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Nov. 26, 1894, as Mercédès in the opera house's 50th performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

The Metropolitan Opera has not performed Manru since the 1901-1902 season's closing performance. Paderewsi's Manru claims unique status as the first and only Polish opera staged by Met Opera and also as the only opera composed by Polish composer, conductor and statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski, who also served as the third Prime Minister (Jan. 18, 1919-Nov. 27, 1919) of the Republic of Poland (Rzeczpospolita Polska).

The takeaways for Met Opera's hosting Manru's United States premiere Feb. 14, 1902, are that the three-act dramma lirico (lyrical drama) by Polish composer, conductor and statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski claims uniqueness as the first and only Polish opera staged by the Metropolitan Opera; that Manru is Paderewski's only opera; that Manru received nine performances, sung in English, in its Met Opera premiere season; and that Met Opera has not staged Manru since the opera's ninth performance.

German-born American conductor and composer Walter Damrosch conducted all nine performances of the Metropolitan Opera's United States premiere of Polish composer and pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewsi's Manru; 1908 photograph of Maestro Damrosch by Bain News Service; George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress (LOC) Prints and Photographs Division, Washington DC: No known restrictions, via LOC Prints and Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC)

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

Polish coloratura soprano Marcella Sembrich appeared as Ulana in the United States premiere of Polish composer and pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski's Manru, presented by the Metropolitan Opera in the opera house's 1901-1902 season: The Sembrich @TheSembrich, via Facebook Dec. 10, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/TheSembrich/photos/a.481908958541300/1939894492742732/

German-born American conductor and composer Walter Damrosch conducted all nine performances of the Metropolitan Opera's United States premiere of Polish composer and pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewsi's Manru; 1908 photograph of Maestro Damrosch by Bain News Service; George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress (LOC) Prints and Photographs Division, Washington DC: No known restrictions, via LOC Prints and Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC) @ https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2014681150/

For further information:

Annesley, Charles Annesley. "OperaGlass Synopsis: Alfred Nossig / Ignacy Jan Paderewski Manru." The Standard Operaglass.
Available via Stanford University @ http://opera.stanford.edu/Paderewski/Manru/synopsis.html

Arakelyan, Ashot. "Alexander von Bandrowski (Aleksander Bandrowski-Sas) (Tenor) (Lubaczów, Poland 22. 04. 1860 – Krakow, Poland 28. 05. 1913)." Forgotten Opera Singers. June 17, 2016.
Available @ http://forgottenoperasingers.blogspot.com/2016/06/alexander-von-bandrowski-aleksander.html

"Debut: Alexander Von Bandrowski." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 28960 United States Premiere Manru {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/14/1902.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=28960

"Debut: Camille Seygard, Andrés De Segurola." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 27570 Roméo et Juliette {82} Matinee ed. Toronto, Canada: 10/12/1901.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=27570

"Debut: Fritzi Scheff, Charles Gilibert, Marcel Journet, Aristide Masiero." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 25000 Metropolitan Opera Premiere La Bohème {1} Lucia di Lammermoor: Mad Scene. Los Angeles, California: 11/9/1900.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=25000

"Debut: Louise Homer." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 25050 Aida {55} San Francisco, California: 11/14/1900.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=25050

"Debut: Robert Blass." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 25040 Tannhäuser {96} San Francisco, California: 11/13/1900.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=25040

"Debut: Walter Damrosch." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 3520 Tannhäuser {8} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/11/1885.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=3520

"Debut: Zélie de Lussan, Marie Van Cauteren, Maria Giuri." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 13420 Carmen {50} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/26/1894.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=13420

"Debuts: Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Lempriere Pringle, Adolph Mühlmann, Pierre Baudu." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 19250 Lohengrin {121} Chicago, Illinois: 11/7/1898.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=19250

"Debuts: Jacques Bars, David Bispham, Mr. Belton, Igenio Corsi." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 17510 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg {50} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/18/1896.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=17510

"Debuts: Marcella Sembrich, Giuseppe Kaschmann, Achille Augier, Amadeo Grazzi, Imogene Forti, Vincenzo Fornaris." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1010 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Lucia di Lammermoor {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/24/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1010

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Available @ http://www.historicopera.com/xearly/dupont4.htm

Marriner, Derdriu. "Marcella Sembrich Made Last Met Opera Appearance Feb. 6, 1909." Earth and Space News. Monday, Feb. 15, 2021.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/02/marcella-sembrich-made-last-met-opera.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Marcella Sembrich Sang Mozart's Susanna as Last Met Role Feb. 4, 1909." Earth and Space News. Monday, Feb. 8, 2021.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/01/marcella-sembrich-sang-mozarts-susanna.html

Owen, H. (Henry) Goddard. A Recollection of Marcella Sembrich. First edition. Bolton Landing NY: Marcella Sembrich Memorial Association: Jan. 1, 1950.

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Piber, Andrzej. "The Reception of Paderewski’s Manru in the U.S." Translated by Maja Trochimczyk.
Available via University of Southern California (USC) Polish Music Center @ https://polishmusic.usc.edu/research/publications/polish-music-journal/vol4no2/reception-of-manru/

The Sembrich @TheSembrich. "Mme. Sembrich, very proud of her Polish heritage, sang the role of Ulana in Paderewski’s “Manru.” This opera saw nine performances during the The Metropolitan Opera's 1901-1902 season. Both Sembrich and Paderewski brought acclaim to Poland in the realm of classical music. Revivals of "Manru" are currently being produced across Europe! Mme. Sembrich as Ulana in Paderewski's 'Manru.'" Facebook. Dec. 10, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/TheSembrich/photos/a.481908958541300/1939894492742732/

Swayne, Egbert. "Paderewski’s 'Manru.'" Music, vol. 21 (January 1902): 153-162.
Available via University of Southern California (USC) Polish Music Center @ https://polishmusic.usc.edu/research/publications/polish-music-journal/vol4no2/swayne-on-manru/

Trochimczyk, Maja, ed. A Romantic Century in Polish Music. Los Angeles CA: Moonrise Press, 2009.

"United States Premiere: Manru." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 28960 United States Premiere Manru {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/14/1902.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=28960

von Tetzel, Emily Grant. "At the Opera," The Theatre vol. 11, no. 13 (March 1902): 24-26.
Available via Forgotten Books @ https://forgottenbooks.com/pt/download/TheTheatre_10234034.pdf