Salammbô
Reyer’s “Salammbô” received a gorgeous production at the Metropolitan Opera House on March 20, 1901, with the following cast: Salammbô, Lucienne Bréval; Taanach, Miss Carrie Bridewell; Mathô, Albert Saléza; Shahabarim, Mr. Salignac; Narr’Havas, Mr. Journet; Spendius, Mr. Sizes; Giscon, Mr. Gilibert; Autharite, Mr. Dufriche; Hamilcar, Mr. Scotti. Mr. Mancinelli conducted. The exquisitely painted scenes were copies of the Paris models, and the costumes were gorgeous. Miss Bréval’s radiant Semitic beauty shone in the title rôle. Flaubert’s novel was made into a libretto by Camille du Locle. History supplied the background for romance in the shape of the suppression of a mutiny among the mercenaries of the Carthaginians in the first Punic war. Against this is outlined in bold relief the story of the rape of the sacred veil of Tanit by the leader of the revolting mercenaries, his love for Salammbô, daughter of the Carthaginian general; her recovery of the veil, bringing in its train disaster to her lover and death to both.
Lucienne Bréval as Salammbô