Faure and Sainte-Foix gave a perfect performance.
There was a good deal of criticism of having the hunter, the reaper, and the shepherd sing a prayer together at the beginning of the third act.
This was not considered theatrical; to-day that is a virtue.
There was a good deal of talk about _L'Africanne_, which had been looked for for a long time and which seemed to be almost legendary and mysterious; it still is for that matter.

The subject of the opera was unknown.

All that was known was that the author was trying to find an interpreter and could get none to his liking.
Then Marie Cruvelli, a German singer with an Italian training, appeared.
With her beauty and prodigious voice she shone like a meteor in the theatrical firmament.

Meyerbeer found his Africanne realized in her and at his request she was engaged at the Opera.

Her engagement was made the occasion for a brilliant revival of _Les Huguenots_ and Meyerbeer wrote new ballet music for it.