Grau Italian Opera: Grand Combination and Gala Night

Event Information

Venue(s):
Academy of Music

Manager / Director:
Jacob Grau

Conductor(s):
Emanuele Muzio

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
5 August 2013

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

12 Dec 1862, 7:30 PM

Program Details

Grau Italian Opera
17th Night
Grand Combination and Gala Night

COMMENT: The fourth act of Favorita was announced in ads the day of the performance, but Brignoli was ill, so Guerrabella sang the brindisi from Macbeth. The NYT listed it as a brindisi from Martha.

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Composer(s): Verdi
Text Author: Piave
Participants:  Augustino Susini (role: Sylva);  Federico Amodio (role: Carlo);  Domenico Lorini (role: Elvira);  Alessandro Maccaferri (role: Ernani)
3)
aka Shadow dance; Schattentanz; Shadow song
Composer(s): Meyerbeer
Text Author: Barbier, Carré
Participants:  Angiolina Cordier
4)
Conductor: Muzio, Emanuele
Composer(s): Verdi
Participants:  Ginerva Guerrabella

Citations

1)
Announcement: New-York Times, 08 December 1862.
Announces Puritani.
2)
Announcement: New York Post, 08 December 1862.
Says Ballo will be performed on Friday.
3)
Announcement: New York Herald, 10 December 1862.
“On Friday – the last night of the season – we are to have the ‘Puritani’ or ‘Ernani.’”
4)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 10 December 1862, 7.
Program, casts.
5)
Announcement: New York Post, 11 December 1862.
6)
Advertisement: Courrier des États-Unis, 11 December 1862.
7)
Announcement: New York Herald, 12 December 1862.
“’Ernani’ will be given for the first time this season.”
8)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 12 December 1862, 7.
9)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 12 December 1862, 7.

“The performance will conclude with the entire fourth act of LA FAVORITA, in which Guerrabella and Brignoli have created so much sensation.”

10)
Review: New-York Times, 13 December 1862, 8.

      “Last Night's Ernani.--A very excellent house greeted ‘Ernani’ last evening,. though the expansive powers of the Academy were by no means tested to their fullest capacity. To bring an immense crowd, either a goat or a General is necessary, and last night neither were there. In the part of Elvira, Madame Lorini fully sustained the reputation she has achieved in this country in other parts and justifies the indorsement [sic] which she brings from foreign critics in this somewhat difficult role. Amodio as Carlo was in unusually good voice, and the same may be said of Susini and Maccaferri--the former as Sylvia [sic] and the latter as Ernani.

      Between the second and third acts, Mlle. Cordier–without the goat accompaniment–sang the shadow song aria from ‘Dinorah.’  The fourth act of ‘La Traviata’ was not given, as announced, owing to indisposition on the part of Brignoli--rheumatism we believe--but in its stead Madame Guerrabella sang the popular Brindisi, from the opera of Martha [Macbeth?].”

11)
Review: New York Post, 13 December 1862, 3.

      “The medley performance of Verdi and Meyerbeer, at the Academy, was deprived of the expected Donizetti element by the continued rheumatism of Brignoli, who could not sing in the act of ‘Favorita.’  Instead, Guerrabella sang with great finish and elegance the ‘Brindisi’ from Macbeth, receiving a heart encore.  Cordier also sang and danced with her usual grace the ‘Shadow Scene’ from ‘Dinorah.’

      The opera ‘Ernani’ was given with considerable energy.  Lorini as Elvira made a happy success, singing with all her usual sweetness and unaccustomed spirit. Amodio, Susini and Maccaferri rendered the other parts. The house was well filled and the evening’s entertainment one of unusual interest.”

12)
Review: Dwight's Journal of Music, 20 December 1862, 301.
“Guerrabella [sang] the Brindisi from ‘Macbeth.’ – Such lengthy and mixed performances are very rarely enjoyed, for the reason that the audience tire, and even the best artists grow weary and dispirited.”