Mazzoleni Farewell Concert

“The favorite tenor who has so long charmed opera-goers in New York with his splendid voice bade farewell to the scene of his many triumphs last night.  Irving Hall was crowded with a most brilliant audience and the ladies in particular attended in large numbers. A dashing, rollicking ballad, composed expressly for Signor Mazzoleni and entitled Don Caesar de Bazan and a Venetian Canzone, were the selections of the bénéficiare.  His voice, unimpaired by the years of dreary servitude it underwent in the old voice-destroying catacombs—rang out in both pieces with all its pristine power and brilliancy and encores followed each.  He was assisted by Signora Ortolani, Madame Martinez, Signor Albano, Signor Antonucci and Mr. Pattison.”

“Signor Mazzoleni’s Farewell Concert last evening at Irving Hall was much applauded and regretted, which is to speak as well as we can of a programme by no means novel, however readily and effectively rendered.  Verdi and Bellini were plentifully poured out, the beneficiary singing a Traviata duet with Mdlle. Ortolani—Antonucci trolling the well-known bass aria from the Sicilian Vespers—Madame Anna Martinez, a new and acceptable singer, warbling a rondo from Puritani.  Mr. J. N. Pattison’s two piano fantasias, one on themes from Martha, and the other from the Doctor of Alcantara, comprise some delicate but well-beaten variations to which the excellent technique of Mr. Pattison adapts itself sensitively.  One of the most interesting passages of the concert was Signor Albano’s harp fantasia, but this too, was pleasantly commonplace on the score of idea.  A more erudite farewell than this of Signor Mazzoleni would have been possible—we are not sorry, however, that it was a good compliment to a tenor who, without illustrating any very high purity of style, has a resonant vigor and a theatrical enthusiasm, which have done excellent service sometimes and won him many admirers.”