Richings English Opera Company: The Bohemian Girl

“Commencing a brief season. . . . Ordinary Dramatic Prices.”

Second smaller ad: “This celebrated combination having been reorganized for the fall and winter season of 1867 and 1868, the undersigned is now prepared to negotiate with managers. Address A. S. PENNOYER, Business Agent, Olympic theatre, New York.”

Pennoyer listed as Manager.

“Every one will rejoice that there is to be a new season of English opera to be given by the Richings Company, who reluctantly left the Olympic some weeks since, while in the floodtide of success. Compelled by other engagements to abandon a prosperous field, they return now to give us at least a short season, which will begin on Monday night with the ‘Bohemian Girl.’ We have never doubted that English opera could be permanently sustained in New York, under proper management, and the past success of this excellent company justifies the belief.”

“The reopening of the English opera season at the Olympic is a musical event of especial interest and importance, which we announce with the greatest pleasure.”

“Amusements. Musical. The Richings opera troupe commenced their second season at the Olympic last night, before an audience which was large and fashionable in every sense of the word. The performance of the Bohemian Girl by this troupe has been too often noticed before in the Herald to need recapitulation here. Miss Richings, the fair directress of the company, was the recipient of a hearty welcome, and the familiar faces of Castle, Campbell, Seguin and Wylie were also greeted. There is every reason to hope that the success of the last season will be repeated during the present one, as might be expected from such a popular company.”

“Amusements. Musical. Balfe’s well known opera, The Bohemian Girl, was performed last night by the Richings Opera Troupe in a manner worthy of the repeated and enthusiastic plaudits which an overflowing and fashionable house freely bestowed on it. Mr. Castle was eminently successful in one of his most pleasing rôles, that of Thaddeus; and infused a spirit and pathos into the well known ballad, ‘When other lips,’ &c., that fairly brought down the house. Miss Richings, as usual, imparted to the character of Arline a peculiar grace and delicacy. Mr. Campbell’s impersonation of the Count is so well known as to require no comment. The other characters were well filled, and the orchestra and chorus were very good.”

“Amusements. Olympic Theatre—English Opera.—The general tenor of the performances has not differed from that which marked them before. Evenness and earnestness are the characteristics. Miss Richings, Mrs. Zelda Harrison, Mr. Castle, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Seguin and Mr. Peakes are still of the troupe. They have certainly caught the popular ear. Something, only, is needed with a touch of freshness, or newness, or even strangeness from long disuse, to thoroughly arouse public interest in the enterprise.”

The Richings Troupe “commence a second engagement.”

“The Richings Opera Troups commenced its second engagement in this city at the Olympic Theatre on the 18th inst., opening in ‘The Bohemian Girl’ to a good but not crowded audience. The opera passed off very well, notwithstanding Mr. Dietrich, the director, owing to some misunderstanding, did not wield the baton. The principal artists were encored throughout, and several of the duets and quartets had to be repeated. Mr. Castle’s rendering of ‘Fair Land of Poland’ was given with considerable feeling, and enthusiastically encored, as it deserved. Caroline Richings, S. C. Campbell and Mr. Castle were in splendid voice, and sang as well as we have ever heard them. The ‘Bohemian Girl’ was repeated…With the exception of Friday evening, when the house was very crowded, the attendance was very good, but not what it should have been.”