Article on the future of Italian opera in New York City

Event Information

Venue(s):

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
26 September 2016

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

24 Nov 1867

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Maretzek Italian Opera Company

Citations

1)
Article: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 24 November 1867, 4.

Regarding the Academy of Music and the chorister strike . . . If Maretzek can not make up the financial losses caused by the strike, the future of quality Italian opera, as performed in the last 5-6 years under Maretzek, is at stake.

Currently active opera performers and connoisseurs compare the New York Opera with London and Paris and claim, the expectations of the audience here are much higher than elsewhere. According to excerpts from two letters written by Louisa Kellogg, at that time residing in Paris and also in London, to a friend here, she states that lead singers in Maretzek’s operas are much better than in Paris or in London. In the last two years, they were the best in the world, she writes. [Excerpts of the letters are published in the article.]