Maretzek Italian Opera: Il trovatore
Event Information
Venue(s):
Academy of Music
Manager / Director:
Max Maretzek
Event Type:
Opera
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
27 November 2016
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
04 Dec 1867, 8:00 PMPerformers and/or Works Performed
Citations
“Last evening the opera of ‘Il Trovatore’ was given for the last time, with Mme. KAPP-YOUNG as the prima donna. There was a fine house for the season, and Mme. YOUNG’S Leonora seemed to please her audience.”
“Madame Kapp-Young, who made her reappearance on Wednesday, after an interval of five weeks, confirmed the good impression which she created earlier in the season in the Africaine, although Verdi’s Leonora is hardly as well suited for the display of her most notable merits as Meyerbeer’s Selika. The Africaine, we regret to say, is not a very popular opera in New York, and the new prima donna had sung only twice when it was withdrawn to make for Romeo e Giulietta. The audience consequently on Wednesday was almost as strange to Madame Kapp-Young as if the occasion had been a veritable debut. In spite, however, of the nervousness natural under the circumstances, she evinced an excellence of voice and method in the first set which won a very cordial, we may almost say an enthusiastic recognition, and she did better and better as the performance went on. Signor Pancani was unusually good as Manrico, and after the Di quella Pira enjoyed the honor of a call before the curtain. When this gentleman is in full possession of his voice, as he was last night, he is always an agreeable and spirited tenor. The tower scene was received with vigorous applause, and was repeated in obedience to the general demand. This celebrated duet with Azucena (Madame Testa) in the last act was also encored. It was sung by both artists with rare delicacy and good taste. Signor Bellini was as good as Count di Luna as the heart of man could desire. His Il Balen lacks somewhat of the mellowness and rotundity of poor Amodio’s, but we have never heard it excelled in artistic finish, and it certainly won a cordial recognition. Altogether the opera was very satisfactorily given; the audience was larger than it had usually been this season, and the applause was hearty and abundant.”