La Grange-Brignoli Italian Opera: Il trovatore

“The opening week at Mr. Pike's beautiful Opera House was brought to a successful close on Saturday, when there was a matinée performance of ‘Il Trovatore.’ The work was given with much spirit. Mme. La Grange was in excellent voice and sang and acted with rare vigor. The lady’s voice is in capital condition. It has never, we think, been heard to such advantage. When she sang at the old Academy of Music the size of the building somewhat overtaxed her powers. Mr. Pike's Opera House is smaller and has been constructed on sound acoustical principles. For singing it is perfect. This might be expected, for Mr. Pike has made the subject a special study, and in carrying out his ideas has spared neither time, trouble, nor money. Whether the house will serve equally well for dramtic purposes remains to be seen. There is often a vast and strange difference in this respect. The laws of acoustics are mysterious and but little understood. They seem, indeed, to depend strangely on chance or accident. Mr. Pike has hit it completely in the matter of music, and the singers, who feel the ease with which they sing, are no doubt pleased with his success. Signor Massimiliani, who, owing to the indisposition of Signor Brignoli, has had double duty to perform, and moreover has had to contend with a cold, was again in trim, and sang with clearness and force. The gentleman is sometimes deficient in animation, but after he has been ‘warmed up’ he reveals very admirable qualities of voice. Signor Colletti is rather lugubrious as the Fernando. Signor Orlandini has an acceptable baritone voice, which he uses unsparingly, and with a tendency to force it beyond its natural capacity. Of Miss Adelaide Phillips it is only necessary to say that she is certainly better now than she has been for many years. Her excellent school is a source of constant inspiration, and her acting leaves nothing to be desired. The audience on Saturday was very large and composed mainly of ladies. During the present week Signor Brignoli will make his rentrée and receive the welcome which we are sure awaits him.”

“‘Trovatore’ was repeated at Pike’s Opera House on Saturday afternoon, before an enormous audience.”