Richings English Opera: Fra Diavolo

“Miss Carloine Ritchings [sic], who has deserved much of the public, and received but little, brings her series of English opera to a close to-night, when ‘Martha,’ [sic], one of the most enjoyable works in the repertoire, will be given. The Academy of Music, will, we trust, be filled to its greatest capacity.”

“The last performance of the Richings English opera company was given at the Academy of Music on Saturday evening, when ‘Fra Diavolo’ was given to a fair house. In view of the close of the season we feel bound to tender again to Miss Richings our thanks for the energy and enterprise she has shown in organizing and directing her very creditable company. While we have sometimes found occasion for criticism, we are none the less aware of the fact that the performances of English opera given here under her management have been a positive and pleasing addition to our musical entertainments; that they have improved in quality from season to season, and that on the whole they have been far better than any we have heard under other auspices. The company will perform in some of the New England towns and cities, where we trust they will obtain the abundant patronage they deserve.”

“. . . Miss Caroline Richings brought her brief season of English opera to a close on Saturday evening, when the phenomenon of a good house was witnessed. The opera was ‘Fra Diavolo’—a work which in any garb seems to be a favorite with the public. The story is lively, the music light, and the action quick and picturesque…” [Rest of the review discusses other performances.]

“The brief season of English Opera closed with the performance of ‘Fra Diavolo’ at the Academy of Music on Saturday evening. The opera was well rendered. The company has had hardly the encouragement which it has deserved. A servere critic might find incongruities in the casts, but the singing of Messrs. Castle, Campbell and Peakes, which has been uniformly good, has commended itself to the popular taste. The orchestra has been effectively handled, and the scenery and costumes have been excellent. Of the prime donne, we may say that Miss Richings and Mrs. E. Seguin have acquitted themselves as well as could have been expected. The choruses, with but few exceptions, have been puerile and weak. The chief event of the season was the production of Mr. Wm. Vincent Wallace’s ‘Desert Flower,’ the rôles of which were artistically sustained by Miss Richings and Messrs. Castle and Campbell.”