Maretzek Italian Opera: Faust: Clara Louise Kellogg Benefit

Event Information

Venue(s):
Academy of Music

Manager / Director:
Max Maretzek

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
17 March 2019

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

16 Mar 1869, Evening

Program Details

Benefit of Clara Louise Kellogg. This is among her final performances of the season.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Composer(s): Gounod
Text Author: Barbier, Carré
Participants:  Maretzek Italian Opera Company;  Clara Louise Kellogg (role: Marguerite)

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 12 March 1869, 7.
2)
Advertisement: Courrier des États-Unis, 12 March 1869.
3)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 15 March 1869, 11.
4)
Announcement: New York Sun, 15 March 1869, 2.

“Miss Kellogg’s benefit at the Academy last night was the occasion for the assemblage of one of the largest audiences ever gathered there. The fair beneficiary was in excellent voice, and gave an exquisite rendering of the part of Marguerite—a part which has so far been her most signal lyric success.”

5)
Review: New York Post, 17 March 1869.
6)
Review: New-York Times, 17 March 1869, 4.

“One of the largest and one of the strangest audiences that ever assembled in this establishment was drawn together by the announcement of Miss Kellogg’s benefit last night. The opera was ‘Faust,’ and the seats were nearly all sold before the curtain ascended. On such an occasion there should have been not only the attractions of beauty and toilet, but a degree of national pride and enthusiasm. This, however, was not the case. After the great third act Miss Kellogg—we mention it only by way of illustration—received but three bouquets—one of them a paltry thing, which in these days of general vastness, in flowers and other matters, ought to have shamed the thrower. On the occasion of a benefit, there is no reason for being overtaken by enthusiasm. When one is enthusiastic, the smallest flower is a worthy tribute. It may be, and we hope it is so, that the vile habit of throwing bouquets is coming to its close. In these days it celebrates anything but the victory of talent. Among the stalkey things who wade through flowers, Miss Kellogg is a giantess and another being. She represents the highest art culture that America has reached, and it is so high that Europe has cheerfully recognized it. Gifted with a beautiful voice and a charming presence and a genius quite exceptional in its versatility, she has given to the public in various ways the most perfect satisfaction. And she continues—and we trust long will continue—to do so. Her performance last evening was in every way perfect. Her Marguerite is undoubtedly one of the most vivid, pleasing, and delicately-toned representations of the part yet presented. The rôle admits of various interpretations. That given to it by Miss Kellogg is to our mind the best. The lady was warmly applauded during the evening, but the audience being composed for the most part of strangers, there was less directness, as we have before hinted, than should justly have prevailed on such an occasion.”