Articles on the recent Italian opera season

Event Information

Venue(s):

Manager / Director:
Max Maretzek

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
30 May 2020

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

19 Dec 1869
22 Dec 1869

Performers and/or Works Performed

Citations

1)
Article: New-York Times, 19 December 1869, 4.

“The season of Italian opera which began on Wednesday, Nov. 3, with ‘Il Trovatore,’ ended on Friday with ‘Il Ballo in Maschera’—Signor Verdi thus having the honor of both opening and closing the lyric campaign. It is generally admitted that the season has been an agreeable disappointment. Few thought it would be remunerative, and those most familiar with such matters were the least sanguine. In some respects, it must be owned, the performances would have justified the anticipated failure. The singing and acting of the minor parts has usually been indifferent, and the details have frequently been far below the scale that in grand opera, at least, we conventionally look or [sic]. Mr. Maretzek has worked very hard, and we believe, done his best with the material at disposal; but adverse elements have been many and perplexing, and but for three artists the season would have been failure. Lefranc, Ronconi and Miss Kellogg fortunately prevented such a disaster. The first, especially in William Tell, made a decided and well-deserved success. As recorded by us during the week of his first appearance no dramatic tenor since Salvi—leaving Mario for good reasons out of the question—has so deeply moved the New-York public, or done so by more legitimate means. Barring accidents Signor Lefrance [sic] has before him a superb artistic future. But—it is to our own oss [sic], so that we say it with regret—to this end he should not remain in this country too long at a time. We are sorry not to have heard him in ‘Masaniello; but that pleasure, we may hope, is reserved for February. It is on all hands conceded that Signor Ronconi has been in excellent force this season. His acting has been remarkably vigorous, finished and effective, and his singing has surprised those who are accustomed to maintain that Ronconi’s singing days are past. As a buffo none deny his present merit, but in serious parts—those in ‘Linda di Chamounix’ and ‘Lucrezia Borgia,’ for example—he has lately extorted admiration of a sort which of late has been less generally bestowed. Miss Kellogg has sung and acted charmingly this season, and has discovered qualities with the possession of which she has not hitherto been credited. The number of parts in which this captivating young singer has appeared has been limited, and we hope better opportunities may be created for her in the Spring. The need of an additional dramatic prima donna is, however, palpable. Mme. Briol, conscientious, strong and in most senses sufficient as she is, unfortunately lacks elements of popularity without which her other qualities are inadequate to satisfy the public wishes. It is with unaffected pain that we express an opinion which every consideration save that of public duty would prompt us to withhold. Mr. Maretzek should provide himself also with a good basso and baritone before reopening in the Metropolis. He has been too weak in these departments to risk a fresh essay without change. With these passing suggestions and with an expression of sincere pleasure that his [sic] this year’s experiment in New-York has on the whole been so prosperous we wish Mr. Maretzek every good fortune in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, and still better results for his next Metropolitan campaign, which opens in February.”

2)
Article: New-York Daily Tribune, 22 December 1869, 7.

“The season of Italian Opera, which has been far more successful than anybody anticipated, closes tonight with an extra performance of ‘William Tell.’ As that work has been the one feature of the season, and the well spring of its prosperity, it is quite right for the company to march away in triumph amid the echoes of Rossini’s noble music. We cannot say that the performances of the past twenty-one nights have been, as a rule, good ones, nor is it likely that the company could long retain its present popularity without the infusion of a great deal more strength. Its effective force at present may be said to consists of Lefranc and Miss Kellogg, who have never sung together except in ‘Poliuto;’ and though Lefranc, being a novelty, is able to draw a full house alone, the same thing cannot be said of Miss Kellogg, and it could not be said of the tenor very long. Mr. Maretzek is coming back on the 1st of February. Before that time we hope he will find somewhere a baritone and basso, and make such a reorganization of his troupe that it will be possible for us to hear an opera well sung in all its principal parts. Meanwhile he carries attractions that will prove irresistible to the provinces, which are said to be in a fever of impatience to hear Lefranc, or languishing for want of Miss Kellogg; and we wish him a prosperous tour and a safe return. He takes his farewell of Brooklyn to-morrow.”