Maretzek Italian Opera: Norma

Event Information

Venue(s):
Academy of Music

Manager / Director:
Max Maretzek

Conductor(s):
Max Maretzek

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
29 August 2018

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

01 Apr 1863, Evening

Program Details



12th Night

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Composer(s): Bellini
Text Author: Romani
Participants:  Maretzek Italian Opera Company;  Giuseppina Medori (role: Norma);  Henrietta Sulzer (role: Adalgisa);  Francesco Mazzoleni (role: Pollio);  Hannibal Biachi (role: Oroveso);  T. [tenor] Rubio (role: Flavio );  Johanna Ficher (role: Clotilde)

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 28 March 1863, 7.
2)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 28 March 1863, 7.
3)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 30 March 1863, 8.
“’Norma’ will be repeated, owing to the general desire expressed for its repetition and the fact that many people were unable to obtain admission on Friday night. It is unquestionably the great success of the season, and fully merits all the praise that has been bestowed upon it.”
4)
Announcement: New-York Times, 31 March 1863, 4.
5)
Announcement: Courrier des États-Unis, 31 March 1863.
6)
Advertisement: Courrier des États-Unis, 31 March 1863.
7)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 01 April 1863, 7.
Cast.
8)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 01 April 1863, 7.
Cast. “No Performance To-Morrow and Friday.”
9)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 01 April 1863, 6.
10)
Announcement: New York Post, 01 April 1863, 3.
11)
Advertisement: New York Post, 01 April 1863.
12)
Announcement: Courrier des États-Unis, 01 April 1863.
“This evening, the last performance of Norma. Notice to those who want to see or say goodbye to Mme Medori in this role.”
13)
Advertisement: Courrier des États-Unis, 01 April 1863.
14)
Review: New York Herald, 02 April 1863, 5.
“The success of Mme. Medori in Bellini’s masterpiece, ‘Norma,’ has assumed proportions which surpass anything of the kind ever witnessed in New York. The Academy was crowded to excess last night by a most fashionable and enthusiastic audience. The artists were all in fine voice. Mme. Medori, Mlle. Sulzer, Signors Mazzoleni and Biachi achieved well deserved triumphs. They were applauded and encored in everything, and sang accordingly with a spirit and ensemble which electrified the audience. We may safely assert that a more successful rendition of ‘Norma’ was never before given in New York.”
15)
Review: New-York Times, 02 April 1863, 5.

Academy of Music.—The preference of the public for Medori and Mazzoleni, over the other artists of Mr. Maretzek’s troupe, was again demonstrated last evening, when ‘Norma’ was repeated, for the third time, to a house that is said to be the best of the season. The music of this work is certainly no longer attractive in itself, and must derive any fresh importance that it has from the extraordinary vitality infused into it by the artists we have named. The applause was so enthusiastic last evening, and the condition of all the singers so excellents [sic] that we shall not be surprised if ‘Norma’ attracts several more crowded houses.”

16)
Review: Dwight's Journal of Music, 18 April 1863, 15.

Part of larger article on the Maretzek season.

            “New York, April 7.—The Academy has never, within my recollection, presented such a series of brilliant assemblages as during the past month of the Maretzek troupe performances…

            The great hit of the season has been Norma. Medori has in the Druid priestess a grand rôle, and she is eminently qualified to interpret it. Norma has had three performances, and to such houses! ‘Standing room only’ is a very brief but indicative sentence, and one very rarely required at the opera, but it was brought out from its dusty resting place and hung upon the ‘outer wall’ of the Academy three successive nights—and what for? Norma, that well-known, well-thumbed, well-whistled, well-ground opera, with its melodies and gems sung threadbare, brought that dusty placard into service again. The performance was certainly well worth the commendation it received at the hands of the public and the press. Medori was magnificent. All the adjectives of the English language were brought into service, and as to Mazzoleni, words were not found indicative enough. The Adalgisa of Sulzer, and the Oroves [sic] of Biachi were in harmony with the success of the other rôles, and Norma flourished with undiminished splendor for three nights.”