Maretzek Italian Opera: Guillaume Tell

“At the Opera ‘Tell’ will be given to-night and Wednesday evening. The singing of Mr. Lefranc in this opera has stamped his reputation as an artist of extraordinary capacity and endurance.”

“Mr. Maretzek announces for Wednesday evening the last performance of ‘William Tell,’ which has enjoyed quite a run for an opera.”

“. . . it is worth recording, out of compliment to the appreciativeness of the public, that the fourth representation of the work, last evening, was witnessed by a numerous audience. . . .”

Brief.

“The Opera ‘William Tell’ has certainly been a success at the Academy of Music, notwithstanding the deficiencies of the first night. With each succeeding performance, however, these deficiencies decreased, and last evening the representation was in most respects admirable. Lefranc sang in a most artistic manner the exquisite aria of the last act, and the other parts were creditably filled. The audience was very large, showing that the interest in Rossini’s superb work has by no means abated, and that it will bear several additional representations.”

“The fifth representation of ‘William Tell’ drew a splendid house at the Academy last night. The attraction of this fine performance seems to increase and its merit assuredly does with each repetition, and, could Signor Lefranc endure the enormous strain, or it were right to ask him to do so, it would seem that there could be no better policy than to keep ‘William Tell’ on the bills for some time to come. However, Ferrari’s ‘Pipele’ is now nearly ready, and in accordance with the managerial programme must soon be brought forward. Meanwhile Signor Lefranc’s great hit in ‘William Tell’ has become the talk of the town, and it will create a pleasurable excitement among his admirers to know that the popular tenor’s next essay will be a part that affords in some respects even better score for his powers—Auber’s ‘Masaniello.’” Continues on about upcoming opera productions.

“Excellent houses have been the rule of the week at the Academy of Music. The fourth and fifth representations of ‘William Tell,’ on Monday and Wednesday, attracted more people than the preceding ones, and fully warranted our recorded conviction respecting the impression this work had made on the opera-going public. Signor Lefranc went through the arduous part of Arnoldo again on Saturday night, for the benefit of the Ladies’ Hebrew Benevolent Association, and now will take a short and much needed rest. No tenor, with perhaps one exception, has produced so great an effect in New-York by such worthy means as has Signor Lefranc. He is a true artist, and one of the first rank. For him we have to devise no apologies or excuses for deficiency. His physical powers are always ready to meet the drafts of his conceptions. With a wealth and power of voice unsurpassed here, he has also a delicacy and finish of execution whose union with the former qualities is as rare as it is charming. His merits as an actor, if less decided, are not unworthy of his abilities as a singer. He never lacks in fervor; he can produce that electrical, indescribable thrill which is in itself a test of histrionic genius, and yet he never by any chance conveys a suggestion of exaggeration. Masaniello, which he is now about to essay, and which is a far more difficult acting if not singing part than Arnoldo, will put Signor Lefranc’s position in the former respect beyond a doubt. There is little hazard in predicting for him in the former character no less decided a triumph than that achieved by him in the latter.” Continues on reviewing other recent performances by the Maretzek troupe.