Articles on the recent success of the Parepa-Rosa English Opera Company

“To-day the season of English opera in this city closed with a matinee performance of ‘The Bohemian Girl.’ The troupe goes hence on Monday, for Pittsburgh and Chicago, returning to New York in June. Madame Parepa-Rosa and her husband will then leave for Europe, expecting to spend the summer in retirement at home. It is possible that the organization of the opera company may be maintained, and that a season may be undertaken in London; for it is certain that at the present moment England possesses no band of English opera singers as good as this. Under any circumstances, Parepa will return to this country in May, 1871, having engagements to sing that month in Boston.

“During the present season—say from last spring up to the present time—the Parepa Opera Troupe has been busily engaged, in this city, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and other towns. Their repertory has included ‘The Puritan’s Daughter’ and ‘Bohemian Girl,’ of Balfe; ‘Sonnambula’ and ‘Norma,’ of Bellini; ‘Fra Diavolo’ and ‘Black Domino,’ of Auber; ‘Der Freischütz’ and ‘Oberon,’ of Weber; ‘Faust,’ of Gounod; ‘Marriage of Figaro,’ of Mozart; ‘Trovatore,’ of Verdi; ‘Maritana,’ of Wallace, and ‘Martha,’ of Flotow. In most of these operas the weight of the performance has fallen on Madame Parepa-Rosa. In two or three of them she has been relieved by Miss Rose Hersee, a young prima donna who has satisfied general and even critical demands; though of course she does not possess, like Madame Rosa, the power of attracting crowded houses. Never has Madame Rosa sung with greater effect than this season. In all classes of music she has excelled. The intricate concerted pieces of Mozart, the pleasing trivialities of Flotow, and the ample, majestic strains of Weber have all found in her an efficient interpreter. Of the operas produced during the last few weeks in New York, ‘Oberon’ has been the most successful, and crowded houses have attended its two performances.

“Madame Rosa has been generally well supported. Mr. Castle has done himself great credit by his conscientious efforts. He is a singer who has not enjoyed the advantages of the thorough musical education which can best be obtained abroad; but he has done well indeed for his opportunities. Mrs. Seguin [Zelda Harrison] is already among the best of American contraltos as a vocalist, while as a graceful, vivacious and pleasing actress she excels them all. Mr. Campbell is always popular, though he leans too much towards somber gravity in his representations. Mr. Hall has proved a useful and versatile member of the company, and Mr. Laurence, when not indisposed, has shown that he can sing after the best Italian method.

“A great proportion of the success of the troupe is due to Mr. Carl Rosa, whose skilful [sic] wielding of the baton has been of great advantage in the production of the best operas of the season. He conducts the difficult music of ‘Oberon’ in a specially efficient manner, and his general managerial tact has also been felicitously employed. Mr. C. D. Hess is also responsible for a goodly share of the success of the enterprise. He it was [sic] who furnished the equipment of the company, and advanced the necessary funds. Every article of the wardrobe, scenery and proprieties and music was provided by Mr. Hess, or rather by C. D. Hess & Co, who also furnish and pay the musicians, chorus singers and other attachés. It is gratifying to know that the utmost harmony prevails among the promoters and members of the company, and that the Rosa-Hess opera troupe is, in fact, quite a happy family.”

“A finished performance of ‘Oberon’ on Friday evening, and a matinée of ‘The Bohemian Girl’ yesterday, brought to a close the three weeks’ sojourn at the Academy of Music of Mme. Parepa-Rosa and her associate artists. The efforts of the troupe have been liberally rewarded, and deservedly so. All the entertainments have been interesting, and some have been [illeg. – conspicuous?] for excellence, as the repeated notices in the Times have already recorded. Mme. Parepa-Rosa’s talent has been recognized here for years, but the present season adds to her claims for public regard [illeg…] of an industry which it is equally astonishing and delightful to allude to, now that we are certain her grand vocal resources have not been overtaxed. Mr. Carl Rosa has been as untiring as the lady who bears his name, and if his contribution to the general satisfaction have [sic] been less apparent they have hardly been less substantial. Both he and Mme. Rosa are about to depart for Europe, but temporarily only, in spite of announces to the contrary. The play-goers throughout the country, who have benefited by the tour recently made by the company, and those of New-York, will not grude [sic] these artists a few weeks’ leisure preparatory to a reopening of the campaign in the Fall.”

“For the first time in many years an opera manager has gone away from our Academy of Music with a full pocket-book. Carl Rosa and C. D. Hess have grown rich in an enterprise which has ruined Max Maretzek about forty times, and brought disaster upon more Italian artists than we can count. The three weeks season just finished has demonstrated several gratifying facts. It has shown that New-York will pay for good music, which we have often been tempted to doubt; that the highest class of music, such as Weber’s ‘Oberon’ and Mozart’s ‘Figaro,’ is the most generally appreciated; and that English opera, properly presented is certain to be popular, and can be made one of our standard entertainments. When an opera season breaks down, after this, let us not lay the blame on the public. Of course the principal cause of the success of the company which has just left us was the prima-donna; but she was not the only cause. Careful organization and good management had also much to do with it. The casts were always strong, the three or four principal parts excellent, the minor parts fair, the choruses well dressed and well drilled, and much better looking than the old band we have been used to, the stage carefully set, and the orchestra perfect. There was a constant variety, and in three weeks the managers produced nine different operas, three of which we peculiarly interesting novelties. They kept all their promises, and even did more than they bound themselves to do. They never gave a ragged or a careless performance. The artists all worked hard, not merely for their personal glory but for the general success, and the result was an even and harmonious effect, which is far more agreeable than the display of individual brilliancy. Mr. Rosa as a musical director has won in the course of this season an excellent reputation as an intelligent and painstaking conductor, and a good judge of the public taste; and Mr. Hess, to whom we believe belonged the furnishing of the wardrobe, the properties, the scenery, the chorus, orchestra, and miscellaneous attachés, has shown commendable liberality. We wish they were soon combing back, but in June the Rosas are going to England, for a season of rest, and what will become of the other members of the company is uncertain. There is some chance of their all making a professional visit to London, and it is also possible that they may continue their performances in this country with Miss Hersee in the leading parts.”