Union League Club: L’Elisir d’amore

Lists cast with roles.

“An amateur performance of ‘L’Elisir d’Amore,’ for the benefit of the Women’s Hospital, a most deserving charity, will take place on to-morrow week [sic], at the Union League Club Theater. The work will be produced under the direction of Signor Albites, assisted by Madame Gazzaninga. [Lists cast and roles.] These amateurs have already given abundant evidence of vocal abilities in select circles. To complete the cast and fill the chorus fourteen young ladies and about twenty gentlemen have volunteered. The taste of Signor Albites in these matters is well-known, and there is a promise of a very brilliant entertainment.”

“It is well known that English missionary efforts have long been directed toward the Protestantizing of Spain, without, however, having achieved any success. The very first Spanish Protestant Church ever organized is the Episcopal Church of St. Jago in this City, the services of which are held in the French Protestant Church in Twenty-second-street. To aid this not very affluent institution, the amateurs whom we have already announced as intending to produce Donizetti’s ‘Elisir d’Amore’ at the Union Club Theater, namely, Mrs. Davison, Miss Powell, Dr. Ghislani Durant and Señor Martinez, directed by Signor Albites, will repeat that performance on Thursday, the 21st inst., at the same place, as a matinée. Thanks to the influence of the lady patronesses of the Woman’s Hospital, the tickets for the Tuesday are already disposed of, therefore the matinée of the Thursday will afford the only opportunity for the general public to witness a performance from which much is expected.”

Brief. “The promised performance of ‘L’Elisire [sic] D’Amore’ at the Union League Theater occurs to-morrow. Mrs. Davison and many prominent amateurs take part in it.”

“‘L’Elisire [sic] d’Amore’ was given at the Union League Club Theater in aid of the funds of the New-York State Woman’s Hospital. The entertainment was one supplied by amateurs, and offered real pleasure. The principal songstress was Mrs. Davidson, whose voice is unusually rich, and whose management of it is skilled in an exceptional degree. Mrs. Davidson sang Adina with excellent effect. The part of Nemorino was filled by Dr. Durand; that of Giannetti [sic] by Miss Powell, and the other rôles were sustained by Señor Martinez, Mr. Sarti and numerous amateurs. There is no occasion, of course, to offer an elaborate criticism of a representation undertaken with such excellent motives and with such good artistic as well as pecuniary results. Signor Albites conducted, and to his industry and that of Mme. Gazzaniga, under whose supervision were conducted the rehearsals which perfected the entertainment, a liberal share of the impression it produced is due. ‘L’Elisire’ will be sung at the same place on Thursday afternoon, for the benefit of the Spanish Protestant Church in West Twenty-second-street.”

“Last night the noble name of charity was again successfully invoked, and at the high admission price of four dollars a ticket the house was crowded by a very fashionable audience. The attraction was Donizetti’s ‘L’Elisir d’Amore,’ which was produced under the guidance of Signor Albites and Madame Gazzinga, with [lists cast]. The prima donna of the evening sang with great sweetness, and was warmly applauded. The tenor, Dr. Durant, has a rich resonant voice, and manages it after the manner of a cultivated judicious vocalist. The minor characters and the chorus music found efficient interpreters in the ladies and gentlemen who lent their talents to this charitable performance. We understand that the opera will be repeated on Thursday afternoon for the benefit of the Spanish Episcopal church in this city.”

“The Amateur Opera Matinée ‘L’Elisire d’Amore,’ given yesterday at the theater of the Union League Club, for the benefit of the Spanish Protestant Church of St. Jago, in West Twenty-second-st., drew together a select and fashionable audience, as did also the same opera on Tuesday night, in aid of the New York State Women’s Hospital.” Lists performers.

“An amateur operatic entertainment was given at the Union League Club Theatre on Thursday afternoon, which proved a most agreeable surprise to the intelligent audience which filled the hall. It was justly recognized as the best unprofessional musical treat of the season. This success and superiority, as a whole, was chiefly owing to the remarkable average ability and training of the performers; and especially to the assiduous labors of Signor Albites and his accomplished wife, in the discipline and encouragement they so patiently gave to the chorus and the rehearsals. Rarely has Donizetti’s beautiful opera ‘L’Elisir d’Amore,’ afforded more complete and sustained enjoyment. The object was a benevolent one, and all engaged in the work sang and acted their parts con amore, and with a harmony of effect and a congenial spirit seldom realized. But the crowning triumph of the occasion was the advent of a new, richly endowed, and singularly accomplished American lyric artist. On several previous occasions, in public and private, the powerful and delicious voice of Mrs. Davidson has afforded much gratification to the lovers of music. This gifted lady is the wife of a college professor of Louisville, Ky., and has been passing the winter in this city. Her culture in science and her general intellectual traits are superior; but her musical gifts have developed to a degree and in a manner very uncommon, without exceptional adventitious aids, of which she has enjoyed very few. Mrs. Davidson is a born artist. In a fortnight she grasped the whole significance of the prima donna’s part in the Elisid [sic] d’Amore; and, although not previously familiar with the Italian language, and comparatively ignorant of operatic precedents, she not only sang with power, truth, grace and spirit, but acted the character with all the naiveté, familiar tact, rustic abandon, delicate intuition, vivacity, sweetness and charm, which an acknowledged queen of song could have given it. We have heard that this lady has serious thoughts of adopting the musical drama as a profession; if such is the case, her auditors on the occasion referred to will congratulate her and themselves and the cause of the native art.” 

“The second amateur performance of Donizetti’s ‘Elisir d’Amore,’ at the Union League Theater, went off with admirable spirit, the signers being more at home in their parts and the audience quite enthusiastic. The Dulamara of the occasion was a professional gentleman, Signor Sartis [sarti], an excellent actor and singer, but the other principals were so good that, granted a little more power, they would each and all be welcome at the Academy. Only those who were present can believe how beautiful and refined was the singing of Mrs. Davidson as Adina. Señor Martinez, as Belcore, executed the difficult music, originally written for Lablache, and acted the dashing Sergeant with great vivacity; and Dr. Ghislani Durant, by his graceful manner and finished singing, reminded us of Mazzoleni. His ‘Una Furtiva Lagrima’ was the gem of the evening.”