Articles and Announcements on Christine Nilsson’s forthcoming American debut

Brief. “According to a recent letter in the possession of Dr. Doremus, Mlle. Christine Nilsson comes to this city next fall without fail.”

Brief. “Miss Christine Nilsson, the famous prima donna, will visit this country in September, on a professional tour which will embrace at least one hundred performances.”

Brief. “Max Strakosch’s next sensation in the musical line is Christine Nilsson, the champion vocalist of the world. She will appear at the Academy in the fall. Adelina Patti follows her the next season.”

For context, see separate event entry of 04/25/70: Patti Easter Operatic Festival: Die Zauberflöte.

“Miss Patti, we are glad to see, is to take part in divers [sic] supplementary rehearsals of ‘Die Zauberfloete,’ the earliest in New-York occurring respectively on Monday and Wednesday evenings. The great success of these operatic soirées has proven pretty clearly that such speculations are not altogether unprofitable, and it may persuade Mr. Strakosch to bring Mlle. Nilsson before the foot-lights of the Academy, instead of under the lights of the concert-room, now that it can almost be affirmed that this distinguished artist is under engagement to visit this country in September next.”

“It seems to be settled that Nilsson will come here next season; and though the same thing was settled once before and unsettled again, we are disposed to believe that this time the announcement is not ‘premature.’ We wish we could believe that a good opera troupe will come with her; but we have no ground to hope for that. Recent experience has shown that a shrewd manager can persuade our public to accept one famous or popular singer as a whole company. Mr. Strakosch did that with Miss Kellogg when she first returned; he is doing it now with Miss Patti in ‘The Magic Flute,’ and of course he will do it again with Christine Nilsson.”

“Christine Nilsson.—There has been a great deal of talking and wild speculation among managers for a couple of seasons past regardingt he [sic] queen of song at the present day, Christine Nilsson. Hardly an entrepreneur of note but has declared his unalterable intention to secure the precious prize for America at all hazards, and innumerable agents have wended their way to the Old Continent, armed with money and instructions to accomplish this undertaking. The Prince of Erie sent an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, with millions at his command, and other potentates of the stage used similar measures to capture the Swedish Nightingale, but all in vain. It remained for the irrepressible brothers Strakosch to win the victory. Before the last electric notes of the warbling Carlotta Patti die on the delighted ears of the American public, and before the fair cantatrice takes her flight to the sunny climbs of the Antipodes, when Manhattan was in a state of mingled anxiety and wonder who her successor should be, the cheering news is flashed a ross [sic] the cable that Christine Nilsson is coming in the fall. It is a positive fact that she will sail from Europe September 3, and will commence a season of concerts in this city about the end of that month. Strakosch seems to have made the ascending scale in music his study. First we had Lagrange and Brignoli, then Kellogg, next Carlotta Patti, and now, the greatest of all, Nilsson. The most strenuous efforts were made by the management of the Imperial Opera, St. Petersburg, to secure Nilsson for Europe, but the brothers Strakosch were triumphant after a well contested fight. Miss Nilsson’s engagement is for one hundred nights, at the rate of $1,500 in gold per night.”

Brief. “Nilsson will not come to America. She is about to marry a young Frenchman of good family, without fortune, and will leave the stage forever.”