Ronconi Opera Entertainment

“UNION LEAGUE THEATRE—RONCONI.—This admirable maestro, whose name is one of the highest on the lyric calendar, gave a very interesting operatic performance last night before an elegant and fashionable assemblage. His assistants were to a large extent made up from his best pupils, although there were others of marked ability. The bill consisted of the third act of Verdi’s ‘Nabuco,’ [sic] with the following cast:--Abigail, Mlle. Ronconi; Zaccaria, Signor Gariboldi, and Nabuco, Ronconi; second act of ‘Linda,’ with Mrs. Galager as Linda, Mrs. Frula De Gebele as Pierotto, Mr. Koppell (a young débutant, and  a very promising one, too) as Visconti Ronconi as Antonio, and the second act of Petrella’s ‘Precauzione;’ Albina, Miss A. B. Half, Romilda; Mlle. Ronconi, Mimosa; Mrs. De Gebele and Cola (?), Ronconi. Of course, in the three operas the main feature was the lyric veteran, who always is welcome in these his time-honored parts.  While London laments his loss our more favored metropolis receives the benefit of his immense experience as an admirable teacher of the true Italian school of singing and one of the old stock of operatic artists now so rare.”

“One of the most elegant and dressy audiences of the season crowded last night the little theatre of the Union League Club. The programme, while fairly attractive in itself, was the more potent in its influence because several of the leading performers were ladies well known in fashionable circles. The affair thus, though really open to the public, partook of the character of a private soirée.

“The overture to ‘Fra Diavolo,’ played by a small orchestra, opened the evening’s entertainment; and then followed an act of Verdi’s ‘Nabuco,’ [sic] an opera which contains some of his happiest inspirations, though it is not as widely known as many of the other works of the fertile composer. The baritone part of Nabuco was written for Ronconi, and in former days was among the list of his great successes. Last night he sang the music with a certain deflection from the intonation which marred the effect; but otherwise it was a masterly rendering of the part. In the act selected there are two choruses, one of which has been familiarized on the street organs—a noticeable duet for baritone and soprano, and a scena for bass and a chorus, Signor Gariboldi taking the principal part in the latter morceau. The chorus was provided by members of the Italian opera chorus, and Miss Ronconi was the prima donna. The music of ‘Nabuco’ is of too grandiose a character, however, to be thoroughly satisfactory when represented in a fragmentary manner and on a small scale.

“The scond act of ‘Linda’ followed, with Mrs. Gulager, Miss de Gebele, Mr. Koppel and Signor Ronconi in the cast. Mrs. Gulager has a deliciously sweet and even voice, and sang the mad scene, No! non ever! mentirono, [sic] with much grace and pathos. Mr. Koppel has a good tenor organ of the robust order, and gives excellent promise. Miss de Gebele and Signor Ronconi shows at once they were experienced artistes.

“The evening pleasantly concluded with a scene from Petrella’s ‘Precauzione,’ in which three girls—a contralto and two sopranos—persuade an old servant to participate in a masquerade. Miss Hall here won much applause for the ease and grace of her vocalization, and was worthily supported by Miss de Gebele and by Miss and Signor Ronconi.”

“The first of a series of operatic entertainments which it is Signor RONCONI’S intention to give at the Union League Theatre, took place last evening. The bright auditorium of the place was filled—so unfrequent an event in the modern history of Italian opera as to deserve notice—and a varied programme was interpreted to the general delight. The third act of ‘Nabucco,’ the second of ‘Linda,’ and the second of ‘Precauzioni’ were sung in turn. The performance undoubtedly bettered itself as it progressed, for at the outset the orchestra was extremely unruly. That slender portion of VERDI’S opera selected for interpretation by Signor RONCONI was rather ineffective as a whole, but it left a strong desire in the audience to hear the principal artist in the complete part, one written for him, and which his passing skill as an actor must endow with rare impressiveness. Signor GARIBOLDI and Miss RONCONI were respectively the Zacaria and the Abigaile. A chorus was heard, with these artists, and it executed faultlessly the exquisite number of the composition, beginning ‘Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate.’ In the one act of ‘Linda,’ following, Signor RONCONI acted the scene of the malediction with a pathos and force hardly to have been excelled by earlier artists. Mrs. P. D. GULAGER, an amateur, we presume, represented Linda with sufficient vocal fluency and histrionic ease, and the fine voice of Mrs. FRIDA DE GEBELE was listened to in the role of Pierotto. The feature of most interest of this incident of the entertainment, however, grew out of the first appearance of Mr. KOPPEL, a young tenor, who played Visconti. Mr. KOPPEL has an excellent tenor voice, true, sonorous and firm, as we are quite willing to believe that the taint of vibrato last night was the result of extreme nervousness. His debut had as encouraging results as could be wished. In the excerpt from PETRELLA’S work, Misses A. B. HALL and RONCONI, Mrs. DE GEBELE and Signor RONCONI were the performers. ‘Crispino’ will be rendered on the next opera night. We trust it will prove as attractive a subject for the bill as did yesterday’s selections.”