Christine Nilsson Concert: 9th

“A crowded condition of Steinway Hall was the principal visible indication of the final concert of the present series. Miss Nilsson sang ‘Bel Raggio’ with a certainty of intonation and a flexibility of voice which her broader style of singing does not exclude her from displaying in the execution of the most florid music. She rendered afterward ‘Saper vorreste’ from ‘Il Ballo’ with that vocal sparkle the merry character of the piece exacts. Miss Cary’s superb tones were heard for the first time in ‘Le Parlate d’Amor,’ from ‘Faust.’ Signor Verger sang ‘Il Bad’en.’ The remainder of the programme included well-known pieces.”

Review: New York Sun, 11 October 1870.

“Miss Nilsson made her farewell last evening to as brilliant an audience as any that she has drawn together during the season. There was no special novelty upon the programme. Her singing of Rossini’s florid and highly wrought aria, ‘Bel Raggio,’ showed that the most elaborate music was not beyond her reach; while the ‘Old Folks at Home’ exhibited her equal command over the simple, unornamented ballad. The concerts are to be resumed on the 24th of the present month.”

Review: New York Post, 11 October 1870, 2.

“The last concert of the first Nilsson series was given last night, and was one of the most enjoyable. Whatever effects of fatigue or of the sea voyage hearers who had delighted in her singing in London may have observed or fancied upon her first appearance here, had entirely disappeared, and the Queen of Song astonished and impressed the whole audience with the same exquisite tenderness of feeling and perfection of clearness through the whole range of her voice, which have stirred the coldest of European critics to enthusiasm.

Brignoli too, kindly did his best, and sang as many New Yorkers had forgotten that he could sing. In the pathetic Miserere he seconded Miss Nilsson in a manner fully worthy of her powers. Vieuxtemps and Miss Cary added largely to the pleasure of the evening.”

Review: New York Herald, 11 October 1870, 7.

“Last night brought the first series of the Nilsson concerts to a successful close. The house, as on all former occasions, was crowded with a most fashionable audience, and the fair songstress received a hearty welcome, and when retiring as affectionate an adieu. After her superb rendering of a cavatina from ‘Semiramide,’ in response to a warm encore, Miss Nilsson sang the homely and well known ballad of ‘The Old Folks at Home.’ In the selection from ‘Il Trovatore’ Mlle. Nilsson and Signor Brignoli sang the parts Leonora and Manrico. No doubt the regret was felt by many in the audience last night that Mlle. Nilsson cannot be heard in opera. Wishing her a hearty success in other cities we part with her with the pleasing thought that we will have another opportunity of welcoming her to this city.”

Announcement: New York Clipper, 15 October 1870, 222.

“Nilsson pegs out tonight. Her several concerts have been well attended, but not crowded; she failed to create any great degree of enthusiasm, not withstanding the pulling and claque system adopted by the manager. American people are not so easily led away now-a-days as they formerly were; they understand and judge for themselves, instead of permitting the press to manufacture public opinion for them. Besides, three and four dollars for a ticket to hear a singer who is no better than Kellogg or Parepa-Rosa is not treating the American public fairly, and should this new-fangled Swedish nightingale come again she had better come down in her prices.”