Maretzek Italian Opera: Jone

“Mr. Maretzek, having given the promised series of six performances, and throwing an extra one in to-night, by the way of full measure, will—this tribulation past—retire into profitable idleness, until again goaded into industrious loss by the necessity of giving six nights more.  The month of May has been anything but merry for the impresario.  It has, in fact, used him scurvily.  He has been ill-treated by the weather and neglected by the public.  In short, he has learned that opera at this particular time is both unseasonable and unpopular.  Judiciously, like a good general, but not hastily, like a bad one, he retires from the untenable position. . . .

To-night, ‘Ione,’ a work which has proved a genuine success, will be repeated for the last time, and then—a musical lull.”

“The Academy of Music will close this evening—M. Maretzek’s short additional season coming to an end. The entertainment will be Ione; or, The Last Days of Pompeii, an opera entirely new to this community, and which was very well received on its late original presentation, with Madame Medori in the principal soprano part, and Madame Guerrabella subsequently in the same. It will be performed tonight by Mesdames Guerrabella and Sulzer, and MM. Mazzoleni, Bellini, and Biachi; and, as a leave-taking thing, should command an extra full attendance.

            M. Maretzek has meritoriously brought forward two new operas—that is to say, Aroldo and the one mentioned. But to Verdi’s Aroldo, though it positively succeeded in the estimation of those present during the three or four times it was given, yet it failed to draw large houses, and was, therefore, set aside, and the season cut short. If the public will not come to the opera, with a good work, and such artists as are at the Academy, it is better to close the concern and recommence under more auspicious circumstances at the end of the Summer.

            There may be reasons for the non-attendance at the Academy, apart from the deluge of rain, until it was cut short by the warm weather. The public mind is profoundly agitated by the scenes of the whole-sale slaughter so near the Capital. Sixteen thousand of our brothers, slain, wounded, scattered or imprisoned—the result of the last battle—is one reason among others for a falling off in the attendance at places of public amusement. Each private house is closed to the public eye; but, could the Dera on Two Sticks once again take off every roof and reveal the life within it, how much sorrow and agony would be rendered visible?

            Mr. Maretzek will open in September, and we learn it is his intention to produce an entirely new opera in a style of great splendor—the studies and preparations for which will be carried on in the meanwhile, so that the best effect can be secured by such deliberate labors.

            The impression left on the public has been of the most favorable character, and argues well for the resumption of operatic efforts—when the watering-season shall be over; and when, we trust, the public mind will be calmer, and more disposed to enjoy the charms of the lyrical drama.”

“The final performance at the Academy, last evening, attracted a brilliant audience—the opera being ‘Ione.’ When this opera was first given, we predicted that it would speedily become a favorite with our public, but we certainly had no idea that it would at once become poplar as it has done. It is now the best drawing work in the repertoire, and, being admirably cast in all respects, could—if any reliance was to be placed on the weather—be repeated for a week with a good result. As it is, it now finds its way to the shelf until next season. All the artists, last evening, were in superb voice. The performance was one of the best we have had at the Academy of Music, and brings Mr. Maretzek’s second season to an end with great éclat.” 

“The Academy of Music was honored with a larger audience last night than had visited it during the previous fortnight, and the opera was finely sung.”

“On Monday evening the Maretzek operatic season closed with a fine performance of ‘Ione.’ As if to cause the public the greater regret at the cessation of the Opera, all the artists were in splendid voice. Mme. Guerrabella, encouraged no doubt by the applause which has greeted her at each representation of this now favorite opera, sang last Monday night with great success. She was warmly applauded throughout the performance. In the first act she sang the ‘L’Amo’ with so much expression and grace as to cause a demand for an encore. It may be said that Mme. Guerrabella has achieved in the role of Ione a triumph. She looks and dresses the character to perfection, and sings the music of this role admirably. When it is taken into consideration that she assumed it after Mme. Medini, her success is enhanced from the fact. We are pleased to hear that on Saturday next ‘Ione’ will be given once more at the matinee for the benefit of Signor Bellini.

On Monday night Mazzoleni had fully recovered from his hoarseness, and certainly he never sang or acted so admirably as on that occasion. He was applauded in the most enthusiastic manner.

Mlle. Sulzer, as Nydia, also sang and acted with great effect. She was warmly applauded.

Signors Bellini and Biachi seemed, like the artists we have already mentioned, desirous of eclipsing all their previous efforts on this occasion, and sang and acted so admirably as to render this last performance of ‘Ione’ by far the best since its production. The house was filled by a most fashionable and appreciative audience, who were enthusiastic in their applause.”

"The season was ended Monday evening, at the Academy of Music, by a very brilliant performance. The artists had rediscovered, with these goodbyes, the sacred fire which they seemed to have been lacking for some time; the audience, for its part, had put aside the indifference with which they had lately been surrounded; finally, the weather itself, for the first time, had decided to favor the whole thing."