Nilsson Matinee

“If any one entertained the least idea that the popularity of the Swedish nightingale was on the wane, the audience that attended her matinee at Steinway Hall yesterday would be sufficient to remove such an idea. The hall was crowded to its very utmost capacity, and ladies were in the majority. Outside, Fourteenth street and Union square were filled with carriages; in short, it was an audience such as very seldom gladdens the eyes of a concert manager. It seemed also to inspire the fair cantatrice, for she sang better than usual. The programme was the following [see above].

Miss Nilsson’s rendering of the scene from ‘Hamlet’ was particularly fine, and fairly surpassed all her former efforts. It intensified the desire of the audience and her admirers to hear her in opera. There was not yesterday a trace of the indisposition which marred her efforts in the oratorio last week, and we trust that it shall never return again. Miss Cary and Brignoli were in unusually fine voice, and there was scarcely a flaw in the rendering of the entire programme.”

“A superb matinée was given on Saturday afternoon at Steinway Hall by the Nilsson troupe. The audience included a large representation of the feminine grace and beauty of the metropolis, and delight at the brilliant character of the entertainment was freely expressed. Miss Nilsson sang, among other selections, the scena from ‘Hamlet,’ acting it with wondrous grace and expression. Miss Cary’s pure, even voice gave the greatest satisfaction, while Brignoli and Vieuxtemps came in for a share of the applause.”

“The Nilsson matinée, at Steinway Hall, on Saturday, attracted a brilliant assemblage, which crowded the house. The hearty welcome of New-York audiences seems to be very potent in dispelling fatigue, for Miss Nilsson and her associate artists, although they sang four times last week, were in better vocal condition at the close of that period than at its outset. Saturday’s programme included no novelty, but was exceedingly effective, notwithstanding. The mad scene from ‘Hamlet’ was part of it, and was interpreted by Miss Nilsson with an art, the exhibition of which increases continually the desire–doomed to disappointment, for the present at least—of applauding the lady in opera.”

“The Nilsson matinée attracted a very large audience on Saturday, in spite of the stormy weather. Miss Nilsson’s selections included the mad scene from ‘Hamlet’ and a cavatina from ‘Betly.’ In other respects the programme was mainly repetition of that of last Tuesday.”