Strakosch Italian Opera: Lucia di Lammermoor

“The Nilsson Opera Company will not appear in Philadelphia on Monday night next, as announced, owing to the prevalence of smallpox in that city. The arrangements have accordingly been changed, and the company will continue to perform at the Academy of Music here for probably three weeks to come.”

“Last night was the final performance of the first regular season of the Nilsson Italian Opera Company, which season lasted twenty nights, and brought in gross receipts about $100,000. The occasion was the means of bringing together the usual brilliant assemblage that patronizes opera in this city, and Nilsson was in the best voice for what we consider one of her very best rôles, the unhappy bride of Lammermoor. Passing over the other parts of this marvelous impersonation, of which we have already given an elaborate criticism, we can point to the mad scene as one of the most magnificent creations of genius presented on the operatic stage at the present time. It is a sublime effort on the part of the artist and one that will never fade from the memory of those present. Brignoli was the Edgardo, having been granted the honor of opening and closing the season with Nilsson. He won deserved applause in the two fine tenor arias that close the opera. Barré was a very tame Ashton, and nullified the importance of the rôle.”