Strakosch Italian Opera: Lucia di Lammermoor

Event Information

Venue(s):
Academy of Music

Manager / Director:
Maurice Strakosch
Max Strakosch

Conductor(s):
Max Maretzek

Price: $2; $3 and 4, reserved seat; $1 family circle; $.50 extra, reserved seat; $5 box or front row of balcony

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
7 November 2023

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

03 Jan 1872, 8:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Lucia di Lammermoor
aka Lucy of Lammermoor
Composer(s): Donizetti
Text Author: Cammarano
Participants:  Strakosch Italian Opera Company;  Christine Nilsson (role: Lucia);  Armand Barré (role: Arturo);  [tenor] Lyall (role: Norman);  Mme. [mezzo-soprano] Cooney (role: Alize);  Pasquale Brignoli (role: Edgardo);  Domenico Coletti (role: Raymond)

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 31 December 1871, 7.

"Grand farewell night."

2)
Article: New York Herald, 04 January 1872, 7.

“One of the most remarkable seasons of Italian opera ever known in New York city closed last night. The house was a crowded one, despite the inclemency of the weather, although the amount of ‘paper’ that appeared in the parquette, dress circle and boxes was of alarming dimensions. Yet this is a question—the matter of ‘paper’—which is only known to the regular habitués of the Academy, who understand the peculiar management of conducting Italian opera at the Academy of Music. The performance last evening consisted of ‘Lucia’ the same opera with which the season commenced. It is one of Mlle. Nilsson’s most delicious rôles, notwithstanding the fact that great artists, such as Bosio, Lagrange, Piccolomini, Patti, Kellogg and others appeared in this city in the same character. It is a signal triumph for an artist to make a great success in a rôle in which she has had so many distinguished predecessors. Therefore we may say that, as far as Nilsson is concerned, the season closed as successfully as it opened.” [Continues with a resume of the past opera season, including a financial statement with the proceeds for each performance]

3)
Review: New York Post, 04 January 1872, 2.
“Flowers, applause, and the kindest wishes of a public which she has delighted beyond measure by her artistic grace united in making Nilsson’s farewell last night as pleasant as a farewell can be.
 
The Academy of Music was crowded in every part, though a pouring rain came on early in the evening and continued till late at night. ‘Lucia’ was the opera, and Nilsson gave to the exquisite music of Donizetti that finished rendering in which she so peculiarly excels. In the mad scene, as usual, she made a great impression, and the long cadenza for voice and flute after the aria Alfin son tua was again a wonderful specimen of vocal execution. In the duet of the first act, the Verrano a te, Miss Nilsson sang several of those weird notes of unearthly beauty which only her voice seems to possess.
 
The support given Miss Nilsson last night was scarcely up to the mark. Brignoli sang with much sweetness, but was scarcely equal to himself in other points, and with utter complacency omitted such high notes in the concerted music as taxed his voice to any extent. M. Barré acted intelligently and sung respectably, but he is not the style of baritone we were accustomed to in the bright days of Italian opera here. To compare the Ashton of last night with the Ashton of Badiali, for instance, would be like comparing a pretty little aquarelle with one of the glowing canvases of Titian.
 
The opera season which the performance of last night brought to a close has been very largely attended, and the receipts have been enormous. On the 1st of November, when ‘Faust’ was played, there was $6,517 in the house, and on the 27th of November, when the Grand Duke Alexis attended, the receipts amounted to $6,792. During the last nights of December there was a decided falling off. The season has been marked by one novelty in the production of ‘Mignon.’”
4)
Review: New-York Times, 04 January 1872, 5.

“Mr. Strakosch’s brilliant season of opera was terminated by last night’s representation. ‘Lucia di Lammermoor,’ the work with the production of which the late series of performances was commenced, was repeated. As heretofore, Miss Nilsson was Lucia, Signor Brignoli Edgardo, and M. Barré Arturo. An audience that, in spite of wind and rain, filled the Academy of Music, expressed appreciation of the recital by frequent and uncommonly enthusiastic applause. After the mad scene Miss Nilsson’s reappearance before the curtain was made the occasion of a presentation of flowers, a marriage-bell of exquisite beauty, wrought mainly of roses and tuberoses, being conspicuous among the gifts.”