Maretzek Italian Opera: Jone - Bellini Benefit

Event Information

Venue(s):
Academy of Music

Manager / Director:
Max Maretzek

Conductor(s):
Jaime Nuno

Price: $1

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
15 November 2013

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

23 May 1863, 1:00 PM

Program Details

Rigoletto, Act 4, was announced earlier in the week, but it is not mentioned in any of the reviews. Not certain it was performed.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Maretzek Italian Opera Company;  Ginerva Guerrabella (role: Ione);  Fernando [bass-baritone] Bellini (role: Arbaces);  Henrietta Sulzer (role: Nidia);  Francesco Mazzoleni (role: Glauco);  Hannibal Biachi (role: Burbo);  T. [tenor] Rubio (role: Salustio);  Johanna Ficher (role: Dirce);  Wilhelm [baritone] Müller (role: Clodio)
2)
Jone
aka Ultimo giorno di Pompei ; Last Days of Pompeii; Ione
Composer(s): Petrella
Text Author: Peruzzini
3)
Rigoletto, act 4
Composer(s): Verdi

Citations

1)
Announcement: New-York Times, 19 May 1863.

2)
Announcement: New York Post, 19 May 1863, 2.
“An announcement was made [at the Academy of Music on May 18] to the effect that on Saturday a day performances of ‘Ione’ would be given for the benefit of Bellini; this will be the very last of opera by the Maretzek troupe till September.”
3)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 20 May 1863, 12.
Announces Act 4 of Rigoletto.
4)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 20 May 1863, 7.

5)
Announcement: New York Herald, 20 May 1863, 6.
In the article: “Mars and Melody – Maretzek and Hooker.”
6)
Announcement: New York Herald, 20 May 1863, 7.

7)
Announcement: Courrier des États-Unis, 20 May 1863.
Announcement of Bellini benefit.  He will likely choose pieces from Ione.
8)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 22 May 1863, 7.
“IONE . . . After which, the Fourth Act of RIGOLETTO.”
9)
Announcement: New York Post, 22 May 1863, 2.
“An effort is making to arrange a complimentary benefit for Maretzek himself, in order that the losses of the last fortnight may not bear so heavily upon him.”
10)
Advertisement: Courrier des États-Unis, 22 May 1863.

11)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 22 May 1863.
“Bellini is an artist of great merit, and we are certain he will not be forgotten by the public on this occasion.”
12)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 22 May 1863, 7.
Cast.
13)
Announcement: New-York Times, 22 May 1863, 5.
“[L]ast opportunity of hearing this great company.”
14)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 23 May 1863, 9.
Three more small ads.  No mention of Rigoletto.
15)
Announcement: New York Herald, 23 May 1863, 6.
No mention of Rigoletto.  Bellini “has in ‘Ione’ a role well suited to his talent.”
16)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 23 May 1863, 1.
Two ads.  No mention of Rigoletto.  The larger ad says, “Grand Combination Matinee.”
17)
Announcement: New-York Times, 23 May 1863.

“[Ione] gives Madame Guerrabella the best role she has yet had before our public.”


18)
Announcement: Courrier des États-Unis, 23 May 1863.
“The Academy of Music reopens this afternoon for a performance of Ione to benefit Bellini.”
19)
Review: New York Herald, 25 May 1863, 4.

           “On Saturday morning Signor Bellini’s benefit took place at the Academy of Music. ‘Ione’ was given on this occasion, and was, if possible, more successfully rendered than at any previous performance. The house was well filled, though not so crowded as it should have been at the benefit of so painstaking and talented an artist as Bellini.

            Mme. Guerrabella fully confirmed the impression produced by her previous performance of the role of Ione. She acted and sang admirably. The same may be said of all the artists, who were in splendid voice. Mazzoleni is certainly the best actor we have ever seen on the operatic stage, while his fine, manly voice possesses unusual attractions. He was loudly and most deservedly applauded throughout the opera.

           Bellini was received with great applause when he first appeared, and, with the other artists, was called before the curtain at the close of the first act. The performance was certainly a great success, and should warrant Maretzek’s making a further trial.”

20)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 25 May 1863, 4.

“The benefit given at the Academy on Saturday morning to Signor Bellini, drew a fine house, and the beneficiary was overwhelmed with the applause of his many admirers—a tribute fully merited.”

21)
Review: New-York Times, 25 May 1863, 4.

Very brief.  “The operatic matinée, on Saturday, was well attended.  ‘Ione,’ for the benefit of Sig. Bellini, was admirably given.”

22)
Review: Dwight's Journal of Music, 30 May 1863, 36.

“New York, May. 26.—Musical matters are at present in a very spasmodic state, and the epidemic of Italian and English opera, ‘Anniversary Concerts’, ‘Gottschalk Matinées’, ‘Victory Symphonies’, quite bewildering in its effect. Max Maretzek of the Italian Opera promised and gave six nights of opera, with an additional one thrown in as a gratuity…Signor Bellini, the popular and meritorious baritone of the troupe, took a benefit at a matinée on Saturday, when Petrella’s ‘Ione’ was given to a large and brilliant audience.”