Maretzek Italian Opera: Norma

Event Information

Venue(s):
Academy of Music

Manager / Director:
Max Maretzek

Conductor(s):
Max Maretzek

Price: $1 General admission to parquet, balcony, boxes and family circle; $2 reserved in parquet, balcony and boxes. $.25 amphitheatre

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
29 August 2018

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

17 Apr 1863, Evening

Program Details



Medori Farewell

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Conductor: Maretzek, Max
Composer(s): Bellini
Text Author: Romani
Participants:  Maretzek Italian Opera Company;  Giuseppina Medori (role: Norma);  Henrietta Sulzer (role: Adalgisa);  Francesco Mazzoleni (role: Pollione);  Hannibal Biachi (role: Oroveso );  T. [tenor] Rubio (role: Flavio);  Johanna Ficher (role: Clotilde)

Citations

1)
Review: New York Herald, 18 March 1863, 1.

“Medori’s last appearance drew an immense audience.  Her success in the role of Norma has been one of the great attractions of the season, aided, as she has been, by Mlle. Sulzer and Signors Mazzoleni and Biachi—the latter having given to the roles of Pollio [sic] and Oroveso more interest than is usually bestowed upon them.  The admirable acting of Mazzoleni adds to the dramatic force displayed by Medori.  His every motion is so significant, so full of meaning, so lifelike, as to render the opera of ‘Norma,’ as performed by the Maretzek troupe, a grand lyric drama.  Medori was enabled to display her talent to its utmost limit, when seconded by artists who, like herself, enter fully into the spirit of their roles.  To say that last night’s performance was a success is to give but an indifferent idea of what may be more rightly termed an ovation. From the commencement of the opera until its close the applause was enthusiastic. The artists were called out before the curtain time after time; the favorite airs were all encored.  In fact the public seemed to never tire in giving continued proofs of their approbation.  No doubt regrets at the forced departure of the prima donna caused in part the unusual warmth displayed by the audience.”

2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 11 April 1863, 9.

3)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 11 April 1863, 7.
“Positively The Last Time, And Farewell Appearance of Madame Medori, in her great role of NORMA.”
4)
Announcement: New-York Times, 13 April 1863, 5.
“[T]he farewell of Madame Medori will be signalized by the reproduction of ‘Norma,’ in which opera she has created her greatest sensation.”
5)
Advertisement: Courrier des États-Unis, 13 April 1863.

“Last performance of Medori.”

6)
Announcement: New York Herald, 14 April 1863, 6.

7)
Announcement: New York Herald, 15 April 1863, 7.
“Medori gives a last performance of ‘Norma.’"
8)
Announcement: New York Post, 16 April 1863.

9)
Announcement: New York Herald, 17 April 1863, 4.
“Mazzoleni, as Pollio [sic], has rendered that secondary role a most prominent one.  His magnificent voice and unsurpassed acting make of this role, which as a general thing is shirked by first tenors, an unsual attraction.  Biachi, as Oroveso, is eminently successful.”
10)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 17 April 1863, 7.

11)
Announcement: New-York Times, 17 April 1863, 4.

12)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 17 April 1863, 7.
Cast, prices.
13)
Announcement: New York Post, 17 April 1863, 2.
“Medori makes her last appearance in this country to-night. . . . Her success in this part has been remarkable.”
14)
Announcement: Courrier des États-Unis, 17 April 1863.

ADIEUX DE MADAME MEDORI

            The stirring singer, who has brought about a kind of revolution in the customs of our Italian opera, makes her adieux today to the New York public, in the role of Norma. She had too much to choose from among her diverse creations, to be certain to see the public run to this final performance. One knows the ensemble she will be supported by in Bellini’s opera: Mlle Sulzer, Mazzoleni and Biachia.

 

15)
Review: New York Clipper, 25 April 1863, 11.

Brief. “Medori appeared for the last time on the 17th, as Norma. She is about to leave for Europe, to attend to some family affairs.”

16)
Review: Dwight's Journal of Music, 02 May 1863, 23.
Very brief mention that it was performed.