Maretzek Italian Opera: Don Giovanni

“Yesterday afternoon ‘Don Giovanni’ was sung, and Miss Kellogg made her re-entrance, Mme. Lucca and Mlle. Levielli also appearing in the cast. The American prima donna was cordially welcomed, and so was Signor Ronconi, who likewise made his first bow for the season. Signori Morianni, Coulon, Jamet, and Vizzani assumed the other chief rôles, and the opera was sung to the satisfaction of a very fine house.” 

“The performance of ‘Don Giovanni’ at the matinée yesterday attracted a fair sized audience to the Academy of Music. It was a decided improvement on the representations of last season. Kellogg was in unusually good voice, and gave effect to the trying rôle of Donna Anna, and Lucca received unanimous encores after her exquisite singing of the two principal airs of Zerlina, ‘Batti, batti,’ and ‘Vedrai Carino.’ Levielli sung the music of ‘Donna Elvira’ in a conscientious, artistic manner, and Vizzani, Jamet and Moriami repeated the success they won in the Fall season.

Mr. Carlberg, who conducted the orchestra, should moderate the zeal of his instrumentalists, who sometimes interfere with the singers to an unwarrantable extent. The chef d’attaque spoiled the beautiful serenade by a pizzicato loud enough to drown Signor Moriami’s voice.”