Maretzek Italian Opera: La Traviata

Faust originally announced; indisposition of Mme. Lucca.

Substitution of La Traviata for Faust, due to Mme. Lucca’s continued indisposition.

“Mme. Lucca was unable to sing last night and ‘La Traviata’ was therefore substituted for ‘Faust.’ The management of the opera are lucky in being able, under such untoward circumstances, to set before their patrons a performance so good as that which filled the gap in their misfortune. Miss Kellogg’s Violetta is one of the most charming of her many charming lyric impersonations. She was in prime force last night, after being once launched in her rôle, the lower notes at the outset being a trifle veiled. From the ‘Ah fors a lui’ to the piteous notes of the close, Miss Kellogg sang superbly, and richly merited the heartly [sic] plaudits she evoked. In musical skill and artistic grace, the lady’s Violetta can hardly be excelled; and in dramatic warmth and depth of feeling, the performance seems always to improve with repetition. Miss Kellogg was called before the curtain at the end of every act, and her choicest pieces were rapturously encored. Signori Vizzani and Sparapani did their utmost, and with good success, to give effect to the evening’s work, and the general impression was that ‘La Traviata’ of last night was one of the best operas of the season.”

“Probably every lover of music and patron of lyric drama in New York knows exactly with what grace, spirit and effect Miss Kellogg sang and acted Violetta in the opera of ‘Traviata’ at the Academy last evening. We have before intimated that the part is not at all suited to her style, and that, in our judgment, it is a compliment to her taste and purity of character that she becomes so little identified with the ‘Lost One’ of the French romance. But the music she gives with wonderful sweetness of utterance and power of declamation, and the audience last night, which was larger than on Monday, manifested their approval by frequent and hearty plaudits.”