Strakosch Italian Opera: Les Huguenots

“Grand Orchestra of 50; powerful Chorus of 60.”

“The repetition of Meyerbeer’s massive opera, ‘The Huguenots,’ at the Academy last night, was undoubtedly the finest performance of that work given this season. The attendance was large, the display of toilets was brilliant, and the enthusiasm was very great. Especially fine was the interpretation of the wonderful fourth act, in which both Nilsson and Campanini reached greater lyric heights than they had before attained. A more superb specimen of singing and acting combined has never been witnessed on our stage than was offered in the duet between these artists in the fourth act.

Signor Nannetti sang well the difficult music of Marcel. We have been accustomed to hearing more ponderous voices in this part, but the present basso of the Academy of Music answers all real requirements. His action and make-up are good, and he sings with admirable judgment. In the Piff paff song, in the duet with Valentine, in the heavy and fatiguing chorales he was alike admirable. Nannetti has greatly improved in this part since the first night he sang it here, and his Marcel is well worthy its companionship with the St. Bris of Maurel, the Urban of Cary, the Raoul of Campanini and the Valentine of Nilsson.”

“‘Gli Ugonotti’ was given at the Academy of Music last evening. The performance of Meyerbeer’s grandest opera has been so often written of this season, that its latest and last rehearsal by Mr. Strakosch’s artists needs no comment.”

“The last performance of the chef-d’œuvre of Meyerbeer took place last evening before a very brilliant audience. The Strakosch opera company might rest their well earned reputation for excellence over all predecessors in their magnificent interpretation of this, the greatest of lyric works, without reference to their triumphs in other operas. The general symmetry of the performance, an elegant and artistic mounting to the peerless gem contributed by Mme. Nilsson and Signor Campanini in the grand duo of the fourth act, challenges admiration both for the sake of art and novelty. The very badinage of the friends of Nevers, in the first act, is given with the same girlish and artistic spirit as the ‘Rataplan’ or ‘The Blessing of the Daggers.’ Such perfection of ensemble in one of the grandest and most trying of operas has been hitherto unknown in the history of opera in New York, and even without the transcendent talents displayed by Mme. Nilsson and Signor Campanini in the rôles of Valentine and Raoul, the performance would be a memorable one. Mlle. Maresi, Miss Cary and Messrs. Nannetti, Maurel and Del Puente were in excellent voice last evening, and the chorus and orchestra, under the able direction of Signor Muzio, were sans reproche. The usual furor of excitement prevailed at the close of the fourth act, and the great prima donna and the no less great tenor were recalled several times. Mr. Strakosch is entitled to the thanks and cordial support of the entire musical public for presenting to them an opera company which has not been equalled [sic] by any lyric organization since the celebrated Havana troupe played at Castle Garden.”