Mark Smith Memorial Benefit

Arrival of the actor’s remains from Paris.

No mention of music.

“Miss Violetta Colville, who made her appearance in the last Act of ‘Lucia,’ at the Mark Smith matinee yesterday, at Booth’s Theater, is not exactly a novice on the lyric stage, for she has sung at a number of the Italian theaters, where she has been received with a great deal of favor. Operatic successes, however, in the smaller cities of Italy, do not count for much, and the young lady’s friends will do her a great wrong if they allow such cheap laurels to interrupt her studies prematurely. Miss Colville has many of the gifts which go to the making of a prima donna. The natural quality of her voice is beautiful. It is weak in the lower register, but the upper notes are very fine, and all the culture which she may have the patience to bestow upon them will be well invested. She has considerable ability already as an actress, inheriting apparently the dramatic instinct, and she seems to have abundant intelligence. Some very pretty embellishments of vocalism she has caught nearly to perfection; but she is not well grounded in the art of singing, her intonation is extremely defective, and unless she lays a better foundation for her accomplishments, she can hardly hope to become an artist. Thus far she shows great capabilities. It is to be hoped that judicious advisers will induce her to develop them by a course of severe and thorough training, not in the fripperies of floral display, but in fundamental principles.”

“…at Booth’s the auditorium was crowded. The principal incident of the day occurred at this theatre, and hence, no doubt, the large assemblage. This incident was the début in the United State of Miss Violetta Colville, who, after studying the art of song in Italy, returned to this, her native country, to tread the lyric stage. If a reception of great cordiality, much applause, liberal tributes of flowers, and a final recall signify anything, Miss Colville’s friends must have been content with the impression she produced. She appeared in the last act of ‘Lucia,’ and was the object of all this attention on the part, as we have said, of an overflowing auditorium. Whether a second hearing could attract so numerous a concourse and kindle as much enthusiasm is open to doubt, but it is certain that it would enable one to form a more trustworthy estimate of the young lady’s assets. Miss Colville was very nervous, yesterday, and her share of the proceedings was so limited in point of duration that before she had an opportunity accorded her of recovering from her stage-fright, her task was ended. We cannot, however, acknowledge that, due to allowance being made, we shall expect much of Miss Colville hereafter. She has a small voice of very limited compass, and, with the exception of two or three of the higher tones, it is not remarkable for timbre; she does not seem to possess the grand style of the prima donna dramatica, or the facility of execution of the chanteuse légère, and, although relatively at ease on the stage, her dramatic impulses do not assert themselves either forcibly or frequently. It may be argued in extenuation of Miss Colville’s weakness, not only that she was frightened, but that she had chosen for interpretation a scene taxing even Mme. Nilsson and Mme. Di Murska; the difficulties of the music or of the situation had, however, little to do with an evident lack of the qualities sought in a songstress. Into criticism of the effort we shall not enter. In person Miss Colville is small and graceful, and her face is expressive. To these advantages she adds the charm of youth and an ambition which ought not to be suffered to again o’ervault itself, for between yesterday’s kindly encouragement and a marked success there was a sensible difference. If this view of the matter is taken, we may hear of Miss Colville once more. Signor Benfratelli was the Edgardo to her Lucia, and was, like herself, complimented by a summons before the curtain. Mr. Max Maretzek lead the orchestra. The remainder of the programme was rendered as announced.”

“Miss Violetta Colville made her first appearance in America yesterday at the Mark Smith memorial matinée in Booth’s Theatre. Concerning this young lady’s powers as a vocalist and dramatic artist, laudatory notices have appeared in the newspapers from time to time during the last two years. Miss Colville received her musical education partly in France, partly in Germany, and afterwards in Italy, and she made her first appearance at Savona, on the 24^th of August, 1872, as Adina, in ‘Elisir d’Amore.’ She proved yesterday that she is worthy of wiser treatment than she has already received from the hands of admirers and relatives. Her first efforts were made the subjects of extravagant panegyrics, and she had selected for her first appearance a character made familiar in past years by nearly every great soprano the lyric stage has known, and one in which Nilsson, De Murska and Kellogg had appeared within less than six months. Yet she made a favorable impression, and we feel satisfied that her future success will earnestly be wished for by every person who heard her sing the ‘mad scene’ from ‘Lucia’ yesterday. Her voice is sweet, and its upper notes are clear; she has already learned something, but she has by no means finished her education. Earnest study alone can assist her to a creditable place among musical artists.”

Mark Smith's funeral.

“…Although criticism of individual performances, upon occasions like this, may be hardly justifiable, yet as Miss Violetta Colville made her debut in her native country, a few remarks may not be out of place. She failed to satisfy the expectations of the audience, which had been raised too high by injudicious articles published in the newspapers during the past two years. By her selection of the mad scene of Lucia she brought herself in direct comparison with such recognized artists as Kellogg, Di Murska, and Nilsson. She is by no means devoid of merit, but it is thought that she needs much close study and practice ere she can attain the position to which she aspires.”

Proceeds from the benefit.