Strakosch Italian Opera: Concert: 2nd

“The Strakosch Italian Opera Company gave a concert last night at Booth’s Theatre, which was very well attended. The solo artists were [lists performers]. Mlle. Donadio is a young Parisienne, who appeared on the stage for the first time a year ago, at Les Italiens, Paris, and who at once gained a prominent position in Maurice Strakosch’s company. She has since appeared in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Amsterdam, in the aria and rondo from ‘Sonnambula,’ ‘Ah! non credea’ and ‘Ah! non giunge,’ the fresh purity of her voice, the excellence of her school of singing and her naiveté of manner charmed every one. Miss Cary and Scolara rendered the duet ‘La ci darem’ with neatness and artistic effect. The pianist might well have been omitted, as his efforts were not calculated to produce anything like a favorable impression.”

“…Herr Habelmann sang a ballad of Abt, and ‘M’Appari’ from ‘Martha,’ which was also sung by Signor Benfratelli at Booth’s Theatre, where some artists of the Strakosch company gave a delightful entertainment. Miss Cary was decidedly the chief attraction of this concert, but Signora Potentini, who took the place of Mlle. Maresi (‘seriously indisposed’), was warmly welcomed, and sang with charming grace her part in the famous ‘Pasquale’ duet, in which she was assisted by Benfratelli. These artists, with the assistance of a chorus, gave the ‘Miserere’ from ‘Il Trovatore.’ The orchestra, under Mr. Behrens’s baton, played Schumann’s ‘Traumerei’ and some other selections with excellent taste, and Mr. Charles Walters, a pianist, exhibited a most enviable delicacy and precision of touch and considerable poetic feeling in one of Chopin’s lighter compositions. Mlle. Donadio and Signor Scolara also took part. Miss Cary, who sang an aria from ‘Semiramide,’ ‘La ci darem’ with Scolara, and ‘Kathleen Mavourneen’ was received with overwhelming applause, and her noble voice was never heard to better advantage.”