Kellogg English Opera: Maritana; Jennie Van Zandt Benefit

“’Maritana’ was last evening recited at the Academy of Music, for the benefit of Mme. Van Zandt. Mme. Van Zandt is an artist of great talent, and she sings the music allotted to Maritana with infinite expression and skill. The opera itself is a delightful work, brimming with melody and admirably treated as to the instrumentation, and hence it is to be regretted that it should be given so rarely. It will not be performed again, we fear, this season. Last night was particularly effective, for Mrs. Zelda Seguin, in compliment to the bénéficiare, sang Lazarillo, and presented a personation which lyrically and dramatically can certainly not be excelled. Mr. Castle, as usual, was Don Caesar, and was in notably good voice, and Mr. Carleton portrayed Don José.”

“’Maritana’ was last evening recited at the Academy of Music, for the benefit of Mme. Van Zandt. Mme. Van Zandt is an artist of great talent, and she sings the music allotted to Maritana with infinite expression and skill. The opera itself is a delightful work, brimming with melody and admirably treated as to the instrumentation, and hence it is to be regretted that it should be given so rarely. It will not be performed again, we fear, this season. Last night was particularly effective, for Mrs. Zelda Seguin, in compliment to the bénéficiare, sang Lazarillo, and presented a personation which lyrically and dramatically can certainly not be excelled. Mr. Castle, as usual, was Don Caesar, and was in notably good voice, and Mr. Carleton portrayed Don José.”

“The Academy audience last evening enjoyed a highly satisfactory representation of Vincent Wallace’s melodious opera, prominent in which was the excellent interpretation of the title rôle by Mme. Jennie Van Zandt. Any fair comment on this pleasing artist must take note of three very patent facts. First, she has judiciously dropped the poor adaptation of her Italianized name, and is now honestly and frankly Mrs. Jennie Van Zandt; secondly, she has greatly bloomed and ripened in face and figure; and last, but by no means least, her voice and execution are decidedly more full, assured, and accurate than we have ever heard them before.

The reappearance of Mrs. Zelda Seguin as Lazarillo was highly grateful to the audience. May we venture to hope that her stay with the troupe is to be permanent?

Mr. Castle sang gratefully and with spirit as Don Caesar, and Mr. Carleton was acceptable as Don José, though we can hardly share the half self-congratulation of the programme as to his replacing the late-lamented Campbell.”

“’Maritana’ was the opera at the Academy of Music last evening. The occasion was the benefit of Mrs. Van Zandt, and the beneficiary appeared in the title part and sang the favorite familiar numbers spiritedly and tastefully. Mrs. Zelda Seguin appeared for the first time this season, in this city, as Lazarillo, and the well-remembered assumption was found to be as fresh and delightful as ever. Mr. Castle and Mr. Carleton took the other parts.”

“On Thursday evening, Mme. Van Zandt’s benefit, ‘Maritana’ was produced, with the fair beneficiary in the title-role, a character in which she was hardly heard at her best; the timbre of her voice, although clear and pure, lacking that quality of sympathetic expressiveness which is so necessary to give the happiest effect to the beautiful numbers with which this work abounds. Her recital, although not unpleasing, may be said to have suffered by comparison. Mrs. Seguin, who had volunteered for the occasion, sang the role of Lazarillo with her well-known spirit and expression.”