Strakosch Italian Opera: Ernani

Includes roster.

“The second performance of this once very popular opera of Verdi took place last night at the Academy of Music. The rain interfered materially with the attendance. The cast was as before [lists cast]. The chief share of the honors was born off by the tenor and baritone, who sang with much spirit and brio, and whose voice were in such admirable condition that great expectations may be formed of them for ‘Lohengrin’ on Wednesday night. Mlle. Maresi did not seem to be in as good voice as at her début this season, and the basso was, as usual, unsatisfactory. Mr. Behrens led the orchestra with marked skill, and the choruses went off without an objectionable hitch to mar their effect. The grand concerted finale, ‘O Sommo Carlo,’ created quite as marked enthusiasm as on the first night.”

“The performance of ‘Ernani’ by Mr. Strakosch’s artists, noticed when given for the first time this season, two or three weeks ago, was repeated at the Academy of Music last evening. Although Signor Del Puente’s personation of Carlo Quinto is not a very original effort, it is one that produces an agreeable impression, for Signor Del Puente has a fine voice, which he uses with skill and, generally, with good taste, and is gifted with handsome stage presence. We only wish he would study the art of gesture, for his répertoire is nearly as limited as was Signor Brignoli’s, and, as the baritone is, luckily, more zealous than was the worthy tenor, the slenderness of his stock of motions is speedily apparent. The applause, yesterday, was bestowed at the usual points of Verdi’s most salutatory opera, and the quintet and finale, ‘O sommo Carlo,’ had to be repeated.”