Maretzek Italian Opera: Norma

“To-night, Mme. Medori will give her grand impersonation of the priestess in Bellini’s ‘Norma.’ It is her best role, and will suffice, undoubtedly, to fit the house. The Russian decorations will, we suppose, be removed. The sooner the better. They were not of a character to add brilliancy to an art establishment.”

“The Maretzek troupe have achieved a triumph in this great opera each time they have sung it. Last night was no exception to this rule. There was a fine house, and from the commencement of the performance until the fall of the curtain the applause was hearty and long continued.

Mme. Medori as Norma was as forcible and dramatic as she ever is in this opera.  She sang the music with her accustomed success, and proved her right to be considered as surpassed by none in this role. We have never heard her to greater advantage than last night. Norma, when sung by Mme. Medori, must ever prove a great attraction.

Mlle. Sulzer, as Adalgisa, was much applauded last evening. She was certainly in fine voice, and both sang and acted her role extremely well. We think it one in which Mlle. Sulzer is very successful.

Signors Mazzoleni and Biachi, in their respective roles of Pollione and Oroveso, certainly sing and act admirably. They were much applauded last evening, and deservedly so.”

“Norma made its splendid adieux to the public yesterday evening. Mme Medori, Mlle Sulzer, Mazzoleni and Biachi have produced, in these roles in which they have had their fortunate way for the season, a rivalry which has increased their importance even more.”

Just a mention that it was performed. “At the Academy the opera deserves the first mention. With great effort, Maratzek has succeeded in overcoming the prejudice and disfavor aroused by the unfortunate, but unavoidable disappointments and substitutions of the beginning of the season, and his promises are now faithfully performed. The audience has been very large and fashionable, and the performances of the troupe very praiseworthy and satisfactory. ‘Macbeth’, ‘Trovatore’, ‘Ione’, ‘Lucretia’ [sic], ‘Martha’, ‘Lucia’ and ‘Norma’ have been presented during the interval of my letters, and ‘Judith’, Maestro Peri’s great work, is to be produced on Wednesday evening.”

      " . . . . The well-known pieces of the role of Norma were sung by Mme Medori with incomparable power and clarity. The Casta Diva that is groaned and strummed from one end of the country to the other was rendered as if in its first freshness, in its power of emotion, by the delightful manner in which this artist sang it. It's really there, the invocation of a priestess of mysterious druids using the influence that her title gives her to beseech their protection. This scene has won over the sympathy of every great poet, in all its parts, whether vocalization, acting or spirit, and was received like one of those inspirations of genius, which appears only quite rarely by mischance.

       The piece was applauded  to excess. In the terzetto between Norma, Adalgisa and Pollione, Mme Medori surpassed herself, rendering the full effect of the captivating music of this charming composition.

      In the most moving scenes of the final actes, Mme Medori raised herself to the heights of the demands of the score and the dramatic situation, and when the curtain fell she was unanimously proclamed 'the best Norma since Grisi.'"