Maretzek Italian Opera: Rigoletto

Matinees are particularly appealing to ladies.  It is said that Bellini is very good as Rigoletto.

“The matinee last Saturday was a success. There was a very large and fashionable audience. The opera, ‘Rigoletto,’ was admirably sung. We have so recently referred to this chef d’œuvre that we will merely add here a word of praise as regards Miss Kellogg’s performance of the rôle of Gilda on this occasion. Her voice, which has greatly improved since last season, is not a powerful organ, but it is sweet and admirably cultivated, and the fair artiste displays great taste in its use. She is careful and painstaking, and laudably ambitious in her desire to attain excellence in her profession. Miss Kellogg deserves praise also for her acting, which is ever most natural, always up to the requirements of the scene, never exaggerated or weak. In short, we take pleasure in stating that Miss Kellogg has made a most favorable impression upon the public, and that her success is well merited. We shall look forward anxiously to her appearance in Gounod’s ‘Faust,’ which admirable opera [sic] has been promised to us by the management.”

“The performance of ‘Rigoletto’ on Saturday, at the Academy, furnished another opportunity for Miss Kellogg to win a genuine art triumph in the part of Gilda.  The lady’s voice has improved so vastly; her confidence before the public has increased so much, and her dramatic grasp of the character is thereby so much fuller than it used to be, that we can hardly compare the impersonation with any of Miss Kellogg’s previous efforts.  It exceeds in importance her thoroughly touching and beautiful ideal of Linda—than [sic] which we hardly remember to have seen anything superior on the American lyric stage.  The applause on Saturday was unequal to the occasion; it is generally so at the matinées, but we are convinced that every intelligent person left the establishment with a distinct and, we hope, adequate idea of Miss Kellogg’s admirable qualities as an artist of the highest rank.  We trust that Mr. Maretzek will give us many opportunities of hearing her.”

Very well attended.  Miss Kellogg played the leading role.  The youthful freshness of her voice is very appropriate for the role of ‘Gilda’.  Throughout the entire range, there is never a harsh sound to be heard; her voice sounds pure and clear, and even the high C is still full and light.  In the cavatina of the second act, in the duet with the Duke, and in the quartet of the fourth act, she sang with much sensitivity and emotion.  Bellini’s ‘Rigoletto’ was performed well enough, until the singer was stricken with hoarseness again, which seems to turn into an epidemic at the Academy of Music.  Therefore half of the third act had to be cancelled.