Event Information
Venue(s):
Academy of Music
Event Type:
Opera
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
1 August 2014
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
16 Dec 1863, Evening
Program Details
Performers and/or Works Performed
1)
aka Der Freischutz;
The Freeshooter;
Freyschutz
Composer(s): Weber
Citations
1)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 15 December 1863, 7.
2)
Announcement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 15 December 1863, 8.
“We hope that the attendance of these performances will be better than the last ones; otherwise, we have to be concerned about the continuing existence of the German Opera. Mr. Anschütz has been struggling with many difficulties; the biggest one is that the English press seems to have entirely turned against him. That’s why we were glad to notice that at least one English paper, The Stage, receives the German Opera warmly. In a lengthy article, this paper scolds the ‘would be’ critic of the Herald that in every edition he gives more attention to criticizing the restroom facilities of the opera house than giving an evaluation of the performance, which, of course, is undeservedly damaging to the company.”
3)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 16 December 1863.
4)
Announcement: New-York Times, 16 December 1863, 4.
5)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 16 December 1863, 7.
6)
Advertisement: Courrier des États-Unis, 16 December 1863.
7)
Advertisement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 16 December 1863.
8)
Announcement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 16 December 1863, 8.
“By popular request, the ‘Freischütz’ will be repeated tonight.”
9)
Review: New York Herald, 17 December 1863.
“‘Der Freischutz’ is certainly one of the most attractive performances of the German Opera troupe; but there certainly seems a disinclination on the part of the public to patronize the deserving efforts of Mr. Anschütz. The house was a very poor one. Those present had an opportunity to enjoy the fine playing of the orchestra, which, under the capable direction of Mr. Anschutz, is as efficient as could be desired by the most exacting. The artists sang and acted their roles most satisfactorily.
Madame Frederici was especially pleasing last evening. She sang with more than usual entrain, and was much applauded. Her voice is fresh and pure. This artiste has gained in public estimation since her debut here, as was evinced by the flattering reception she met with last evening.
Herr Habelmann we have before noted as a great favorite with the public. He was very successful last evening.
Taking into consideration the merit of the Anschutz troupe, we can only account for their lack of success from the fact that our public will patronize nothing that is not fashionable. Italian Opera is that, and German Opera is not.”
10)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 17 December 1863.
“The second performance of Der Freischutz was a still better interpretation of the great work, than on the previous evening. Madame Frederici was much applauded. She uttered the breathings of the prayer with a truly religious fervor, and was loudly encored—but we regret to say by a small audience. We hear a great deal of progress in art, as in learning and virtue; but we are not able to perceive it when the master-work of the romantic musical school does not draw a better audience, while caricatures of the African draw crowds, and an audience is found three hundred times in the year to ridicule the mute and the oppressed. We do not believe with such audiences as he now has that Mr. Anschutz can succeed.”
11)
: Strong, George Templeton. New-York Historical Society. The Diaries of George Templeton Strong, 1863-1869: Musical Excerpts from the MSs, transcribed by Mary Simonson. ed. by Christopher Bruhn., 19 December 1863.
“Last Wednesday night, with Ellie, Johnny and Temple to Acad of Music, & heard Der Freyschutz once more. Among the loveliest of operas. Poor little Temple was white as a sheet when the curtain fell on the grand pyrotechnic tableau of the third act. It's a pity Anschutz's season should come to an untimely end, as it does next Monday. He made a blunder in taking as large a house, but only two cities have a larger German population than NY, and it ought to sustain a German opera.”
