Maretzek Italian Opera: Faust

“[A]fter to-night [Faust] will be withdrawn in order to make room for several anxious debutantes who are waiting to appear, and consuming much salary in silent discontent.  The public will note this fact.”

Cast.

“There was a Faust audience last evening at the Academy of Music; that is, the house was jammed, filled to repletion, hundreds having to stand during the performance, and all doing it cheerfully, so popular has this delightful opera become. Mr. Maretzek will doubtless have to give way to the desires of the public and reproduce Faust at an early date.

The performance last evening was marred by the unfortunate hoarseness of Signor Biachi, who was forced at the end of the third act to substitute Herr Weinlich in the role of Mephistopheles.

Miss Kellogg was, as usual, most pleasing in the role of Margherita. She has won well deserved praise in this part in Philadelphia and Boston, as well as here. In the garden scene Miss Kellogg was warmly applauded last evening. It is in this act that she most particularly exhibits to great advantage her intelligent conception of the role.

Signor Mazzoleni, as Faust, was very successful last evening, and was much applauded. He acts and sings in this part with all his accustomed grace and spirit, and gains the entire sympathy of his audience. The chorusses were, as usual, most successful, the mise en scene very brilliant, and the whole performance a great success.”

“‘Faust’ was repeated last night before another immense audience, which filled all the standing places as well as the seats. The opera was well performed, excepting the part of Mephistopheles, Biachi having a sever hoarseness, for which apology was made. In the last two acts Weinlich took his place, and sung the part in German. The choruses were well sung, and the exquisite orchestration found higher appreciation than on any previous performance of the opera.”

“[A]nother brilliant house—every seat and standing, place occupied.  The performance was in all respects the same as heretofore, with exception that toward the end of the third act Signor Biachi’s voice became so impaired by a severe cold that Mr. Weinlich had to be substituted in his place.”

Part of review of multiple performances. “The Academy of Music has enjoyed an excellent succession of houses during the past week. [Norma was performed and is a “very superior opera.”] The other two operas being destitute of genius—Faust, and The Last Days of Pompeii,—the singers have uphill work to excite applause…in the former opera (Faust) they got no applause worth noting, so exceedingly feeble are the melodies or the attempts at melodies vouchsafed to the leading artists.”

“Max Maretzek’s Italians have had another excellent week’s business at the Academy, even Lent failing to put a stopper on the pleasure-seekers. Biachi, who is mixed up in the new piece from real life, entitled ‘A $100 Greenback, or the Female Chambermaid,’ got taken down with uncomfortable sickness during the week, and was unable to appear……Brignoli, who has had a good long furlough, will be drafted into Max’ [sic] services again at an early day……It is also rumored that a young lady, fresh and gushing, is soon to make her debut upon the operatic boards. Let us be ready to give the little thing a helping hand.”