Anschütz German Opera: Alessandro Stradella

“Two opera companies will divide the honors of the lyric drama this year. Mr. Maretzek heads the Italian troupe, as usual, and Mr. Anschutz will bring out a German company with a number of operas never played here. The Academy of Music will open under Maretzek’s management on the 5th of October, with Medori, Mazzolini [sic], Sulzer, Bellini and Biachi in ‘Robert le Diable.’ The choruses will be greatly strengthened; they needed a tonic. Mr. Anschutz will begin his season in November, with ‘Faust and Marguerite.’ His company are now on the way to this city from Hamburg.”

“The artists of Mr. Auschutz’s [sic] German troupe have already arrived from Hamburgh [sic], and will go into harness on Monday next in Baltimore, where Mr. Anschutz commences operations. The company will open on the Dec. 1 [sic] at the New-York Academy of Music, and play for two or three months. The répertoire is almost entirely new in this country, and will be interpreted by the lately arrived singers by a superb chorus, by a full orchestra, and with the auxiliaries of entirely new scenery and a costly and appropriate wardrobe. There cannot be a doubt of the complete success of the enterprise. The Germans are justly attached to their national opera, and as New-York is, in point of numbers, the third German city of the world, and in point of diffused wealth far ahead of the two rivals, Vienna and Berlin, it is obvious that the Teutons have both the strength and the means to make their opera a successful institution if they are so disposed. Experience has demonstrated, too, that Mr. Anschutz has hosts of friends in the American public, who will gladly support him in his effort to give a cis-Atlantic popularity to the master-works of Germany. An initial performance will be given at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Thursday evening, for the purpose of introducing the artists to our public. No New-York theatre could be obtained for the purpose, hence the necessity of adjourning to the Sister City.”

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            Mr. Anschutz is so well satisfied with his success last season that he will try another here in December—with a few occasional performances perhaps at one of the theatres previously. M. Anschutz has obtained from Europe, four new artists—a prima donna, a soubrette, a tenor and bass—all young fresh artists of attractive powers about whom we shall speak in due season. They sang to a private party, the other night, much to the satisfaction of all present.”

“Mr. Carl Anschutz will commence his grand season of German Opera, at the Academy of Music on Wednesday next.  The opera selected for the occasion is Flotow’s ‘Stradella.’  Good: it might have been ‘Martha;’ or, who knows, even ‘Der Freischutz.’  Now we are safe for a week at least.  Capital opera ‘Stradella.’  Quite fresh!”

“[Stradella] is an attractive work, and is rendered unusually interesting by the cast.”

“Maretzek has indeed left, but Anschütz is here, and will open his winter campaign this evening at the Academy with his new, and, from what we hear, capable forces. ‘Alessandro Stradella’ will be presented with an almost completely new cast. The highly praised tenor, Mr. Himmler, sings ‘Stradella,’ Mr. Habelmann, ‘Malvolio;’ while the other parts are filled by Mme. Johannsen and Messrs. Weinlich and Graff.”

“Academy of Music.--Mr. Anschutz’s company commenced operations last night before an audience that was more select than numerous. Flotow’s opera of ‘Stradella’ was selected for the occasion, and in all the broad essentials of orchestra and chorus received the best of interpretation. It is mainly in these things that the Germans excel everywhere, and notably so in New-York. The general distribution of the opera embraced the names of Herr Himmer, the tenor robusto, who will improve on acquaintance; Herr Weinlich, known to fame; Mme. Johanssen, admirable and artistic always; Herr Habelmann, a capital tenor di grazia, and Herr Graff, who will be remembered by the frequenters of the old German opera.”