Maretzek’s Italian Opera: Robert le Diable

Event Information

Venue(s):
Academy of Music

Manager / Director:
Max Maretzek

Conductor(s):
Max Maretzek

Ballet Director / Choreographer:
Mr. Ronzani

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
29 August 2018

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

11 Apr 1864, Evening

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
aka Robert the devil; Robert der Teufel
Composer(s): Meyerbeer
Text Author: Scribe, Delavigne
Participants:  Maretzek Italian Opera Company;  Corps de ballet, unidentified;  Giuseppina Medori (role: Alice);  Joseph Hermanns (role: Bertram);  Lisa Harris (role: Isabella);  Mlle. Ernestine (role: Helene);  Guglielmo Lotti (role: Raimbaut);  Pasquale Brignoli (role: Robert)

Citations

1)
Advertisement: Courrier des États-Unis, 06 April 1864.
Last performance of Robert le diable.
2)
Announcement: New York Herald, 10 April 1864.

3)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 11 April 1864.

4)
Announcement: New-York Times, 11 April 1864, 4.
“Meyerbeer’s grand opera of ‘Robert le Diable’ will be given here to-night for the third time, with its magnificent distribution, which embraces nearly all the leading artists of Mr. Maretzek’s company.  The work is one of the most popular in the repertoire, and has drawn two of the finest houses of the season.  We may safely anticipate a brilliant and fashionable attendance to-night.”
5)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 11 April 1864, 7.

6)
Announcement: Courrier des États-Unis, 11 April 1864.

7)
Advertisement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 11 April 1864.

8)
Review: New York Herald, 12 April 1864, 4.
“The stormy weather last night militated somewhat against the opera, but nevertheless the management had no reason to complain either of the numbers or the brilliant appearance of the audience.  For the artists we must say that they did not fall in the least degree below the usual standard which they have maintained in this ever favorite opera.  Medori was exceedingly grand. . . . When we say that Brignoli, perhaps, never sang better—in this, one of his most masterly roles—we say enough. His voice was in fine order. He sang with great judgment, and evidently was in good spirits with the warm reception he received. In the concluding trio of the second act his low notes were delicious. The opening duo in [the second] act—Hermanns and Lotti—was enthusiastically encored.”
9)
Review: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 13 April 1864, 8.
Last Monday’s performance provided additional proof that Maretzek keeps improving his productions while they run, and they always live up to their potential.  May he never deviate from this principle of continuous improvement for his productions after they premiere.  As far as the casting of roles, there is nothing that can be done to improve them.  The star of the evening was, as we have mentioned so often before, Mr. Hermanns.  Since he joined the Italian Opera Company, we have seen him in two parts: ‘Mephisto’ in Faust, and ‘Bertram’ in Robert, and in both he has been very successful.  Brignoli sang slightly better on Monday, yet his wooden movements, especially in the churchyard scene, destroyed every illusion and ridiculed something serious.  Lotti, as ‘Raimbaut,’ deserves our praise; he sang the duet at the beginning of the second act clearly and with feeling.  The choir and the orchestra have become more confident in their performance.