Article on Maretzek Italian opera season

“The unprecedented success which has attended the representations of the Maretzek troupe since the commencement of the present season is an evidence at once of the high appreciation in which it is held and of the progress which the public taste has made in musical matters. It shows that when the attraction is first class it can always count on receiving a generous support. Thus the Trovatore, I Duo Foscari, Faust, Don Giovanni, Martha, but more especially Ione, with all of which the public were familiarized by frequent representations during the last and preceding seasons, have been given during the last two weeks to houses such as only now works have hitherto commanded. The enthusiasm attending these representations was remarkable, it amounted, in fact, to a perfect furor. Never have such crowded and brilliant audiences filled the Academy of Music for so many consecutive nights.

This result is not to be wondered at. Take them altogether, it would be difficult to find finer elements than those of which this company is composed. Madame Medori is without question one of the best, if not the very best, dramatic singers that we have had in this country. There is a fire and an impassioned earnestness in her action which but few artists on the lyric stage possess. She deserves all the more credit for this because her small and delicate features are not very well adapted to the expression of those passions which agitate the breast of the tragic actress. And yet her Norma is one of the best of her characters in its histrionic features, deserving to be ranked with that of some of her more celebrated predecessors.

Miss Kellogg is a very sweet little singer, and does correctly whatever she undertakes, but she has not the physique for such a part as that of Margherita in Faust. If the role had been given to Madame Fredirici the cast would have been perfect. Miss Kellogg is wrong to undertake such parts as this, at least until she becomes physically equal to it, which she may be in time.

Mlle. Sulzer is a careful artist, with a voice good in quality, especially in the lower notes. She is, however, too much given to the use of the tremolo, which at times mars the effect of her singing.

To Mazzoleni must be accorded the double merit of being not only the best tenor robusto that we have had in this country, but the best dramatic singer on the Italian stage. If he never sang a note, he would make a great reputation as an actor. No artist that we have seen manages to stir up more thoroughly the enthusiasm of his audience. Then, again, he can give the ut de poitrine for which Tamberlik was so famous. And with all this he is one of the most conscientious of artists, never once since he has been here failing in his duty to the public.

Of Bellini and Biachi we might also say much in praise if our space allowed of it. Both have fine voices, and would be more esteemed if they could be more securely counted upon. In concerted pieces they have at times an independent way of singing, which, however much it may exalt the individual artist, is rather injurious to the ensemble.

An 'event' is promised us for Wednesday next, in the reappearance of our old favorite, Brignoli, the enfant gate [sic] of New York musical circles. An effort is being made to stir up a jealously between him and Mazzoleni. We see no reason why there should be any rivalry between these two artists. They are just as different in their respective voices as a tenor is different from a basso, or a soprano from a contralto. As to their dramatic abilities, there can be no sort of comparison between them. The warmest admirers of Brignoli will not contest the superiority of Mazzoleni in this respect.

We cannot conclude this brief review of the Italian troupe and its operations without paying a tribute to the Deus ex machine, Maretzek himself. The public will concur with us in saying that no previous season has been conducted with so much spirit, liberality and enterprise. We trust that when the time comes for the director to take his benefit the public will daily manifest its sense of these facts.”