Maretzek Italian Opera: Faust

Event Information

Venue(s):
Academy of Music

Manager / Director:
Max Maretzek

Conductor(s):
Max Maretzek

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
29 August 2018

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

19 Feb 1864, 8:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Faust
Composer(s): Gounod
Text Author: Barbier, Carré
Participants:  Maretzek Italian Opera Company;  Francesco Mazzoleni (role: Faust);  Hannibal Biachi (role: Mephistopheles);  Wilhelm [baritone] Müller (role: Wagner);  Fanny Stockton (role: Martha);  Clara Louise Kellogg (role: Margherita);  Fernando [bass-baritone] Bellini (role: Valentin);  Henrietta Sulzer (role: Seibel)

Citations

1)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 17 February 1864.

2)
Announcement: New-York Times, 18 February 1864, 4.

3)
Announcement: Courrier des États-Unis, 18 February 1864.

4)
Advertisement: Courrier des États-Unis, 18 February 1864.

5)
Announcement: New York Herald, 18 February 1864.

6)
Announcement: New York Post, 18 February 1864.

7)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 18 February 1864.

8)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 19 February 1864.

9)
Announcement: New-York Times, 19 February 1864, 4.

10)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 19 February 1864, 7.
Cast.
11)
Announcement: Courrier des États-Unis, 19 February 1864.

12)
Advertisement: Courrier des États-Unis, 19 February 1864.
cast
13)
Advertisement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 19 February 1864.

14)
Review: New-York Times, 20 February 1864, 6.

“The Gounod night was, as usual, an immense success. Every seat was occupied, and long before the commencement of the opera the familiar notice was suspended outside, saying: ‘Standing room only.’ The standing room was perhaps not to be found, but the people were none the less satisfied. No opera ever produced in New-York has seized the general public so completely as 'Faust.' If it could be given every evening, we are persuaded it would be to the interest of the management. But this, in view of the newly inaugurated and successful subscription principle, is impossible. The performance last evening was in all respects admirable. Miss Kellogg, who is without doubt the perfect Goethaen ideal of Marguerita, sang with exquisite and even surprising power and taste. Miss Sulzer was also unusually good; and of the male artists we can addnothing to, or detract from, the praise we have already bestowed upon them.”

15)
Review: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 20 February 1864, 8.
Brilliant performance.  This opera is always a success and, thus, good for box office sales.
16)
Review: New-York Times, 22 February 1864, 4.

“Maretzek played four times last week, and can boast of two average houses and two bumpers; the latter being drawn forth by ‘Faust’ on Friday; and the ‘Norma’ matinée on Saturday.”

17)
Review: Musical Review and World, 27 February 1864, 71.

“The Italian Opera at the Academy of Music is doing a good business. ‘Faust’ and ‘Norma’ seem to be appreciated most by the public. Signor Brignoli was welcomed with the usual eclat. Siebel (in Faust) and Mephisto have at last come to good terms, at least as far as appearances go, for the papers inform us, that Signor Biachi was married to Miss Suzler before Mayor Gunther.”

COMMENT: Biachi and Sulzer were married on Sunday, February 21, 1864.