Maretzek Italian Opera: Jone

Brief. “The Opera of ‘Ione’ was admirably given last night at the Academy of Music, to a good audience, and Mazzoleni, as usual, elicited the liveliest enthusiasm.”

“Academy of Music.—The performance of ‘Ione,’ last evening, was received with peculiar favor by the audience. Signor Mazzoleni, in particular, seemed to be the object of the warmest attention on the part of his friends; his entrée was the occasion of a perfect ovation. The same enthusiasm might have been bestowed with equal propriety upon Medori and Mlle. Sulzer, who completed (in the absence of Signor Biachi, who was unwell,) the really remarkable cast.”

“Ione was played on Wednesday night, as usual, to a crowded house. Mazzoleni’s performance on this occasion was a masterpiece of finished acting; he seemed even to surpass himself. His acting puts as more in mind of the great tragedian Selvini—decidedly the greatest actor of the day—than that of any other artist on the stage. His fine expression, his graceful movements, his elegant postures, in fact, his whole manner, even if the piece were simply a pantomime, would pay well to see, without his exquisite singing and without understanding the language of the piece. As regards his voice, it is true that on some nights he does not sing as well as on others. It is so with all artists who are human and subject to the influences of the weather and other causes; but on the evening in question his singing was incomparable. It seemed like the gushing of a stream, constantly and sweetly flowing, without any effort or exertion on his part. What is most to be admired is Mazzoleni is the grace and ease of his action, which is free from painful effort, and every appearance of distortion. In fact, his whole face speaks out with the most expressive feeling. It is a rare thing to find a tenor who combines so many superior qualities. His Ione on Wednesday night was a chef-d’oeuvre.

            Medori sang charmingly, as usual. Her ‘Amo amo’ was given with deep feeling and expression. Bellini was in excellent voice. We are glad to find that Mlle. Sulzer has taken our hint, and does not use the tremolo as much as she formerly did.  She is an excellent artist.”

“Brignoli’s  prolonged malady and the sudden indisposition of Miss Kellogg came as vexations interruptions to Maretzeck’s [sic] fruitful success. Wednesday’s performance felt the effects of the recent mishaps on the public: the house was barely filled. The small number of listeners, however, didn’t exercise the least influence over the artists; on the contrary, as often happens in similar cases, Mme Medori and Bellini mad it their business to surpass themselves and to prove to the absentees how wrong they were to miss that evening.”