Maretzek Italian Opera: Faust
Event Information
Venue(s):
Academy of Music
Manager / Director:
Max Maretzek
Conductor(s):
Carl Bergmann
Event Type:
Opera
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
29 August 2018
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
07 Feb 1865, 8:00 PMProgram Details
Faust includes an unidentified ballet.
Performers and/or Works Performed
1)
Composer(s): Gounod
Participants: Maretzek Italian Opera Company; Guglielmo Lotti (role: Faust); Domenico Lorini; Catarina Morensi; Clara Louise Kellogg (role: Marguerite); Fernando [bass-baritone] Bellini (role: Mephistopheles); Mlle. Ernestine; Mlle. [dancer] Auriol
Citations
4)
Mephistopheles was sung by Bellini “for the first time here . . . and, we may add, was sung in a very acceptable manner allowing for all the difficulties which a baritone has to contend with in rendering a basso part. . . . Miss Kellogg’s Marguerite is now so familiar, and yet so excellent, that it calls for no criticism. She was in good voice, and sang well. Lotti exhibited more vigor than heretofore in his rendition of Faust, and received considerable evidences of approbation.”
5)
“’Faust’ was on the whole very satisfactorily rendered, although some of the artists have been heard in this fine opera to much better advantage.
Bellini as Mephistopheles has added to his high reputation for histrionic and vocal eminence. His conception of the character is less divested of human attributes, and varies in several other points from that of Hermann, and from the more elegant if less powerful impersonation of Biachi. Bellini’s Mephistopheles requires further elaboration, and bids fair to become a valuable addition to the attractions of Faust.6)
“Hitherto the rôle [of Mephistopheles] has been sustained by the voice for which it was written, namely, the basso. In London, however, the partition was subsequently changed for the baritone, and Mr. Maretzek, conscious of a fine artist with this voice, has given it, for the sake of novelty, to Signor Bellini. The energy, conscientious study, and vigorous vitality of this thorough artist, combined with the clear intelligence which he throws into every part, render him desirable in any and all parts. As Mephistopheles he is really excellent, giving to the part a degree of pointedness and diablerie which has not been achieved.”