Maretzek Italian Opera: La traviata

“Zucchi as Violetta is very effective in the later acts of the opera, and in the Gran Dio sings with an intensity never surpassed here, not even by Gazzaniga. In the duet with the paternal Germont and in the ball-room scene her singing and acting are everything that can be desired. Only in the first act, where the music is rather frivolous for an artist of Zucchi’s splendid powers, does this lady at all lay herself open to criticism. Her toilets last night were, by the way, superb, and attracted the earnest attention of those of her own sex in the house. Our favorite prima donna never looked better than in the third act of “Traviata.”

“The popular opera of La Traviata was produced at the Academy of Music last evening, to afford Mademoiselle Carozzi Zucchi an opportunity of appearing in the character of Violetta.  We do not think the experiment was a wise one, for several reasons.  The music is calculated for a light, flexible, yet passionate voice; that is, a young, fresh, and pure-toned voice.  Again, the character is so questionable morally considered, that it can only be tolerated, and can only awaken interest from one point of view, namely, the belief that the victim is young in vice, that her girlish innocence has been betrayed, that the pure love of true man can yet reclaim a heart not utterly abandoned; that the past may be redeemed, and that a soul purified by love may be reclaimed to a nobler end. Only form this point of view can such a character be tolerated upon the stage.

            We are forced to say that Carozzi Zucchi has not the requisite qualifications to embody the character, vocally or physically.  The timbre of her voice, naturally full, rich and powerful, could hardly in its first youth have done justice to the music, save in its abundant passionate expression.  Her fortitude is all executed in the somber quality, while it is imperative that is should be accomplished in the clear voice.  The consequence is that it is heavy, unwieldy, and often untrue.  The lack of spontaneity in her voice necessitates constant effort and forcing, the result of which is a loss of tone, and a very frequent failure to achieve the true pitch. These are vocal infirmities inevitable under the circumstances, but as they exist we cannot pass them by unnoticed. We yield to her unquestionable [illeg.]. She is a true artist; she manages her voice, under the circumstances, very skillfully. Her style is of the best modern school, which is, however, infinitely inferior in every respect to that which preceded it; and in intensity of [illeg.] she frequently rises to the sublime, and never falls below a high standard of excellence. As an actress she ranks with the best of her predecessors, and we view with admiration her intensely passionate delineations of the various roles in which she has appeared. But we cannot recognize her fitness for a character which had been better intrusted [sic] to other hands.

            Signor Massimiliani was heard to great advantage in this opera. He sang with more feeling and expression than he is wont to do, and acted the part with spirit.

            Signor Bellini sang very effectively, except in several boisterous outbreaks, during which his voice sharpened to a painful degree.