Maretzek Italian Opera: La forza del destino

     “[T]he very finest of all Verdi works . . . We observe that La Forza is announced for two more nights this week. Why not run it for Tuesday in place of Faust? Or, if the managerial arrangements do not admit of it, Lucia might be substituted. Faust, once so popular, has almost exhausted itself, and people begin to weary of it. We had excellent proof of the popularity of Lucia at the last matinée, when, despite the disagreeable weather, there was not standing room to be had. We cannot but think that Lucia or Linda would be more acceptable on Tuesday than Faust.”

     “[W]e advise all who have not heard this grand work of Verdi to attend this evening, that they may be able to appreciate its beauties more fully at future repetitions.”

     “The New Opera, ‘La Forza del Destino,’ will be repeated this evening.  It is growing fast into public favor.  Although there are but few ‘taking’ airs in the work, there are so many melodies of tender and impassioned beauty, and the ensemble pieces are so massive and imposing, that they grow insensibly upon the public mind, and familiarity begets admiration, which leads to popularity.  The season is drawing to a close, and but few more representations of this Opera can be given.  All, therefore, who would hear Verdi in his most varied excellence, should take advantage of the few opportunities which remain to witness the performance of ‘La Forza del Destino.’”

     “‘La Forza’ was . . . admirably performed in every respect. Massimiliani—who appears to the best advantage in his difficult part, written originally for Tamberlik—winning especial applause.”

     “In the third act, as sung on Monday evening, Bellini has restored the baritone scena Urna fatale, omitted at the earlier performances of the opera. It is a notable if not a thoroughly pleasing composition. The andante is in the broad, sonorous style which Verdi often so happily adopts for male voices. The Allegro is a consecution of passionate dramatic phrases rather than a clearly defined melody. Bellini interpreted it with intelligent vigor.”

Comment: On this day, a procession seven miles long to celebrate a National Jubilee “for Lincoln’s second inaugural, recent Union victories, and impending Confederate defeats.” This took place on the “streets of lower Manhattan” Source: Gotham p. 904.