Nixon Italian Opera: I Puritani - Carlotta Patti Benefit

“[T]he choral and choreographic effects will surpass any that have before been seen at the Academy.”

Gives date incorrectly as Friday, October 4. Long explanation in the ad of why Nixon is offering more concerts of Patti after saying that she would only appear the previous week. Maretzek mentioned in the explanation.

A last performance of Mlle Carlotta Patti was announced for Friday night at the Academy of Music. It is a benefit for the young singer and the public will not neglect this occasion to show her sympathy [sympathie].

Gives date incorrectly as Friday, October 4. Same AD as NYH 09/29/62, p.7

Announces Puritani.

"The young prima donna will tackle for the first time at this occasion, the role of Elvira."

"The 'Puritani' has not been played here for a long time, and seldom if ever with a cast including better singers."

“[A]n excellent performance of Bellini’s exquisite opera ‘Il Puritani.’  The prima donna was in full and sweet voice, and sang with less apparent effort and a more equable success than upon any previous appearance.  The rôle of Elvira is not, indeed, accurately adapted to Miss Patti’s peculiar qualities, but her conception of the character was more than respectable, and her vocalization threw a veil of melody over the dramatic foibles of her performance.  She was well supported by Sig. Brignoli in the not very exigeant rôle of Arturo, and by Sigs. Susini and Amodio, who executed the eventful suoni la tromba with creditable emphasis, and in the case of the former artist particularly with a fine artistic feeling, which deserves the more notice from the temptation which the duo holds out to exuberant musical and dramatic clap-trap.

     The operatic corps leave today, with Mr. Nixon, for Boston.”

          “Deficient as Bellini is in the higher forms of harmony and instrumentation, he never fails to attract. A man of imagination and delicate sensibility, he has created melodies that give a plaintive, melancholy delight.

         Although the representation of last evening was not up to perfection, still Miss Patti, Brignoli and Susini gave us some of the melodies with great effect and in keeping with the peculiar tenderness of the blue-eyed, fair-haired composer.

         The house was well filled with an attentive and enthusiastic audience, laudibly [sic] considerate for the gifted Patti. The spirit of Bellini himself, if present, must have sympathized with her arduous efforts to meet the requirements of the role she undertook, and to awaken in her hearers ‘Il canto che nell’anima si sente.’

         Brignoli, that wayward child of song, sang sweetly, and moved along the stage with all the reserved dignity of the Puritan.”

Patti's Elvira "was sung with her extraordinary flexibility and elegance which have given her such a reputation in so short a time. The part itself has as much to be overcome in the way of rapid, difficult, dazzling passages, as any other; over these Miss Patti showed herself the mistress. Of Miss Patti's acting, we must refrain from giving an opinion."

"Nixon's very short season of Italian Opera at the Academy of Music was not resumed last week, although the house and company were not engaged for any other purpose. On Friday evening, however, M'lle Carlotta Patti took a benefit. . . .The attendance was not large. The lady appears to better advantage in concert than in opera; and she had better stick to the latter. . . . It won't matter much if we have any opera this season. Its always a very expensive amusement, and is not worth the cost it subjects us to. . . . Opera singers place entirely too high a value on their services. . . . If we must have opera, let us have it on democratic principles, and at democratic prices."