Maretzek Italian Opera: Don Pasquale

This opera is being performed for “the first time in several years.”

“The Opera.

    After a long delay Donizetti’s ‘Don Pasquale’ was produced . . . to a good house. Bosisio was the Norina, and sang acceptably, acting, too, with grace, though hardly with the vivacity the part demands. Irfre, the tenor, sang in his usual sweet manner, the part of Ernesto suiting well his general style. He received an encore in the serenade scene. Bellini as Dr. Malatesta was perfectly satisfactory. The new buffo Sarti was received with favor. He is a young man with a fair bass voice, who acts and sings the part of the deluded old Don in the old conventional style, and with as much effect as the majority of buffos. He will have hard work, however, to fill the place of Rovere. Should he appear as Crispino he will certainly have a better opportunity to show his quality.”

“The Academy of Music was well attended on Saturday, but the usual crowd was of course modified by the weather. Those who were present enjoyed an exceedingly agreeable performance of the charming comic opera ‘Don Pasquale.’ Mlle. Bosisio was the Norina, and sang and acted much better than she has yet done. The music suits her voice, and the dramatic opportunities of the piece are to the lady’s taste. Bellini and Irfre were both admirable. The title role was intrusted to Signor Sarti, a new buffo, who will be a useful addition to the company. He has a musical voice of fair quality and power. His merits as an actor appear to consist in not overdoing the scene. In the third act Signor Sarti received much applause.”

     “Don Pasquale was given at the Matinee on Saturday before a large and fashionable audience, notwithstanding the wretched state of the weather and the condition of the streets. The chief point of interest was the appearance of a new buffo singer, Signor Sarti, who took the part which in years gone by Marini filled so admirably. Signor Sarti is not personally impressive, and his voice, though very pleasant, is light, and consequently by no means effective in the role of the Don. He possesses but little of the vis comica, apparently, and unless some nervous timidity restrain his full powers, we cannot hope to find in him a De Begnis, a Rovere, or even a Susini. Signora Bosisio sung and acted both gracefully and pleasantly, apppearing to better advanage than on any former occasion. Bellini's Malatesta was a rich and unctuous bit of singing and acting, which loses little by the rememberance of Badiali in the same vcharacter. Bellini is so good an artist that he uses his best efforts to faithfully interpret every character he undertakes, and his efforts are always successful. Irfre gained a unanimous encore in Come Gentif [sic], and was very successful throughout the Opera.”