Maretzek Italian Opera: I Puritani

     “To-night, ‘I Puritani,’ is to be produced, with Kellogg, Irfre, Bellini and Antonucci in the cast.  A new prima donna will shortly make her appearance under Mr. Maretzek’s direction—Senorita Carmelina Poch.”

     “The cold snap had its effect on all places of amusement last evening, nor did the Academy of Music wholly escape.  Bellini’s charming opera of ‘I Puritani’ drew a good and fashionable audience, but one which has often been excelled in numbers.  It is no treat to shiver through the streets on such inhospitable nights, and prudent people could hardly be blamed for preferring their own firesides to the somewhat uncertain registers of the Academy.  The performance of the opera was, however, admirable.  The light, elegant and melodious music of Elvira suits the style of Miss Kellogg, and enables her to display the excellence of her method in the clearness and facility of her execution.  Signor Irfre as Lord Arthur has rarely been heard to better advantage.  So, too, with Signors Bellini and Antonucci, whose liberty duet was as fine and large as ever.”

     "Last evening, the third subscription night, Bellini’s beautiful opera, ‘I Puritani,’ was performed . . . before a very large and brilliant audience.  The charming music with which this opera abounds was finely rendered, its scope and compass being exactly within the range of Miss Kellogg’s voice. She executed all the brilliant fioriture with fluent gracefulness, and threw into the somber portions true sentiment and passion. Irfre was effective in his role, and Bellini and Antonucci sang and acted with great spirit and force. The efforts of the artists were appreciated by the public, who evidenced their satisfaction by encoring the gems of the opera so ably rendered.”