Maretzek Italian Opera: L’Africaine - Carozzi-Zucchi Benefit

Performers.  “ORIGINAL GREAT CAST. . . . Between the first and second acts LA GARIBALDINO [sic], AN ITALIAN NATIONAL HYMN, composed by Signor Arditi on the occasion of Garibaldi’s visit to London, will be sung IN COMPLIMENT TO MME. CAROZZI-ZUCCHI, by a portion of the chorus of Her Majesty’s Theatre.”

“No artist ever deserved more from the public; she has labored zealously, has never failed in her engagements, and her efforts have given unqualified pleasure to the public.”

“The last presentation of ‘L’Africaine’ for this season occurred last evening. The knowledge that this would be the last opportunity, until another season, of enjoying Meyerbeer’s brilliant production, probably had the effect to induce a larger attendance than usual, while there were many who attended because Signora Zucchi was to have a benefit. From both of these causes the Academy was filled to repletion.

    The prima donna of the evening, Signora Zucchi, has never appeared or sang so well since the opening of the season. She was in excellent voice, entered into her part with real earnestness, and acted it splendidly. From first to last her reception was of the most kindly and often of the most enthusiastic character.

    Signor Mazzoleni as Vasco was quite successful in his part, and in some passages was warmly applaused.”

“Mme. Zucchi received a flattering response to her appeal for public recognition of her great merit in operatic performance. Her benefit last evening was honored by a large and intelligent audience, who made frequent demonstrations of the high estimation in which she is held by all patrons of Maretzek’s Opera.

    During the evening she was often recalled enthusiastically, presented with beautiful wreaths and one superb presentment of a ship worked in flowers, beside other tokens of earnest admiration for her grand artistic qualities.

    All the principals were in good voice and inspiration, all parties to the performance sympathized, and the band with them, in every point.

     Between the second and third acts, the hymn composed by Luigi Arditi and sung at Her Majesty’s Theater last year, when Garibaldi visited the Italian Opera there, as national ascription of glory to Italy’s savior, was sung with feeble piano accompaniment by eight choristers from this company who were then at Mapleson’s establishment, in good style, so good, indeed, that a repeat was demanded positively for its performance—not for its own merit as a composition—which in fact is small.”

[Translation to come]