Maretzek Italian Opera: Un ballo in maschera

“VERDI’S opera . . . was given here last evening to the acceptance of a large and fashionable audience. The cast being the same as heretofore, and the performance an even one, it is unnecessary to say more.”

“The grand opera of ‘Un Ballo in Maschera’ was given last night to a large and fashionable, but not an overflowing audience. The state of the weather militated against the interests of every place of amusement, and all felt the result. The cast of the opera was as strong as could be made up from the company, the principal characters being sustained by Carozzi-Zucchi, Bosisio, De Rossi, Mazzoleni, Bellini and Barili. The artists were all in excellent voice and entered thoroughly into the spirit of the situations. Zucchi and Rossi were emphatically and powerfully dramatic.  It is rarely that we see together two such thoroughly trained dramatic vocalists. We have rarely seen these characters personated with so much spirit and truthfulness to the needs of the situation.  Bosisio acted Oscar in a jaunty and dashing manner, singing very pleasantly, but by no means effacing the pleasant memory of poor young Hinckley, who made that character. Still, she won a unanimous encore in the song in the first act, and sang it much better on the repetition.

Mazzoleni was in full force last night, and in his scenes with Zucchi he reached his highest point of passionate expression.  He is always in earnest and throws into every role all the force of his ability and the fervor of his nature. Bellini sang finely, sustaining the general excellence by his artistic rendering of his rôle.

The choruses were excellently well rendered, and the orchestra was well up to its reputation in its execution.”

[Translation to come]