Draper English Opera: The Doctor of Alcantara

Event Information

Venue(s):
French Theatre

Manager / Director:
Henry Draper

Conductor(s):
Julius Eichberg

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
18 June 2013

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

01 Jun 1866, 8:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Doctor of Alcantara, The
Composer(s): Eichberg
Participants:  Draper English Opera Company;  David H. Wylie;  Mr. Ketchum [vocal];  William Castle (role: Carlos);  Sherwood C. Campbell;  Caroline Richings (role: Inez);  Zelda Harrison (role: Isabella);  Edward S. C. Seguin (role: The Doctor);  Henry C. [bass] Peakes;  Sophie Mozart (role: Donna Lucrezia)

Citations

1)
Announcement: New-York Times, 01 June 1866, 4.

“The work has hit the public taste, and improves in repetition. It is light, melodious and pleasing.”

2)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 01 June 1866.
3)
Advertisement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 01 June 1866.
4)
Review: New York Herald, 02 June 1866, 5.

“This opera becomes more enjoyable on repetition, and last night, at its fourth representation, the audience was one of the largest we have ever seen in a metropolitan theatre of equal capacity to the handsome new establishment on Fourteenth street.  There was a marked improvement throughout in both acting and singing, and not a flaw of any magnitude could be detected in it. We congratulate Mr. Eichberg, the composer, on the entire success of his charming little work. Mr. Draper’s enterprise in English comic opera is just what suits the public taste at this season, and is a welcome relief from the long term of heavy classical music we have had.”