Maretzek Italian Opera: Lucrezia Borgia

     “Those who visit the opera on Friday—Fra Diavolo—and those who throng the Matinée on Saturday—Lucrezia Borgia—will enjoy all the elaborate preparations made to give éclat to the splendid Bal d’Opera. None of the decorations will be removed until Saturday afternoon. An examination of the portraits alone, would be worth double the price of admission.”

Part of review for performance of Fra Diavolo on 04/06/66.

     Brief. “The Matinée on Saturday, owing to the weather, was quite thinly attended. The opera, Lucrezia Borgia, was very well performed, although the substitution of Bine de Rossi for Adelaide Phillips, in the rôle of Orsini, was certainly a drawback.

     The now celebrated caricatures, which were especially attractive at the Bal d’Opera on Thursday evening, will be permitted to remain in their positions for a few nights longer.”

     “Owing to the unpleasantness of the weather there was a much smaller audience than usual at the Saturday matinee, ‘Lucrezia Borgia’ was well presented, however, in the main Senorita Poch, sustaining fully her previous reputation in the leading part.”

     “The Academy matinée on Saturday was not overcrowded; a few seats could be found down stairs [sic] and the entire upper part of the house was at the disposal of the public. To go out in a rain storm at 10 o’clock in the morning for the purpose of witnessing the cheerful opera of ‘Lucrezia Borgia,’ [sic] was in this instance rather too much for the fair habituées. Nevertheless there was a better house than could have been expected, and Ma’lle. Poch, who again appeared as Lucretia [sic] deepened the favorable impression which she has already made in the role.”