Articles on Grau’s Opera Company and the forthcoming opera season

     Mr. Grau and his ensemble is expected back here by the end of this month and is said to give performances. He claims to have made good profit in Havana. “This delights us even more!”

     Grau will begin the performances of his ensemble with ten Italian operas on May, 3^rd. It will be challenging if the heat outside does not change.

     “We are to have yet another opera season, which will carry our musical engagements nearly into the month of June. Mr. Grau, it seems, has had a brilliant success at Havana with his Italian company, realizing a large amount of money, although he was utterly opposed to the voyage in the first place, and yielding at last very unwillingly to the advice of his agent. His season at Havana was marked by striking and curious events. One was the breaking up of an old established custom, which was very oppressive upon operatic managers, namely, the clubbing together to purchase boxes for the season. Thus, two families buy one box, and use it alternately, deprive the management of just one half the patronage, and half the emolument, eight persons enjoying the operatic season at the price for four. This custom was also oppressive in many ways, and Mr. Grau’s agent, Mr. De Vivo, determined to break it up. He called a consultation with influential gentlemen and leaders of the press, and explained his intentions to them. They pronounced it impracticable, an innovation that the public would not tolerate, and advised him not to attempt it. But he was determined, and got them at least to promise not to oppose it, but to let him answer whatever communications were sent to the Press. The public fought stoutly for three or four days, then yielded to arguments which they could not refute, and subscribed liberally to the first season.

     The most curious event was the seeming total failure of the company for the first two or three nights. Whether the public still felt sore at the infringement upon its rights, or the company was out of sorts, certain it is that the whole affair threatened to end in a fiasco, when of a sudden the clouds dispersed, the sky brightened, and everything went on harmonically and successfully. Several of the company became immense favorites, and were extolled in extravagant terms by both the press and the public, and a second season was begun which proved a mine of wealth to the management.

     Of the artists forming the company which will appear at the Academy of Music on Thursday evening next, we know nothing personally, with the exception of that grand and passionate artist, Gazzaniga, whose successes are still fresh in the memory of our musical public. Of several, report speaks very highly, more especially of Signorina Boschetti and Signor Anastasi, who were the especial favorites of the Havanese. The company is composed of the following artists:

Soprani—Mme. Gazzaniga, Noel Guidi, Boschetti, and Simons-Muzio.

Contralti—Mme. Cast Volini and Olga Olgini.

Tenori—Musiani and Anastasi.

Baritoni—Orlandi and Fellini.

Primo-Basso—Milleri.

Secondo-Bassi—Voilini and Colletti.

Musical Director—Signor Muzio.

     The repertoire of the company comprises all the standard works used at our opera houses, with the modern additions of Faust, L’Africaine, and Fra Diavolo. There is considerable curiosity manifested by the public to hear these artists, which we trust will result in a liberal patronage. The subscription books for a season of ten nights are now open at the Academy of Music."

     “Mr. Grau’s artists have not, at the time we write, arrived from Cuba. They are, however, momentarily expected. The ‘season’—much abused word that it is—commences on Thursday next. Beyond certain valuable information on the subject of subscribing and procuring reserved seats, the management has vouchsafed but little information as to its intentions. That little, however, is important. It is that ‘Il Trovatore’ will be performed on the opening night. This work is by Verdi. It has been performed here before, and was, if we remember rightly, successful with the public. The artists who are to take part in this encouraging revival are not announced. They are mostly strangers, and, badinage apart, we suppose that ‘Il Trovatore’ is selected simply because, without overtasking any particular artist, it affords an opportunity for many to make their débuts. The principal part of Mr. Grau’s season in Havana was, we believe, successful, and the verdict of the Havanese, although sometimes prejudiced, is generally fair and intelligent. We do not doubt that Mr. Grau has several singers of great merit, and we are sure that they will be received with due consideration by the musical public of New-York.”