Article on forthcoming Maretzek Italian Opera season

“During the next two or three weeks the operatic world will have an opportunity of preparing itself for the forthcoming incursion of the irrepressible Max Maretzek, with his troupe of new Italian artists. Until that event comes to pass the Academy of Music will be closed for operatic purposes, Mr. Maretzek having stipulated with the Directors of the establishment that it should not be let for lyric purposes during the month preceding his arrival. Whether the bold experiment which Mr. Maretzek has undertaken will prove a pecuniary success, is more than we would care to predict. The low price of admission leaves no margin for the inevitable accidents of bad weather; a couple of inclement nights being in fact sufficient to destroy the profits of a month. But that Mr. Maretzek will bring us artists who have voices; that he will have an orchestra of well-balanced proportions and a chorus that will give color to the scene, are matters beyond peradventure. A musician himself, and a director without patience for mediocrities, he has never yet permitted himself to be imposed upon, and never, to our knowledge, attempted to impose upon the public. We have had an immense amount of lofty flourish and dreary swagger from other managers, but, if we examine the record, what have they done in comparison with this, the most energetic and the ill-used of impresarii [sic]? Does the public even understand that nine out of ten of the operas they listen to were introduced by Mr. Maretzek;—that what the rest have produced can be counted easily on the fingers of one hand? And yet he is unfortunate and must always remain so. There are men who are given to the world as pioneers; who do all the hard work and suffer all the privations; who create the civilization that others prate about. Mr. Maretzek is of this number. He will come with a new repertoire of operas and an entirely new company—not an artist in it having been heard in America; he will work industriously for six or eight weeks; he will restore the most brilliant recollections of past seasons, and then, through some petty intrigue or unworthy opposition, he will retire baffled. This, at least, is his usual fate. Perhaps, in view of the lamentable decadence of Italian Opera during Mr. Maretzek’s absence, and a growing weariness of managerial mendacity on the part of the public, the manager’s lot may be a little better than usual. But this is certain, that while the prices of admission remain at their present standard, it is perfectly impossible for Mr. Maretzek to pay his artists in gold, and leave a reasonable margin for profit, or even for the casualties that are almost sure to happen. Shutting our eyes to these dangers of a most deserving man, we hail with intense satisfaction the approaching inauguration of a season of first-class performances. Mr. Maretzek’s company consists of prima donnas, Signoras Josefina Medora [sic] and Ortalani Brignoli; prima donna contralto, Enrichetta Sulzer; prima tenore, Francisco Mazzoleni; baritone Fernando Bellini; basso, Annibale Biachi."