Draper Italian and American Opera: Il trovatore

For The Doctor of Alcantara.

 Opening night of American Opera season: The Doctor of Alcantara, popular comic operetta; fuller details 09/09/66, p. 7

For Doctor of Alcantara.  Writer express doubt whether composer, Julius Eichberg, has been consulted if this is his work.

 Signor Tamaro has left company; replaced by Massimiliani.

For Trovatore.

“‘Il Trovatore’ was performed last evening at the French theatre, to a moderate house. The leading characters were assumed by Mme. Boschetti, Signori Bian [sic] de Rossi, and by Signori Massimiliani, Orlandini and Barili. Boschetti sustained her part well, of course, and was the favorite. Massimiliani was hardly equal to Tamaro, whose place he took.” 

“The second representation of Il Trovatore at the French theatre last night was an improvement in many respects, and a change for the worse in the hero, Manrico.  Although Signor Tamaro has not the voice or power requisite for such a rôle, still he was much better than his substitute, Signor Massimiliani. The latter has a shrill, wavering voice, in which there is hardly a chest note, or if there is it is so broken that it seems to be formed in the throat alone. This was evident in the “Ah! Che la morte,” in which his voice could hardly sustain a note, and was almost on the point of breaking several times in the upper tones. The rest of the cast went through their respective parts creditably enough. Signora De Rossi, who possesses an excellent contralto voice, received merited applause. The chorus was much strengthened, and with Signor Rosa’s excellent orchestra, contributed greatly to the success of the opera. The Miserere scene is supposed to represent the exterior of the prison in which Manrico is confined. Last night it was the very cell of the tower, and how the Count could lead the unhappy Leonora to see her lover for the last time, when she was already in his dungeons, was a perplexing question to solve. In the anvil chorus a small anvil with two small tack hammers is hardly enough.  In the Miserere the aforesaid anvil and hammers can scarcely be called a death bell.  Apart from these the opera ran smoothly enough.”

“The French Theatre is doing little with alternate Italian opera on the half shell and American opera in the raw.  Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed during the past week at the postponement of the ‘Trovatore,’ which had twice been announced for presentation. Grumblers should make some allowance for a man who undertakes to manage two opera troupes. How Mr. Draper survives under such a stupendous load is more than we can tell.”