Maretzek Italian Opera: Il barbieri de Siviglia

“A very large audience witnessed the farewell performance of the opera at the Winter Garden last evening. The opera selected was ‘The Barber of Seville,’ which made such a sensation when it was produced a week or so ago, with Miss Kellogg as the fair Rosina. The music of this charming work is, of course, familiar to most of our readers, and we can only say now that the performance was in every respect a brilliant and memorable one. For the music lesson Miss Kellogg sang the celebrated Venzano waltz, giving in English, in answer to an enthusiastic encore, the pretty little song, ‘Beware, take care.’ Signor Antonucci has fully recovered his voice and took the part of Basilio admirably.”

Brilliant performers and performance.

The Italian opera ensemble was quite displaced at the Wintergarten. The venue simply does not carry the appropriate flair for opera and many of the regular patrons, who used to attend the operas at the Opera House at 14^th street, did not attend the performances at the Wintergarten. The Wintergarten’s performances were never as filled as the Opera House. In addition, the ensemble is missing a prima donna assulata and lacks skillful singers in other areas also. Once this ensemble will open the opera house at Irving Place in February, fresh and additional performers will be needed.