| Main Performers | Mdlle. Marimon
Madame Trebelli-Bettini |
| Secondary Performers | Mdlle. Colombo
Signor Vizzani
Signor Stefano
Signor Agnesi
Borella
Francelli
Signor Foli |
| Performance Notes | "The grand opera concert given yesterday by Mr. Mapleson's company in the Royal Albert Hall attracted a larger audience than might have been expected, considering the season of the year and the gloom which had to be encountered on a November afternoon in such a vast edifice. The seatholders evidently considered the opportunity afforded them of hearing Mdlle. Marimon and Madame Trebelli-Bettini, together with some of the other stars of Mr. Mapleson's company, too good to be neglected, and attended in considerable numbers, whilst the general public were fairly represented. During the first hour of the performance the sense of hearing was alone appealed to, and there was nothing to distract the attention of the most ardent listener, who with programme in hand had but little difficulty in recognising the numerous artists by their respective talents; but about four o'clock the effect of an electric spark produced a blaze of light throughout the hall, which was no less welcome than the voices of the performers, and elicited a burst of applause as vehement as that bestowed on some of the favourite morceaux in the programme.
The selection of music differed in no way from that generally submitted at opera concerts. Mozart was represented by "Qui sdegno." "Mi tradi," amd "Madamina;" Bellini, by "Com'e per me sereno;" and Gounod, by "A te lieta." These pieces constituted the chief items in the programme, but the band contributed Nicolai's overture to Falstaff, and the grand march from Il Prophete and thus relieved in some measure the monotony of the succession of vocal solos. Mdlle. Marimon's execution of "Come per me sereno," and Madame Trebelli-Bettini's singing of "Quande a te lieta" created the greatest sensation. Mdlle. Marimon was encored, and repeated all her extraordinary fiorituri and brilliant passages to the great delight of the audience. Mdlle. Colombo was very successful in her rendering of Mozart's "Mi tradi." Signor Vizzani pleased, as usual, by his singing of "M'appari." Signor Stefano was heard to advantage in "Qui sdegno," and Signor Agnesi , Borella, Francelli, and Foli rendered good service in their selected morceaux. Ricci's duet, splendidly sung by Mdlle. Marimon and Signor Caravoglin, afforded an additional treat to the audience. Sir Julius Benedict conducted the performance with his usual ability and success."
London Evening Standard - Thursday 09 November 1871 (multimedia, from newspaper archive)) |