Benjamin Lumley - 1849

from Reminiscences of the Opera, pages 255-6:

As Amina in the "Sonnambula," she had an even more difficult trial to sustain. The part was considered the best, as it had been the most celebrated of all the great impersonations of Jenny Lind, whose last performance of it was recent in the memory of all the habitues of Her Majesty's Theatre. The task of Madame Sontag, under such circumstances, was bold, almost hazardous; but again she triumphed. Her charm in the part was so great, that all thought of comparison was effaced from the minds of her listeners. The new Amina was hailed as rapturously as if no rival — much less one who was considered beyond the reach of competition — had ever existed; and, in spite of all prepossessions, her powers as an actress were now universally declared equal to her finished style as a cantatrice. Her rapidly rising progress in public estimation was as steady and sure as her debut had been brilliant.

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cite as

Benjamin Lumley, Reminiscences of the Opera (London, 1864), p. 255-6. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1438778406473 accessed: 28 March, 2024

Listeners

Benjamin Lumley
Opera manager, Solicitor
1811-1875

Listening to

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La Sonnambula
written by Felice Romani, Vincenzo Bellini
performed by Henriette Sontag

Experience Information

Date/Time 1849
Medium live
Listening Environment in the company of others, indoors, in public

Originally submitted by sp327 on Wed, 05 Aug 2015 13:40:11 +0100
Approved on Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:24:19 +0100