Benjamin Lumley in Her Majesty's Theatre - 1846

from Reminiscences of the Opera, pages 149-50:

The other venture was an opera buffa of Donizetti's early time, "Don Gregorio," the libretto of which was founded on a French vaudeville. The music was light and sparkling, and the selection had been made to afford the great Lablache the opportunity of appearing in a new buffo part; one, too, in which he had been received with delight in Paris. But matter for attack was made out of this piece forthwith. The unfortunate opera buffa (capitally sung and acted by Lablache, Mario, Fornasari, and Madame Castellan), was doomed to execration. "Desecration of the stage," "insult to the subscribers," "disgraceful buffoonery” were among the phrases launched against it with the force of a catapult. And so, "Don Gregorio," with all Lablache's racy humour, could not hold its ground.

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cite as

Benjamin Lumley, Reminiscences of the Opera (London, 1864), p. 149-50. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1438685960938 accessed: 28 March, 2024

location of experience: Her Majesty's Theatre

Listeners

Benjamin Lumley
Opera manager, Solicitor
1811-1875

Listening to

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Don Gregorio
written by Gaetano Donizetti
performed by Luciano Fornasari, Madame Castellan, Giovanni Matteo Mario, Luigi Lablache

Experience Information

Date/Time 1846
Medium live
Listening Environment in the company of others, indoors, in public

Originally submitted by sp327 on Tue, 04 Aug 2015 11:59:21 +0100
Approved on Sun, 24 Apr 2016 15:27:10 +0100