Beschreibung:
<jats:p>On 7 June 1845, the <jats:italic>New York Herald</jats:italic> published a letter by an ‘occasional correspondent’ from Philadelphia concerning William Henry Fry's first grand opera, <jats:italic>Leonora</jats:italic>, which premiered three days before at the Chestnut Street Theatre. The letter contained the following remark:</jats:p><jats:p>All were delighted with the music, it was so much like an old acquaintance in a new coat; indeed some of ‘the cognoscenti’ said that it was a warm ‘hash’ of Bellini, with a cold shoulder of ‘Rossini,’ and a handful of ‘Auber’ salt – whilst others congratulated Mr. Fry upon his opera being so much like <jats:italic>Norma</jats:italic> ….</jats:p>