In the anticipation leading up to the new season of the Royal Italian Opera in 1853, one might think that a new opera by Verdi would be of interest.
Not for the writer in the Daily News, 22 March 1853, who comments, without naming the opera, “… a new opera by the weak and worn-out Verdi, which, ten to one, will turn out a failure…”
The title of the opera might be deduced from the date but I checked in The Era, 27 March, to be sure.
Rigoletto.
I am not going to criticise the writer for a lack of foresight as that would be unreasonable. That said, oh to be as weak and worn-out as Verdi!