December 20th, 1880.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
baum " (Schumann), "Es traumte mir," and "Wiegenlied" (Brahms), etc.
Gifted with a voice which, though small, is rarely sympathetic and pleasing
in quality and excellently well trained, Miss Bailey invested her singing with
an enchanting delicacy, the daintiest perfection of finish, and much tender-
T its second concert on Saturday evening, Dec. 4th, and the preceding ness and purity of expression, and won the unqualified admiration of her
rehearsal on Thursday afternoon, the Symphony Society reproduced hearers. The gem of the evening, in point of enthusiastic interpretation,
" La Damnation de Faust," that "work of Hector Berlioz which proved so re- was the duett, "Oh, that we two were Maying!" one of Herr Henschel's
markable an artistic and pecuninary success last winter, as performed by the compositions, sung by Miss Bailey and the composer. Mr. Wm. H. Sher-
same society. But, with those brilliant recollections vividly before us, the wood, the well-known pianist, varied the vocal tone by a Beethoven sonata,
representations of this season seemed somewhat disappointing, taken as a Op. 31, No. 3, and Schumann's "Etudes Symphoniques."
whole, and principally that of Thursday, which appeared to denote a
There are unmistakable signs of great activity among the pianists of our
scarcity of rehearsals and too much reliance placed upon the experience city in the frequent piano recitals which succeed each other in rapid order, for
gained by the numerous former repetitions. For it lacked sadly in preci- which the season has set in unsually early and which, it appears, will con-
sion throughout, a point which was, however, much improved at the con- tinue to follow through its entire length. The afternoons of Saturday and
cert, although even this performance did not attain to all the smoothness of Tuesday, Dec. 4th and 8th, respectively furnished an additional series by Mme.
ensemble of the work's best renderings last year. There were separate fea- Constance Howard which were more than ordinarily enjoyable from the
tures in the choruses, notwithstanding this, which were admirable in every pianist's refined and intelligent style. Her playing of Chopin particularly
way, and in most cases, a marked improvement from the changes in the so- betrayed much poetic conception and, in general, her performances were
loists, Mr. Bourne, who sang his part acceptably as usual, being the only characterized by a cultivated taste together with a greater development of
one retained from last season. The choruses were again sung by the Ora- freedom in her playing than she possessed when first we heard her a few
torio and Arion societies ; the soloists consisted of : Mr. W. Harvey, Faust; years ago in parts of the Chopin E minor concerto. She may be called an
Mile. Alwina Valleria, Marguerite,- and Mr. George Henschel, Mephistopheles.
interesting Chopin player, particularly in his dreamy and tender moods, as her
Mr. Bourne, Brander. With the exception of their work in the Easter touch then has a particularly sympathetic and soft quality. This was shown
hymn, which was given with much smoothness and beauty, the male chorus in the Nocturne in D flat op. 27, No. 2, and the first movement and Largo of
seemed most deficient in this element of precision and the student's and the sonata in B minor. Mme. Howard also played the Beethoven Sonata op.
soldier's choruses suffered extremely from this defect. The female chorus, 81 ; Bach-Liszt Prelude and Fugue in G minor and the one in A minor ;
on the other hand, exhibited a beautiful quality of tone and most successful Etudes Symphoniques, Allegro from Faschingschwank and several lesser
attention to expression as well as shading in most of the portions allotted to compositions by Schumann ; " Yalse Allemande " and Serenade in D minor,
it. Mile. Valleria sang her part in admirable taste, and her excellent Rubinstein ; Schubert-Liszt " Wanderer Fantaisia," second piano part taken
method, her pure and sympathetic tones stood her in great stead in her in- by Mr. Caryl Florio ; Liszt's " Hexameron" with Mr. S. B. Mills ; " Chopin
terpretation of this difficult music with its quaint, poetic spirit and pecu- Rondo " for two pianos, with Mr. E. S. Lansing, and displayed an excellent
liarities of rythm and phrasing. The beautiful duett between Marguerite technique and considerable versatility. Mme. Howard was further assisted
and Faust was very finely rendered; $;ith warmth and expression, and consti- in a most agreeable manner by Miss Emily Winant, contralto, and Mrs. T.
tuted one of the most enjoyable feat*j*3S of the performance. Mr. Harvey B. Buxton, soprano, the former singing the Aria "Speranza del mio Cor,"
proved himself superior to Mr. Jordan in the particulars of volume and by Gordigiani and two Schubert songs; the latter the grand Aria "In
richness of tone and a warmer manner ; though in the control of his voice quali eccesi" from Mozart's "Don Giovanni" and two Rubinstein songs:
and finish of style he may have been at a disadvantage. In onr opinion,
On Wednesday evening Dec. 8th, the Franko Concert took place in
neither of these tenors has invested the music of Faxist with sufficient breadth which this family of wonder-children of the early days of Steinway Hall
and significance, although it would not appear to be this composer's inten- assumed more mature roles in carrying out the entire programme of a
tion to represent the character in all the grandeur and with the insatiable modern Virtuosen-concert. Frankly speaking, we consider Miss Jeanne
energy and aspirations of Goethe's ideal, as Berlioz has also provided for his (piano), and Mr. Sam Franko (violin), the most talented, of the remarkably
Faust a more fatal doom. Mr. Harvey interpreted the part in a less senti- talented quartet, though Miss Rachel represents the prima donna assoluta
mental manner and with more intensity than did last year's tenor. Mr. and as such may probably consider herself entitled to the lion's share of the
Henschel, the intellectual and finished singer of the music of Mephistopheles, frankincense offered. Her vocal method, acquired in the capital of the
appeared almost too refined for the vigorous humor of the part, and his voice modern Franks, is smooth and good, although her voice is sweetest in mezza
frequently lacked the necessary power; but his elegant rendering of the Sere- voce passages. It is a high soprano, still she was not so successful in the
nade raised the desire on the part of the audience to hear it repeated on both coloratur singing of "Una voce poco fa," from the "Barbiere," as in express-
occasions, a desire which was kindly gratified on Thursday. In several of the ing the plaintive, sad sentiments of "Das Haidekind," a charming song by
orchestral portions, Dr. Damrosch seems to have deemed it advisable to take Schaeffer. Miss Jeanne Franko, played the Mendelssohn-Liszt '' Midsum-
his tempi slower than last season, but we doubt whether this change contrib- mer Night's Dream," quite brilliantly, and also the Chopin G minor Ballade
and, since she has, on former occasions, proven herself quite an excellent
uted to make the March more stirring or inspiring in its effect.
On Sunday evening, Dec. 5th, the New York Ssengerrunde, under di- violinist, one may certainly consider her a promising young artist, as indeed
rection of Mr. Ad. Neuendorff, arranged a concert for the benefit of Henry this remark will apply to the whole family as well. Mr. Nahan, (violin and
Braunhold, which attracted a fair audience. This society can boast of fresh, piano), has a beautiful tone on the violin, and in the small part assigned to
vigorous voices, and sang with much spirit a chorus by "Weinwurm, " O, him, acquitted himself remarkably well. This was in the Duettini for two
Zage nicht." It was quite an interesting work, and elicited an encore. An violins and piano by B. Godard, which were quite interesting novelties of a
orchestra was less successful in two overtures, " La Muette de Poitici" and descriptive character entitled "Abandon" " Minuit" and "Serenade."
" Nachtlager in Granada." The principal interest of the evening, however, The latter enjoyed the honor of a repetition. Mr. Sam Franko repeated the
centred in the performance of four Phantasie-Stucke in the form of a duett success he has already achieved in "LaFolia," by Corelli (1G53), and played a
for pianoforte, composed by Mr. Louis Maas, formerly Professor of the Berceuse, by Faure and " Spanish Dance," by Sarasate, exhibiting much
Leipzig Conservatory, and played by Mr. and Mrs. Maas. These composi- finish in his delicate as well as in his "brilliant execution, and the Goxmod's
tions, pleasing in character, were reproduced in musicianly and refined style, "Lamentation " for voice, piano, organ and violin by the united forces closed
and merited the warm reception accorded them by the audience, though an enjoyable evening, in which the large audience, enthusiastic and demon-
they can scarcely be regarded as a test of Mr. Maas' abilities, either as com- strative", crowned the young artists' efforts with their applause and beautiful
poser or performer. Miss Kate Nuffer also displayed to the best advantage floral rewards.
her sympathetic voice, as well as a promising talent and steady progress, in
On Thursday afternoon another fair pianiste, Mrs. Lillias Frohock, gave
her singing of " Salutaris Hostia," by Carl Alves, her teacher. Besides a a piano
recital in the small hall, before an exceedingly small audience. This
successful performance by Mr. Jacob Graff, there were further vocal selec- lady, pupil
of Ehrlich, of Berlin, has not an agreeable touch nor a super-
tions by Frl. Janauschowsky and Miss Agnes Florence, not worthy of special abundance of
sentiment, btit she played an excellent programme at one
notice.
sitting, and from memory, in a straightforward and intelligent manner. It
It gives us great pleasure to record the ar- is
true she scarcely did justice to the Beethoven Sonata, op. 101, which
tistic success achieved by Mr. George Hen- opened
the list, nor much more to the Fantasie by Chopin, which succeeded
schel at the first of his four vocal recitals on it, but had
warmed considerably to her task by the time she arrived at
Tuesday evening, Dec. 7th. At last Herr " Schumann's
portions of which were very satisfactorily rendered.
Henschel had emerged into that field of song An Impromptu Carnival,"
of Schubert's, and Impromptu in F sharp major by Chopin,
in which his powers were allowed free scope completed her selections.
to shine at their very best, and it was an aes-
On Friday evening, Dec. 10th, the "Arion " held its 27th annual winter
thetic treat indeed which he offered his highly
appreciative audience at Steinway Hall. We concert with all the usual favorable accessories. An immense audience,
may all have a certain conception—and there whose unqualified enthusiasm seemed to be shared by the performers them-
are few who have not—of how our favorite selves, listened to a long programme with evident delight and unabated
compositions are to be played or sung; and interest. Even an undeniable dullness which pervaded the first number, a
we perhaps rarely hear an interpretation Cantata by Brahms, "Rinaldo," was soon overcome, and all proceeded
which does not deviate, in some degree, from gloriously onward until a fresh original chorus by Joh. Herbeck, "Der
our ideal; so that we are not surprised at be- Landsknecht," closed a most refreshing evening in an exceedingly pleasant
ing called upon to make due allowance for way.
" Rinaldo," composed to Goethe's poem, opens with an effective chorus,
the individuality of a singer among such a va-
riety of songs as that which was embraced which is followed by an equally interesting tenor solo for the hero (sung by
by Herr Henschel's programme. It became Mr. Jacob Graff). This tenor solo bears with it reminiscences of Beethoven,
an easy matter, however, to listen with delight to each song; for in all upon whose style, broad, and of a grand simplicity, it seems to be founded.
his performances Herr Henschel seemed governed by deep poetic feeling From this, however, unto the closing chorus, "Anf dem Moere," the work,
and that dignified and elevated taste which could not fail to render them alternating between tenor and chorus, seems pedantic and monotonous. The
eminently attractive, and he appeared entirely in his element in this recital last chorus again is inspired in its tone, which recalls the composer's first
of " Lieder," to whose charming effect his own exquisite accompaniment fre- symphony. The Arion chorus also sang " Sturmesbeschworiing," by J.
quently lent its aid. After three florid arias by Haydn, Carissimi, and Duerner, and Herbeck's composition in good style. Dr. Damrosch's arrange-
Handel, which proved some of his most successful work, he sang three of ment of "Schubert's Military March" was the only orchestral work per-
Schubert's songs—"Memnon," "Das Rosenband," and one from " Wilhelm formed, and exerted its usual inspiriting effect, as so skillful a coloring-
Meister," " Wersichder Einsamkeit ergiebt." These songs becatne especially united with Schubert's bright thoughts could not fail to do. The soloists of
enjoyable from their earnest and reverential interpretation. Then followed the eveiiing, besides Mr. Graff, were Miss Lillian Bailey, Mr. Franz Rem-
a series of compositions, including " In questa Tomba," Schumann's " Ich mertz, and Mr. Max Pinner. A spirited Aria from Handel's " Allessandro,"
grolle nicht, "Rubinstein's " Der Asra," and two songs by Brahms, "Minne- sung with elegance and an astonishing accuracy, exhibited the natural and
lied " and " Uniiberwindlich." This delightful evening received a still more cultivated facilities of this young vocalist in a new direction, and two charm-
poetic tinge from the singing of Miss Lillian Bailey, soprano, in "Der Nuss- ing selections, a song by Mr. Henschel, " Verstohlen geht der Mond auf,"
STEINWAY HALL.
LA DAMNATION DE FAUST.—HENSCHEL'S RECITALS.—MISCELLANEOUS ENTEKTATN-
MENTS.
A