January 5th 1881.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
The burden of Mr. Strakosch's season rested/on Mme. Marie Roze's
shoulders, and she has ensured for herself a lasting place in the esteem of
our public. Boito's "Mefistofele" certainly improves upon hearing. I
trust that Mr. Boito will not feel utterly crushed when I tell him (of course,
CHICAGO.
he is one of your subscribers), that one of our local opera composers con-
THE BEETHOVEN SOCIETY'S FIRST CONCEKT.— FRANK KING'S INTERNATIONAL
siders his orchestration that of a novice. Any public appearance of Mme.
TKOTJPE.—DULCKEN'S FLORID ACCOMPANIMENTS.
HENSCHEL'S RECITAL.—
Roze would be incomplete without the presence of the indefatigable, untir-
THE STRAKOSCH TROUPE.—THE IDEAL TROUPE.—NEW BOOKS UPON MUSICAL ing H. S. Perkins.
TOPICS, AND OTHER WHOLESOME GOSSIP.
Several of our violinists have lately been heard at Mr. Liesegang's
CHICAGO, Dec. 26, 1880.
Orchestral Club. Mr. Becker, who is one of the many teachers who were
/CENTRAL Music Hall was again crowded at the first concert of the Beet- imported by Mr. Ziegfeld, played a concert by David ; Mr. Mark Kaiser, the
l e hoven Society, which took place on Tuesday evening, Dec. 14th, under Bruch concerto, and last Sunday, Mr. Heimendahl, a Suite, op. 180, by Raff,
the direction of Mr. Carl Wolfsohn. The performance received additional which was performed for the first time in America. The same programme
lustre from the fact that Mr. George Henschel sang the part of Elijah. In included Fackeltanz No. 3, Meyerbeer, and C minor Symphony, " Egmont"
regard to this artist, the critic is in the comfortable and happy position of Overture, and the piano quartette, op. 16, by Beethoven. Mr. Schoenefeld
being able to say all that is needful in the fewest words. There is no neces- assisted in the latter at the piano. Mr. Wm. Lewis is to appear next Sun-
sity, in this case, of looking around for terms that would sound like saying day with Rosenbecker's orchestra.
a great deal and still not commit one—no need of patting him on the back
Mr Upton's " Woman in Music," and Miss Amy Fay's "Music Study
and dropping him afterwards. Mr. Henschel is a thorough artist, a fine mu- in Germany,"
made their appearance. I predict a large sale for both—
sician (in that regard a rara avis among singers), a perfect gentleman (in this the former, on have
account of its great intrinsic merit; for the latter, because
regard a still rarer avis) among musicians. I regret to state that, having every bit of its personal
gossip about great men is just now eagerly perused.
come to our city comparatively unheralded and puffed, the audience had not The title of Miss Fay's book
is a misnomer; it contains very few hints about
had a chance to make up their mind that they wex*e going to hear a great music
study and Germany; but the series of letters which make up the con-
performance, and not being told beforehand to expect one, did not appre- tents are
very interesting, and sometimes instructive.
ciate Mr. Henschel's efforts. Of course, after reading in the next morning's
Mr. Eddy's last Organ Recital brought the following fine programme:
papers what a great artist Mr. H. was, they each had an " I told you so " Overture,
" Sakuntala," Goldmark; "Andante in A," Smart; " Tocata and
ready.
Fugue, Dminor," Bach; "Introduction, Theme, Variations and Finale,"
I remember an old anecdote, which represents a gentleman who had Merkel; "Fantasie, Sonata," Rheinberger; " Elevation and Wedding
heard a great deal of the " Miserere," in "II Trovatore," and went to the March," Guilmant; and the " Chromatic Fantasie and Fugue," Thiele. The
opera one night to hear it, asking his neighbor, after every act, if they had same gentleman gave a Chamber Music Recital with Messrs. Lewis and
already played the " Miserere," and went home perfectly miserable, after the Eichheim, at which anew " Trio for Piano, Violin, and 'Cello," by C. M.
last act, on being told that it had just been played. Our audiences are still Widor, was introduced. Miss Phoenix sang "The Three Singers," by
too dependent upon newspapers for their own opinions and criticisms, and Tours.
too apt to judge a man's artistic merit by the size of his name on the poster.
gave a Piano Recital at the Park Institute last week, as-
If I remember aright, Mr. Franz Rummel, of your city, is very particular on sisted Mr. by Boscovitz
Miss
Smythe.
Reinecke's cantata, "The Snow Drop," was per-
that point.
formed by the Mendelssohn Club of Hyde Park at the last reunion.
In view of the usual disposition of artists, the modesty of our genial
The Apollo Chib will according to their yearly custom give a perform-
friend Frank King is deserving of special notice. He invariably prints Mme. ance of the " Messiah," during Christmas week. The young ladies of the
Rive-King's name at the end of his posters. And, by-the-bye, why did not Chicago Ladies' Seminary gave a very enjoyable soiree this eve. The musi-
King name his troupe an "International Troupe?" It is as much entitled to cal department is under the charge of Messrs. Baird, Pratt and Clarke. Mr.
that name as Strakosch's opera combination. He has Miss Emma Mabella, Baird was for a long time the efficient accompanist of the Apollo Club. The
who is from the city of Aurora, in the Province of Tuscany; Mr. Geo. principal nnmbers were duets by Gottschalk, performed by Misses Tanner
Broderick, very late of Her Majesty's Theatre; Mr. Richter, from St. Peters- and Roberts ; Mendelssohn's "Consolation," and a. Chaconne by Durand,
burg; not to forget Mr. Dulcken.
smoothly played by Miss Pease ; Chopin's 3rd Ballade by Miss'Tanner, who
Now Dulcken is a splendid acquisition to any concert troupe, as long shows considerable talent, and Mr. Pratt's " (Wooden)-Wedding Polonaise."
as you curb his propensity to appear before the public as the real star of the
At the first reunion of the Amateur Club the nerves of the attending ladies
troupe. But when Mme. Patti, for instance, goes out to sing that new ballad were at first sufficiently calmed by an able essay on Wagner's " Musical
" Robin Adair," and after making her bow has to listen first to an improvisa- Theory," elucidated by Miss Nina Lunt, to enjoy the following pieces :
tion upon that air on the piano, which lasts from three to five minutes, she is apt Rondo, op. 73, for two pianos ; Chopin's Ballade, op. 23 ; Chopin and
to get mad. And if after the first verse, Mr. Dulcken, instead of playing an Schumann's Sonata, op. 11, besides several vocal numbers by Boito, Rubin-
interlude on the shortstop, improvises offhand a three part fugue on the stein, Leslie and Schumann. Miss Alport played the difficult Schumann
same seductive theme, just to show the musicians who happen to be present Sonata remarkably well.
how easy it is to do it, when you know how, Mme. Patti is apt to get still
A testimonial, (for what ?) to Mrs. McCall, took place Dec. 18th, at
madder." And who has to suffer for it ? Why that poor little Mr. De Fairbank
Hall. An unknown orchestra began with an unknown overture,
Munck ; for they say that Carlotta can make things lively, when she by an unknown
composer, and the rest of the programme was not much
chooses to.
better.
But where are Henschel and the Beethoven Society all this while ?
The 22d soiree of Miss Ingersol], and Messrs. Lewis, Eichheim and
and what number do you suppose received the most applause during the Allen, took place Dec. 16th. Schumann's Quartette, op. 47, and Raff's
evening ? Was it Mr. Knorr's fine rendering of "If with all your hearts," or Qnintuor, op. 107, were played. Miss MacLaws-St. John, was the vocalist.
Mr. Henschel's " I t is enough," to which Mr. Liesegang added so much by
Mr. Emil Liebling played the following programme before his pupils,
his discreet and charming cello solos, or any of the grand choruses ? Oh Saturday evening, Dec. 18th: 1. (a) Sonata, G minor, Scarlatti; (b) Toccata,
no, it remained for the three good little boys who sang the " Angels' Trio " Paradisi; (c) Prelude and Fugue, C minor,Bach; (d) Variations, E major,
with excellent intonation, but with that dreadful sharpness which distin- Haendel. 2. Sonata, op. 27, No. 2, Beethoven. 3. (a) Menuetto, B minor,
guishes boys' singing, to throw the audience into raptures, I am at a loss to Schubert; (b) Three Songs without Words, Mendelssohn; (c) Polacca Bril-
understand why.
liante, Weber; (d) Ende vom Lied, Schumann. 4. [a) Kamennoi, Ostrow-
Mr. Wolfsohn's relations with his chorus seem to be pleasant. They Rubinstein; (b) Menuetto, Grieg; (c) Menuetto, op. 17, Moszkowski. 5. (a)
meet each other about half way. The choruses were on the whole well La Fileuse, Raff; (b) Etude, op. 10, No. 3; (c) Marche Funebre, Chopin; and
sung, but dragged very much. Miss Jennie Dutton showed, marked im- (d) Polonaise in E, Liszt.
provement. Mrs. Sheppers was hardly competent to fulfill her part. The
The Chicago Press Club gave a very pleasant reception to Mme. Marie
orchestra with Mr. Heimendahl, as chef dattaque, did well, and Mr. Peter Roze, which was attended by a great many artists. Max Strakosch was, of
Lutkin's organ accompaniment calls for no special mention.
course, invited, and came, as usual, with his hands in his pockets. In an
Beethoven's " Mass in C " will be on the next programme of the society interview, the other day, he stated that his purpose was not so much to
in February. It was performed here in 1873. Why does not Mr. Wolfsohn make money as to raise the musical taste of this country. Max is truly the
delight Chicago again with a reproduction of Verdi's " Requiem " ?
most unselfish manager living.
Mr. Henschel gave a recital before his departure, at which he appeared
Speaking about "Mefistofele," I neglected to add that the libretto
in the three-fold capacity as singer, pianist and composer. After three arias formed a pleasing contrast to the twaddle which the "books of the opera "
by Barissimi and Haendel, he sang songs by Beethoven, Schubert and usually contain; it is remarkably well written.
Rubinstein, Schumann's '' Two Grenadiers (or, as Mr. Fred Root will have
Mr. Fuller has just published an anthem in memory of his brother, to
it, " granny dears"), and three songs of his own. He succeeded in arous- the words, " Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb," which is very good; and
ing the enthusiasm of his hearers by his splendid interpretation of the Schu- Mr. Chas. Koelling is writing a " Theme and Variations for the Piano,"
mann number, and yielded to a persistent encore with an aria from Haen- with orchestral accompaniment.
del's "Rinaldo." Mr. H.'s finished and artistic singing will long be
The pupils of Mrs. Jennie Kempton, our popular vocal teacher, gave a
remembered here. The other numbers of the.programme were: "Novel- fine performance of Eichberg's " Doctor of Alcantara," Dec. 21st, assisted by
lettes," by Gade, and " Trio D major," Beethoven, played by Messrs. Wolf- Dr. Chas. Barnes. A large number of our best singers are indebted to Mrs.
sohn, Heimendahl and Liesegang ; "Begegnung," Raff, for piano and cello ; Kempton for their success.
an andante from Dvorak's violin sonata, op. 35, and the B minor Rondo by
A merry Christmas, and au revoir next year.
E. L.
Schubert, for piano and violin.
Strakosch's troupe has left us. They had to contend against extraor-
CINCINNATI
dinary attractions during the first week, two Apollo club concerts, and later,
the Beethoven and Henschel concerts besides the Boston Ideal Opera Troupe THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC'S ILL TREATMENT OF ROSSINl's ' ' CINDERELLA."—THE
NICHOLS OPERATIC FESTIVAL SCHEME.—WHERE WERE THE CINCINNATI
at the Grand Opera House.
CRITICS.—HERMANN AUER'S MASS IN C.—THE "MESSIAH."—THOMAS WOR-
This theatre is so comfortable and delightful in alljits appointments, that
SHIP.—ARRIVAL OF THE STRAKOSCH-HESS TROUPE.—NOTES OF THE PIANO
everyone is pleased a prioi-i; and, when personal comfort is supplemented by
TRADE.
such a jolly, rollicking crew as the "Ideals," it is no wonder that their
CINCINNATI, Dec. 27th, 1880.
audiences were only s limited by the capacity of the house. One of the inno-
vations at this theatre is a Chickering Grand in the foyer, on which Mr. "OOSSINI'S pretty opera of " Cinderella " has been shamefully ill-used at
Wellenstein, a very able pianist, plays between-acts.
J t \ the College of Music of Cincinnati. On the 20th inst. our great music
Miss Adelaide Phillips evidently bestows the same care on her present school threw open Dexter Hall in order that the public might see what pro-
roles, as formerly on her grand impersonations. Miss Marie Stone pleased very gress was being made by the operatic department under Max Maretzek.
much, and Mr. Whitney surprised every one by his fine acting (not to speak
Pupils of the school have been rehearsing the choruses for some time,
of his singing), as Katschukoff in " Fatinitza," and Gaspard in " Bells of and prominent local soloists were secured to torture the solos and concerted
Corneville." Of course, Tom Karl is most dangerous to a matinee audi- pieces, while the orchestra was picked from professionals and filled in with
ence. Chorus and orchestra were satisfactory.
the college orchestra, class. But it would be a great mistake on the part of
OUR S T A F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T S -