Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1880 Vol. 3 N. 4

THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
September 20th, 1880.
So much for the poor part. As for the merits, they are also many.
There is a refreshing freedom from puns. The actors and singers are far
above the " combination " standard, and the operetina is as good as the
BOSTON, Sept. 14, 1880. standard works of Cellier, Sullivan, or Eichberg. The plot and cast of the
USICAL correspondents, like oysters, are only good in the months latter is as follows :
"DJAK AND DJUiL"
which have an " R " in them. For the last few weeks I have been by
the sea (by the way, why don't some composers write a song about the sea ?)
Argument.
and instead of dropping you a line, I dropped one to the fishes. Don't be
King
Stupidenko
XIV
having,
in a moment of irascibility, discharged
afraid ; I am not going to write you any fish stories ; my words shall relate
the porter of the palace, the Seneschal is sent for a pail of water for the
to musical, not piscatorial, scales
On my return I found familiar faces of artists in all the accustomed royal service. Djakh and Djill meeting the aged and decrepit Seneschal on
haunts ; Sherwood, Lang, Eichberg, Parker, Orth, Dannreuther, Wilkie, his way to fulfill his arduous task, take pity on him, and, depriving him of
the empty pail, go forth to fill it. The king, objecting to his daughter,
etc., etc., were all at their posts in various stages of tan and sunburn.
Djill, associating with Don Guzman's son, Djakh, is enraged when he hears
Everybody anticipates a brilliant and successful season.
Concerts have not as yet begun, but the theatres are open and doing of the adventure upon which they have entered in company, and refuses to
believe they could have been silly enough to go up hill for a pail of water.
a good business. Improvements have been made in almost all of them.
The Museum and Globe have sunk their orchestras in a pit, out of sight However, the fact of both Djakh and Djill falling down hill convinces him
of the audience. This alteration scarcely deserves to come under the head that he was not misinformed. He is so moved by the devotion of Djill in
of ' ' improvements ; " on the contrary the sounds are very indistinct, only purposely falling down hill, in order that Djakh, who had previously stum-
the flute and drum being prominent. Manager Field, on being spoken to bled, should not be alone in his misfortune, that he gives his consent to their
on this subject, quoted—•" European precedents—comedie Francaise without union.
orchestra," etc.
The King
Mr. Howson
These remarks seem to intimate that the managers are somewhat like Don Guzman
Mr. Bell
Joseph's brethren, and, after casting their orchestras into a pit, will take The Seneschal
Mr. Barton
them out and dispose of them altogether. But then what will be done for Djakh
Mr. Armand
musical plays, and how shall melo-dramas be rendered ? For example :
Djill
Miss Bell
Miss Jansen
Orphan.—" Oh me saaainted mother, look down upon your sta-a-arving The Abigail
Page
:
Mr. Lennox
cheild, and now prrotect her."—(Slow music.)
And the musical numbers are :
Enter three ruffians.
Duet.—"Take that and that,"—King and Guzman. Recitative and
(" Hurry " in orchestra).
Song.—"Of the dignified position,"—King. Recitative and Aria.—"Go,
tyrant, go," "O Love,"—Guzman. Duettino.—"Ah, father, how d'ye do,"
Three Ruffians.—Seize her and bear her hence !
—Djakh and Guzman. Aria.—"Sweet maiden,"—Djakh. Duet.—"Hove
Enter Alfonso (disguised).
you,"—Djakh and Djill. Scene.—"Ah, Djakh and Djill,"—Seneschal.
(Tremolo in orchestra).
Trio.—" He's turning 94,"—Djakh, Djill, Seneschal. Terzetto.—"Where
Unhand her, rrrumans!
are you going,"—Djakh, Djill, Seneschal. Song.—" There's nothing but
Ruffians.—Who and what are you ?
annoyance,"—King. Quartette.—"The cause of this confusion,"—King,
Abigail, Guzman, Seneschal. Air and Quartette.—"Djakh and Djill,"—
Alfred.—I am—her long lost brother !—(Chord.)
King, Abigail, Guzman, Seneschal. Scene.—"But, ah, a dreadful thought,"
No ; decidedly it is impossible as yet to do without the orchestra. As re- —King. Air and Quartette.—" 'Tis not on hills,"—King, Abigail, Guzman,
gards decorations, I find the Museum rather a disappointment, with its red Seneschal. Air and Sextette.—" Djakh and I,"—Djakh, Djill, King, Abigail,
paint blotches ; the Globe very bright in gold and white ; the Park much as Guzman, Seneschal. Air and Chorus.—"Dear papa," -Djill and characters.
last season, except in its drop curtain. This latter is quite a triumph for Finale.—"Pooh, pooh,"—All the characters.
your New York artist, Mr. Hoyt (of Booth's theatre) ; it is simple in
The king's songs bear in their rapidity a resemblance to the Major
design, being merely a pretty page, holding together a curtain composed of
voluminous folds of white satin. It is in a high key, white predominating Generals music in the " Pirates of Penzance," but the music, though at no
time very original, does not especially savor of plagiarism. The recitatives
throughout.
Now as to entertainments ; only two theatres have given plays wherein are pompous, with accented chords, and full of playful absurdity.
The aria "Sweet Maiden," is high in tessitura, but has much melody and
music was a feature.
is well sung by Mr. Armand. The Seneschal's part is quaintly humorous, for
THE GAIETY
he sings an old man's song, in season and out of season. The orchestral ac-
had a successful two weeks run of " Otto," with Mr. & Mrs. Geo. Knight in companiment is always pleasing without being too intricate; in the love
the leading roles. This couple extracts music from various strange sources, passages melodious themes appear on oboe, and flute, and at some of the
—hands, canes, bits of wood (xylophone), etc., etc. In Tyrolese business mock heroic scenes, brass is freely used, and figurated bass. The air and
they are very good, and Mrs. Knight sings the " Clang of the Wooden Shoon " quartet, "Djack & Djill," is the success of the work ; it is well but plainly
with good taste.
harmonized. The air was charmingly sung by Miss Jansen, and it won a
As regards the acting, I need say nothing, as the couple have lost none double encore. The final "Pooh ! Pooh ! " chorus contains a musical joke
of their charm, and Mr. Knight is the beat German comedian in the pro- in its imitations of the " Cuckoo " style of music. All in all—" Djack and
Djill " is witty, melodious, and contains all the elements of a successful light
fession.
opera. If it came earlier in the evening it would be sure to evoke even more
THE PABK THEATBE.
enthusiasm.
has been running "Fun on the Bristol," which dabbles somewhat on the
Of the performers we must speak in high praise. Mr. Howson was a
borderland of music. Misses Castleton. and Marion Fiske sing better than host in himself ; but if he persists in singing " Mary's Canary " (Burnand's),
the average of this class of performers, and Mr. Saville is improving, his in such a falsetto, he will tear his voice to pieces in a month. Mr. Digby
voice having more volume and feeling than heretofore ; but I earnestly Bell was, as ever, a genuine success. only two faults must be found with
counsel him to give up singing the " Toreador's Song " from " Carmen." His him—the gestures he uses, especially the movements of the arms, are not
voice is not brilliant enough for this fiery song, and his gestures do not suc- varied nor graceful, and in concerted music he seems too self-conscious and
ceed in picturing a Spanish Bull fight, but rather one of the New York sings too prominently. He is too fine a singer and actor to need to " force
order.
the pace." Of the female voices, Miss Jansen was the best; her voice
The popularity of this class of plays is not yet on the wane, and is easily though not brilliant, is very pure and sweet, and her acting too exhibits a
accounted for : they are merely thinly-disguised, variety shows, and people remarkable ease for a debutante. Miss Bell's voice, though far more brill-
(especially ladies), who do not wish to attend a variety theatre, have now a iant, was not so true to pitch, yet at no time distressingly false.
chance to see the " business," on the boards of first-class theatres.
Miss Tracy made the most out of a very ungratef ult part, and so also did
But the most important event of the young season, was the first produc- Mrs. Rowe.
tion of B. E. Woolf's new conundrum of
But if I write so much about an operetina, how long a letter would I
write about an opera ? (is the question your readers may by this time ask),
"LAWN TENNIS."
and therefor I check the careering pen and sign myself, your renovated cor-
I call it a conundrum, because it is impossible to classify it. It is neither respondent,
L. C. IL
fish, flesh, nor fowl, or rather it is all three. During the opening scene the
dialogue affects a Sheridan-like briskness and leads one to imagine that the
BAYBEUTH.—During the three summer months of May, June and July,
"legitimate" is aimed at; then come songs, which give a vaudeville the Bayreuth Patronage Association has been reinforced by 30 members,
character ; then impossibilities, a la extravaganza ; then just a little spice of belonging to 20 different towns in Germany and abroad. For a lump pay-
variety in costume and acting.
ment of 45 marks, or an instalment of 15 for 1880, each new member pur-
Plot.—Well, it would be difficult to define the plot. A set of ladies have chased the right of attending the performance of the Festival-Play,
formed a man-tamers' club (a touch of Shakespeare), a young dramatist in "Parsifal," in 1882. In addition to the above amounts, the Theatre Fund has
search of a plot, forms one by making love to everybody and watching the been augmented by 1,000 marks from the Universal Musical Association of
consequences, and writing them down (a touch of Benedix's "Dr. Wespe " Germany, and 1,745 marks as extra or exceptional offerings from the "faith-
here) ; but the whole is not intended for analysis.
ful."
A better set play was never seen. The scenes are marvels of artistic taste,
MENU.—M. Menu, a bass singer, late of the Grand Opera, Paris, is
and, in the second act, give a brilliant parody of Eastlake, Keramic, and engaged
at the new opera-house in Geneva.
other house-furnishing crazes. The costumes, incongruous as they are, are
TONKUNST.—The Tonkunst, Berlin, will in future be conducted by Mdme
bewitching (in one case,—a dress-coat with short sleeves—being taken from
one of Du Maurier's picture in Punch), and the eye is kept amused with a Hahn, widow of the late editor and proprietor.
constant succession of surprises. But cutting of dialogue will be an absolute
GOUNOD.—M. Gounod, not long since, paid a visit to Ostend, and a
necessity before the piece will make a furore. The footman Datchett, after special concert was given in his honor.
making a hit by appearing stolid as Mark Twain's "petrified lackey," proceeds
LEON.—Signora Ynez de Leon is announced to appear in Italian Opera at
to Bpoil it by a dialogue, both in the first and second acts, which is entirely the Brooklyn Academy of Music, on Sept. 30. The lady has an excellent
out of keeping with the first impression, and wearisome besides. The in- reputation in Italy, and will try her chances in America. Being a real
troduction of the operetina is managed by a rather flimsy artifice, and the dramatic singer, she has a great career before her, if she has success. She
sudden change of Mrs. Prout from a trivial society character to a highminded will make her debut as Norma. The other members of the company are
and resolute female, and the yet more sudden and cheap manner in which utterly unknown ; but sometimes unknown singers have proved very valu-
Mrs. Doll is converted, are abjectly puerile.
able artists, BO we must wait and judge after having heard the company.
'
L. C. E'S BOSTON LETTEB.
MUSICAL PEBFOBMANCES AT THE THEATBES.
M
September 20th, 1880.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
MIBEILLE.—The first production of Gounod's " Mireille " ("Lover's
Pilgrimage ") will be given by the Abbott Opera Company in^Chicago, Sep-
tember 20, at Hamlin's New Opera House.
AT HOME.
LIESEGANG.—The band in the Exposition Building at Chicago will be
ABBOTT'S FATHER.—Miss Emma Abbott's father, Professor Setli Abbott, under the direction of Mr. Liesegang, who has prepared a number of import-
has appeared as Gaspard in " The Chimes of Normandy," in an amateur ant programmes for these concerts, which will continue seven weeks. Mr.
representation in Milwaukee.
Liberati has been engaged as the cornet soloist and Mr. Lefebvre as the
KELLOGG.—It is said that Clara Louise Kellogg will join with Carl Rosa saxaphone soloist.
in the management of an English opera company in the United States next
POZNANSKI.—Orange, N. J., is to have a conservatory of music, of which
season.
Poznanski, the well-known violinist, is to be the director.
POND COMPANY.—Mrs. Isabella Stone Pond, the Spanish Students, and
Music HATH CHABMS.—G. A. Heinrichs, organist of the village church
the Weber Quartette, are engaged every night for the winter.
of Tuckerton, N. J., and also a teacher of music, disappeared last Thursday,
ELSON.—Mr. L. C. Elson has been appointed lecturer at the N. E. Con- leaving his young wife and two children without any word of his plans. He
is 35 years of age. At the same time Miss Annie Wilbur, daughter of Mr.
servatory of Music, Boston.
Anniah Wilbur, of Farmingdale, 22 years of age and a pupil of Heinrichs,
SEGUIN.—Baltimore American: "Years ago, when Mr. Edwin Seguin was missed from her home. It was learned that Heinrichs had bought
(the former husband of Mrs. Zelda Seguin, who has recently married Mr. a ticket for New York at Tuckerton, and that just before the train left that
David Wallace), had but little money, he made a will on the eve of a journey, place Miss Wilbur ran into the office and got a ticket for New York. The
with his wife's consent, leaving it to his mother or both his parents, partly conductor, who knew both of them, saw them change at Red Bank for New
for safety. This will was left unrevoked and without any modification. It York.
is well known that for long before his death, he was only employed by
MILCKE.—A young violinist, Franz Milcke, of Berlin, arrived here a
managers because his wife would not accept an engagement without him,
and that the money they made was earned by her and not by him. Yet at week ago. He has been for the last two years a member of the Berlin Sym-
his death every dollar of it went to old Mdme. Seguin, who is, however, very phony Orchestra, and consequently should prove a reliable orchestral
player.
indignant at Zelda for being willing to accept a successor to her son."
PABSONS.—Mr. A. R. Parsons will repeat his lectures on music this sea-
DUFF, JB.—Mr. Duff, Jr. has engaged Mr. August Wilhelmj for a season son, having received an invitation to do so from a numerous and influential
of five months in the United States. He is at present in Europe, with the class of citizens interested in this subject.
purpose of securing the services of a pianist for his company.
VOCAL UNION.—The New York Vocal Union will give three concerts the
HAMILTON.—Mr. J. Hamilton has resigned his position as manager of coming season, at Chickering Hall, under the direction of Mr. S. T. Warren.
the Metropolitan Concert Hall. Probably he had to listen to the advices of The dates are Nov. 30, Feb. 1, and April 21.
every single stockholder, and naturally got tired of so many cooks, who
BEEBE.—Miss Henriette Beebe is said to have received several flattering
were sure to spoil the broth in spite of his clever management.
offers from England, and she intends to leave for that country as soon as her
CINDEBELLA.—The operatic spectacle of " Cinderella" was successfully present engagements permit.
produced at Baltimore by Mr, Henry C. Jarrett, on Monday, 6, at the Holh-
ITALIAN OPEBA.—The Mapleson Season opens with "Lucia," and "Fa-
day street theatre, before a brilliant audience. Mr. Maretzek will remain
with the troupe two weeks ; after that time Mr. Anthony Reiff, Jr. will vorita " will be given as second performance. The novelty of the repertoire
is beyond question.
occupy the position of conductor.
POUND.—John Pound, organist, who died on Sunday, September 5, at
STBELEZKI.—Anton Strelezki's performances in Cincinnati have been
praised very highly by the critics of that city, and it is only regretted that his residence, No. 83 Christopher street (formerly the rectory of old St.
Matthews' Episcopal Church, of Greenwich village, of which his father, the
he played at the Highland House, a place not suited to piano playing.
late Rev. Jesse Pound, was the rector), began his career as organist in Tor-
LIEBLING.—The engagement of Mr. S. Liebling, the pianist, at Koster onto, at St. James' Cathedral. He was 14 years organist of the Church of
& Bial's Concert Hall, ended on Friday, September 10.
the Annunciation, in 14th street, under the Rev. Dr. Seabury, and for five
STEBNBEBG.—Mr. Constantin Sternberg arrived in New York on board years at Rev. Dr. Hall's old church, Fifth avenue and 19th street, and latterly
the Hamburg steamship "Wieland." He will make his debut in this city of the Union Dutch Reformed Church, Sixth avenue. Mr. Pound was a
the second week of next month, in two concerts and one matinee, in conjunc- thoroughly educated musician, and wrote several favorite church services.
tion with a grand orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Gotthold. Carlberg. He was much respected throughout his profession as an organist of the old
school. He was born at Maidstone, England, in 1814.
WEBBENBATH.—Mr. George Werrenrath, the tenor, of Brooklyn, is en-
gaged for a number of important concerts during the coming season. We
APTHOBP.—Mr. W. F. Apthorp, the well-known Boston musician and
hope that these important concerts will not take place in New York.
critic, is to lecture during the season.
FISCHEB.—Adolph Fischer, the violoncellist, has decided to return to
THOMAS.—Mr. Theodore Thomas is desirous of forming a chorus, to
this country, and has already made a number of engagements for the co-operate with the orchestra of the New York Philharmohic Society. The
season.
rehearsals, which will begin in October, are to take place weekly.
POOLE.—A contralto new to New York, Miss Clara Poole, of Boston,
HALLOCK.—Miss Agnes Hallock, an excellent contralto, who h;is ap-
will be heard in concert early in the season.
in " Pinafore," •' Fantinitza," and other light operas, has been engaged by
WINANT.—Miss Emily Winant, the well-known contralto, has returned Mr. Jarrett, for his " Fun on the Bristol " company.
from New England, where she has appeared several times in concerts during
MONTAGUE-TUBNEB.—Miss Annie Montague, formerly of the Kellogg
the summer.
English Opera Troupe, was married on Aug. 10, at Hawaii, to Mr. Charles
STANISLAUS.—Mr. F. Stanislaus, late chef cTorchestre at Sadler's Wells, H. Turner, the well-known tenor. The ceremony was performed just before
the departure of the steamer for Sidney, Australia, by the Rev. H. H. Bar-
London, is the conductor of the Ideal Company at Booth's theatre.
ker. Miss Montague (Mary Cooke) will continue to sing under her old stage
MILLS.—Mr. S. B. Mills was prevented by illness last season from play- name.
marriage was a surprise to her friends, it having been generally
ing, but having taken a long and needed rest at Catskill and Saratoga, has supposed The
that she was already married to Mr. Turner two years ago.
returned to town in his usual health.
Theodore Thomas is confined by serious sickness,
WABREN.—Mr. S. P. Warren, the organist of Grace church, has and, UNFORTUNATE.—Mr.
by the advice of his physicians, has relinquished some engagements
returned and resumed his duties.
which had been made for the early part of the season.
MOSENTHAL.—Mr. Joseph Mosenthal is expected here on the next in-
GONE TO REST.—The Musical Phalanx organization, under the manage-
coming Bremen steamer, about September 24.
ment of Jarrett & Gulick, which opened their season on Monday, the 13th
JUDIC.—A report that Mme. Judic is coming to America under engage- inst., prematurely ended their performances on Tuesday, the 14th. Reason
ment to Mr. Maurice Grau having become current here of late, the following utterly unknown ; the opening night drew a splendid house, and bad busi-
from the Parisian, of August 26, will be regarded as contradictory of the ness cannot be the cause of the break-up. But is not Manager Jarrett
rumor :—"Mme. Judic has simply promised to Mr. Grau that if ever she responsible for the contracts the firm has signed ? He ought to be surely,
does come to America it shall be under his management, but her engage- otherwise managerial signatures will become a farce, and will lose their
ments will not permit her to leave France for two or three years to come." value entirely.
PANSEB.—The Rev. Dr. William Panser, a prominent physician and
FBANKUN.—Miss Gertrude Franklin, soprano, of Boston, is to make a
musical author, died at Wadley, Ga., on the 15th inst., at the age of 68
concert tour with the Temple Quartet of Boston.
years.
PHILHARMONIC.—Mr. Joseffy will be the solo artist at the first Philhar-
KOSTER k BIAL'S.—The 500th-concert at this hall took place on the 15th
monic concert, which is to be given at the Academy of Music, Nov. 13.
inst., on which occasion the favorite conductor, Mr. Rudolph Bial, was ten-
MusiCAii FESTIVAL.—The Music Festival Committe, whose headquarters dered a benefit. The evening was a treat in every regard ; an increased or-
are at the Everett House, have issued a circular of which the following is the chestra of 60 performers executed a programme full of interesting and
substance : The festival will be held during the first week in May next at elaborate pieces, while the new electric light filled the hall with an intense
the Seventh Regiment Armory, and will be under the direction of Dr. Dam- brightness. The place was packed, and the performance throughout enjoy-
rosch. There will be seven performances, four in the evenings and three in able. As principal points of the rich programme we mention Mendelssohn's
the afternoons. The programmes will include choral compositions of dif- overture to " Midsummer Night's Dream ;" air from Bach's " Suite ;" over-
ferent styles, orchestral works, ensemble pieces, and solos. Only the prin- ture, "Rienzi;" Liszt's "Hungarian Fantasia;" "Baby Polka," by Bial,
cipal choral works have as yet been decided upon. These are Handel's and " Marche Turque," by Joseffy.
celebrated "Dettingen TeDeum ;" Rubinstein's "The Tower of Babel," which
has been reported that Miss Gertrude Griswold is the
is unknown here, but has been received with great favor abroad ; "The niece GBISWOLD.—It
of Bret Harte. This is a mistake ; she is the daughter of a former
Grand Requiem," by Hector Berlioz, which is a work of enormous difficulty ; millionaire,
who lost his fortune in the crisis of 1873.
Handel's "Messiah," and Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony." The chorus
" MY NINA."—The secret has leaked out. The valse for cornet-a-piston,
will number 1,000 voices and the orchestra over 200 performers. The seating
written by our friend Pietro Ferranti, and called mysteriously " My Nina. '
capacity of the armory is about 8,000.
has not been dedicated to any belle, to whom young Pietro has given his
OPEBTI.—Signor G. Operti has been engaged to lead the orchestra with heart, but to a being much more tender, to his little dog, whom he adores
the Dudley Buck Opera Company after the first performance of " Deseret," Liberati played the valse several times at Brighton Beach, and '• My
•which the composer will himself direct in person.
listened to the strains attentively and patiently.
MUSICAL NOTES.

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