October 20th, 1880.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENTS.
11
Mdlle. Belocca sang " Ah qual Giorno," from " Semiramide " and other
pieces. The contralto quality of her voice strengthens with time, and her
chest notes are much the best of her register. The pure Italian method and
the clean execution were very welcome after so much slip-shod work of this
illegitimate performances that are committed in their name. Let kind which is heard nowadays from the throats of raw singers. Speaking
everybody travel under their own firm, and not use great names as a catch- for myself, there was no selection given during the evening which gave more
penny. It is not absolutely to anybody's discredit to have the diplomas of the pleasure than a trio for female voices, " Faccio un inchino," from Cimarosa's
Leipzig and Stuttgart conservatories ; still it will be well to distrust such per- old opera of "II Matrimonio Segreto." This was given by Gerster, Belocca,
sons. They might be said to come from "poor, but dishonest parents." and Mme. Marie L. Swift, and the former singer managed to infuse a good
Mr. Heimendahl is a fine violinist, and, in conjunction with Mr. Liesegang, the suggestion of its strong dramatic possibilities, when given in its proper place
cellist (whose wife, under the nom de plume of Marie Wolff, is one of our most in the opera. It made me wish to hear the whole opera. But the staid au-
successful German actresses), assisted by Priegnitz, 2d violin, and Allen, dience of conscientious concert-goers permitted the number to fall flat.
viola, have commenced a cyclus of chamber music soirees. The first took
Mme. Carreno played, for the first time here, Grieg's " Norwegian Volks-
place last night with the following programme : 1. Quartette (E flat) leban,"
the newly arrived Russian pianist, Constantin Sternberg, played
Mozart. 2. Recitation and Aria—"Joseph," Mehill. 3. Quintette, (0 for your which
citizens on the 7th inst. It is of local, rather thun musical interest,
Major), Schubert.
although the themes are treated very interestingly at times. But the fair
The ensemble was good. The most pleasing rendition was given to the artist's best number was Liszt's E major Polonaise, in which she not only
Menuetto in the Mozart number, and the Andante in the Quintett, in which made the most of all the effects, but seemed to toy with the enormous diffi-
•the 2d cello was discreetly played by Mr. Zotzmann. Mr. Knorr, our tenor culties. Mme. Carreno's reputation was decidedly advanced among musi-
jpar excellence, sang with especial verve. His improvement is very marked. cians who heard her at this concert ; and although she appeared in the often
Mr. Tetedoux has come from Pittsburgh, where he has led the Gounod Club, unsatisfactory position of first on the programme, this first number won a
and is a most welcome addition to our very scant number of good singing very hearty encore. Mme. Sacconi, the neAv harpist, gave the impression of
masters. The best teacher we ever had here was a Mr. Carozzi, but he turned delicacy and neatness, rather than force; and, after all, nobody can get force
out to be a bad egg and had to go to Havana suddenly for his health. out of a harp.
Another new singer is Mr. Chas. H. Clark, who is the tenor at the Third
This Gerster concert was the opening of a popular series of entertain-
Presbyterian Church, and vocal teacher at the Chicago Ladies' Seminary. ments,
begun here 12 years ago by manager T. B. Pugh, and widely
Mr. Clark sings with great taste and judgment, and has a very dramatic voice. known as
Star Course. There will be other notable musical events in
He excels in German songs. Mr. Phelps, who by his departure broke up the the series the
to which I shall doubtless have occasion to revert. Among these
Carlotta Patti Troupe, has also settled here, and I hear is very successful. will be Joseffy's
set down for October 28th. The Star Course
The pianists praise his singing, and the singers his piano inlaying. Between manager has many concert,
times given fine musical entertainments here, among
Ihe two he certainly must do something well. Then we had a short visit from them
concerts by nearly all of the celebrities. He put 6,000 into the house
Mdme, Cappiani, who seemed to have come on a sort of a short " foraging
to hear dear Ole Bull after most other managers had dropped him as a
expedition." Her stay was limited to ten days, and she was willing and even once
out card. He was the only manager here who ever ventured to engage
x anxious, as I understand, to take pupils for that length of time. But some- worn
once great, but very unmanageable singer, Mme. Rudersdorff; and I
how the singers did not " enthuse," in spite of private musical soirees, etc. that
A similar project in regard to bringing Mme. Rudersdorff here fell through don't think Pugh has ever since felt happy about that experience.
The renewed charms of " Piano Row," which as I recently told you have
last summer. She was to be here for four weeks, and pupils were invited to
register. Whether the people thought that they might succeed in learning been recently emblazoned upon the outer walls, through the liberality of
all she could teach them in that time, or whether her demands were too mod- city councils, to whom the block belongs, have been further supplemented by
erate, I do not know ; perhaps it would have been selfish and too mean to interior and window decorations. Several of the agents have endeavored to
deprive Boston of her even for that short time. Among the other new arri- outvie each other in this respect. After Mr. Getz had finished fixing up and
vals are Messrs. Leavett, Wellenstein, and Chas. Koelling, pianists. Mr. newly lettering his fine new window with the talismanic word " Weber," his
Leavett is a brother-in law of John Trendsen, and Mr. Chas. Koelling is the western neighbor, Mr. Blasius, hurriedly scratched out the old lettering of his
well known manufacturer of piano music, wholesale and retail. Mr. Wellen- Steinway front, and brought out a sign twice as big as Weber's. In his zeal
stein must do his best, for it would be a pity if such a talented pianist to add still further to the attractiveness of his window, he smashed a grand
piano through the costly French plate-glass, and the glass and lettering both
and clever composer should have to return where he came from,
had to be done over again. Weber's chief display seems to be the very
Church concerts are commencing rather early this winter. The proper fancy inlaid piano which he exhibited here at the Centennial, and which it
time for them is after Lent, when the musical season is at its end, and people seems, from this present exhibit, was too gorgeous ever to find a purchaser.
will go to almost anything. In this case, however, the menu is tolerable, and My excellent old friend, James Bellak, shows in his window an Emerson up-
will not make anybody sick :—1. Piano Quartette, Ballet Music, "Rienzi," right of prodigious gaudiness. Col. Gray, I saw the other day, haranguing
"Wagner, Mrs. Smith, Miss Morton, Mrs. Hadduck, Mr. Shafer. 2. " How a delinquent carman with all the energy and volubility which he would ex-
Fair Art Thou," Wiedt, Mr. Me Wade. 3. (a) Nocturne, Field ; (b) Men- ercise in fighting an obnoxious motion in the board of health, and only less
xietto, Boscovitz ; (c) " The King's Hunting Jig," Dr. John Bull. 4. Scherzo, earnestness than he displayed when engaged in selling a Schomacker Grand or
Paola Giorza, Miss Dutton. 5. Rondo Brilliante, op. 5, for two pianos, G, Upright, with magnificent butternut case, to the Commissioner of Agriculture,
Schumann, Mrs. Hadduck and Mr. Shafer. 6. Italian Symphony for 8 hands, Leduc, who was here from Washington a fortnight ago. I forgot to say that
Mendelssohn. 7. " Lovely Spring," Coenen, Mr. Clark. 8. Impromptu' in Getze's window there is an "oil painting" understood to represent the
Mazurka and Valse, Chopin, Mr. Boscovitz. 9. "Devotion," Schumann^ frisky Lotta in one of her bucolic moods. I hope before he gets the next
Miss Dutton, and some other numbers. Mrs. Hadduck is the prime mover issue of your paper, he will have sold that canvass, or given it away.
in this affair, and declares she will never do it again. If it was not so indis-
An anecdote in your editorial paragraphs some time ago, commenting on
creet I might add that Mrs. H. is especially gifted for making that kind of
a previous one from your Boston correspondent, reminded me of one which
cake, known as "Angel's Food."
Thomas Ryan, of the Mendelssohn Club, related. Once, in Boston, that too
I reserve a report of our conservatories, orchestra and singing societies delicate, over-refined, Chopin-like Otto Dresel, was rehearsing the great
for my next letter, if I live long enough " to tell the tale."
Schumann Quintette in E flat. When it came to the part of the club in the
E. L.
" Funeral March," Dresel insisted that they began in 6-8 time. This criticism
was reiterated until at length Wulf Fries, who, as Ryan explained, was the
HOWE'S PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
fighting-man of their quintette, took the pianist to task, giving him to under-
stand that a club which had played in the E flat quintette 700 times probably
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 15, 1880.
knew what it was about.
n p H E genuine season of music having fairly arrived, it is pleasant to have
I know of nothing more promising of pleasure to advanced musicians than
J_ had it opened in this city with a musical event of national importance. the fact that David D. Wood, the celebrated organist of St. Stephen's, is pre-
I allude to the Gerster concert of last Monday evening at the Academy of paring another organ recital. This player is the ablest I have ever heard,
Music. The demands of the programme absorbed quite an unusual amount and as a theoretic musician he holds no second place, I assure you. Twice
of first-class talent. Mdlle. Belocca, the beautiful Russian contralto, in the last dozen years he has given these organ recitals to invited guests,
appeared in four numbers. The popular and amiable pianist, who hails from each time with a wonderful bill of organ music, and as good vocal numbers
a more genial clime, Mme. Carreno, gave two. The new harpist, who has as the noted choir of St. Stephen's is capable of furnishing. The first of
come with Col. Mapleson from Italy, Mme. Sacconi, made her debut. Sig these musical repasts was furnished in 1868, the second in 1872. Now, after
Lazzarini struggled through a good deal of hard work during the evening! eight years, he is preparing a third one. The programme is magnificent. In
Then " that incomparable leader," as Mr. Lumley used to call him in Lon- the first place, and it is always simple justice to put this organ player first,
don, Signor Luigi Arditi, was on hand to accompany Gerster, and used up a Mr.Wood is to play the following very important numbers: A choral prelude
pair of fresh gloves applauding Sacconi.
and fugue in C minor, by Bach ; Handel's organ concerto in G ; Mendels-
Naturally, before all of these artists in importance came Mme. Gerster sohn's organ sonata, No. 2 ; Mr. Wood's own arrangement, for four hands, of
herself, looking her best, and singing superbly. It was her first concert in the " Auf dem Bach," from Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony, in which he will
America, and her first appearance in this country since her return on the 3d be assisted by Mrs. Anna W. Bunting, organist of Christ Church, W. P., and
inst. Mme. Gerster's numbers were "Ah! non credea,"from " Somnambula " an adagio, by Merkel. The vocal numbers are also of remarkable interest.
and a new polka cantabile, which Arditi has just composed for her entitled The " Gloria," from Cherubini's Mass in C, and that magnificent work of Schu-
"Fior di Margherita." This latter met with an unwonted success, taking bert's, " Miriam's Song of Triumph," with soprano solo, and a chorus of 20
the audience of 4,000 people by storm, and being honored by the demand for carefullly selected voices, are to be given, Miss Abbie Whinnery singing the
a third repetition.
solo in the latter. The concert will occur about Nov. 10, and will be well
It presents all of the peaceful qualities of the composer's style, although worth a trip from New York to hear it.
as its name implies, it is of a more legato character than "II Bacio." For an
HOWE.
encore to the first number Mme. Gerster responded with another work by
the same composer, the " Tortorella Waltz," so that Arditi gained almost as
ALASTOR'S BALTIMORE LETTER.
many laurels at the concert as did Gerster.
The popular prima donna was greeted with amass of floral tributes, some
BALTIMORE, Oct. 19, 1880.
of them magnificent in dimensions. She was very much delighted with the
WEET
strains
of
music
have
had
very
little
chance to be heard during
warm nature of her reception; and in the few words which your correspondent
the ten days' fete of our Sesqui-Centennial. The rumble of heavy
passed with her during an interval of the programme, she paid an enthusias- wagons
bearing " historic tableaux," the clangor of bells, the tramp of pro-
tic tribute to the excellence of our Academy of Music as a place to sing in
eleven-and-a-half miles long, marching and counter-marching,
saying, " I t helps the voice, instead of hindering, to sing here." Doctor cessions
and being cheered, the thunder of artillery, and the unlovely strains
Gardini, the diva's husband, sets as much store by her reputation as did the cheering
sundry imported sheet-iron bands—these have conquered music in our
husband of Catalini in his estimate of that great singer, and his admiration of
city during the past 10 days. Some of the bands were very fine, as, for ex-
for her great gifts is quite pleasant to witness.
ample, the Marine band from Washington City, a government institution,
( Continued from page 9.)
S