October 20th, 1880.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
9
wonderfully different from its former performance ; its opportunities for relapse into the throatiness, which was his old fault; he makes "Lord " into
broad bowing and double-stopped legato playing were improved to the " Lerd," and mars many effects thereby. He should devote more attention
utmost. I t is an excellent addition to the romantic school of violin com- to this matter. But this was his only fault. His conception of the prophet
was intelligent and grand. His singing of " I t is Enough," was well nigh
positions.
At the last performance the " Kreutzer Sonate " was announced, but perfect. The tempo might have been a trifle faster at "Call him louder,"
for these passages are the most humorous and sarcastic in the Scriptures.
only the Andante and Variations played.
It was unspeakably superior to the botchy performance at which Joseffy Per contra, the time of " Look down on us " seemed hurried.
assisted last season, with Adamowski at the violin. But why should the
He was again at his best in " I go on my way," and " F o r the Mount-
" Kreutzer " always be chosen, and the other Beethoven violin sonatas ne- ains," in which the oboe was very evenly blown and added much to the suc-
glected ? Some of them are as fine, and are within reasonable length for cess of the number. I value John Winch as highly as Whitney in this role,
for while Whitnev's voice is the more majestic, the tessitura suits Winch's
popular concerts.
We have a new hall in Boston, (the Tremont Temple), which is to be voice far better, and his tones (with the above exceptions) are less forced in
used for concerts and lectures, and will undoubtedly add (as it has already) the highest register. But at this rate I shall make your readers imagine that
to the number of these entertainments. It is almost as large as the Music Hall, I am trying to Bostonize the MUSICAL CEITIC. I will cease my chronicle of
has numerous entrances and exits, and its acoustics are admirable. It is an important week by merely alluding to the success of Rice's Bijou Opera
finished in rather a high key (as painters say), light shades being used here in the " Spectre Knight " and "Charity Begins at Home." But the
copiously, and the organ being in white. The pitch of the seats is so steep performance was not very good, McCollin being a very poor substitute for
that there are no " poor seats." I do not altogether like the idea of leaving Digby Bell, both in voice and "business" (although the latter sometimes
the block-tin of the 32-foot pipes exposed, as it gives the effect of a window "over-acted "), Herbert suffering from rheumatic gout, and Beauman giving
full of Brittania ware. But the tone seems strong and majestic. I shall that one note of her's with the usual whoop. Carrie Burton was as good as
probably soon have an opportunity to hear its solo stops (I was unable to ever, but the stick-like acting of Pfau caused us heartily to regret Courtney.
attend the opening organ exhibition), and will then write more at length
I will reserve notice of the Philharmonic Concert in Tremont Temple for
L. C. E.
concerning it. The ventilation of the hall seemed to leave something to be my next.
desired.
E. L.'s CHICAGO LETTER.
As opening attractions the trustees gave three important concerts with
CHICAGO, Oct. 13th,
1880.
the aid of the Handel and Haydn Society and the Phil harmonic orchestra.
CAN truthfully exclaim with Margaret, " Meine Ruh ist hin, mein
At the first of these the " Messiah " was given with Miss Lillian Bailey,
Herz ist schever ! " since Fate led you into my way. Why could you not
soprano ; Miss Emily Winant, contralto ; Mr. William J. Winch, tenor ; Mr.
Myron W. Whitney, bass ; Mr. Carl Zerrahn, conductor ; Mr. B. J. Lang, leave me to enjoy the little comfort which my confreres permitted me to have
organist; Mr. E. M. Bagley, solo trumpet. The chorus sang very finely; only in comparative peace? But no, you had to come and ask me to furnish you
in the alto part, there was an occasional lack of power visible ; the firmness my real views in regard to our musicians, musical, and unmusical doings, for
of " Unto us a child is born," and the " Hallelujah;" these were especially your valuable newspaper. But that is just what nobody wants to hear, and
what I have so far kept to myself most religiously ; for whenever I have ex-
noticeable, but all of the chorus work calls for great praise.
Miss Bailey's voice seemed to me a new edition of Miss Thursby's: pressed my bona fide opinion of anything, I have gotten nothing but abuse
sweet, pure, flexible, and light, never untrne in intonation, and yet not an for it, even when I meant for the best. If it was anything in the nature of
oratorio voice. In " I know that my Redeemer liveth," the above qualities criticism, it was sure to displease ; if it was praise, there was not enough of
were apparent. Miss Winant is one of the best oratorio singers I have lately it. But to begin : Our unmusical season was fitly inaugurated by a two
heard. She has corrected her fault of " overfeeling " (turning pathos into weeks' visit of Emma Abbott's troupe. When the musical season will com-
mushiness) and sings with a richness and volume of tone that is entirely in mence I cannot say. There are as many rumors afloat, as concerning the re-
place. Her phrasing in "' Oh, thou that tellest good tidings," was thoroughly lations between France and Germany, or Russia and Turkey, but nothing
Handelion, and her deep voice told out finely against the elaborate flute tangible as yet. Liszt once told the Princess Metternich that he did not
figures in the accompaniment. I do not quite understand why all altos in- travel to make money, but music. Emma Abbott does the opposite ; she
sist upon altering the syncopation of the second word in " He shall feed his does not make music, but money ; and, to tell the truth, I doubt if she would
flock;" Handel undoubtedly knew what he was doing when he wrote it so. make more money if she made better music. Especially our western people
It goes without saying that. " He was despised " was effectively given. Mr. will go to hear her. They take a special pride in her ; and there certainly is
Whitney was in best of voice, and it is difficult to choose any number which something so charming and winsome about her personality that none can
he sang, for special commendation, where all was so well done ; but in " The but wish her well. And as "one swallow does not make a summer," even
trumpet shall sound," he was most impressive, and the trumpet part was no- Zelda Seguin (who by the way has left the company) could not save the
ticeably free from breaks. Mr. Winch sang purely and with his usual refine- season. There was absolutely no chorus, no ensemble, no orchestra. The
ment. Only in '' Thou shalt break them" was his voice totally inefficient. Such latter was the worst we have ever had here. But the patience of our theatre-
airs are not in his vein, and we longed for Mr. Tower's quality of tone. The goers is wonderful. The conductor (whose name I forget) played on an up-
" Pastorial Symphony" proved not only the excellence of the orchestra, but right piano during the whole performance, while beating time with the right
the good acoustics of the hall, since the muted tones penetrated clearly to hand. Miss Rosewald pleased moderately. I had expected more after read-
everj portion, without any forcing. All in all, it was a notably excellent ing of her success in Germany. Of the gentlemen, Mr. Brignoli murdered
performance.
the Queen's English. It was a pity that Mr. Win. Castle was hoarse, for his
?&s magnificent. In " Carmen " it reached a tragic intensity almost
The performance of " Elijah " on Wednesday last was given with the acting was
But
in ,.-.w.
tights throughout the
following artists: Principal vocalists—Miss Fanny Kellogg, soprano ; Miss painful in
in its
its realism.
- •- 1 "-- T>
~ i - why
• — 1 he
- - - should
' • — ^ appear .-..
pera, " P a u l and Virginia," is a riddle to me. The beautiful air,
Emily Winant, contralto; Mr. Charles It. Adams, tenor ; Mr. John F . entire opera,
TVrorp.lirmS! " was nmit.t.fid
TVFr Kt.ndilsivrl'K r p m i i f i r m r\f f l i o " 'V^-^n^
Winch, bass. Assistants in the concerted music—Miss Louie Homer, "Nous Marchons,"
was omitted. Mr.
Stoddard's rendition of the " Torea-
soprano ; Mrs. C. C. Noyes, contralto ; Mr. Or. W. Want, tenor ; Mr. D. M. dor " was weak in comparison with Pantaleoni's glorious rendering of the
Babcock, bass.
same role. Miss Abbott also sang in the Chicago Press Club Concert with
The audience was lamentably small, probably owing to the political ex- great success. Gounod's " La Mireille " was announced, but not given.
citement, which runs high here at present. I t certainly could have been
That ubiquitous pianist, Mr. Frederic Boscovitz, who has just come from
from no other cause, for the oratorio itself is t i e most melodious in the whole Paris, London, Toronto, New York, Boston, and San Francisco, has come
category (some call the music sensuous, but it seems to me only the pleasant here under the auspices of a triumvirate, consisting of a well-known music
meeting point of melody and counterpoint), and the performance was one of firm, a conservatory, and a young ladies' school. He gave an inaugural per-
the best. The choruses of this work are among the best efforts of the club, formance, at which I heard him play the Italian concerto by Bach, some
and went evenly and thoroughly well, to the very end. The interest was Chopin numbers, and Liszt's 12th Rhapsody. I was disappointed in every
sustained in a remarkable degree, probably by Mr. Zerrahn's sensible rule respect. An excessive rubato spoiled the Chopin numbers, and the techni-
of allowing not a single encore, and pushing the numbers in moderately que seemed inadequate to meet the requirements of the Liszt number, in
quick continuity ; and scarcely anyone left the hall until the final " Amen." which for instance whole pages were omitted, and a great many difficult
The only possible faults to be found with the chorus were a lack of clear
partly eliminated and reconstructed. The same piece was played by
attack in " The Fire Descends," and too much eagerness in " Thanks be to places
Ben Jones, one of the most gifted amateur pianists, last winter, before
God," which caused them at times to anticipate the conductor's beat. But Mrs.
in this nobie chorus they may be pardoned for taking the bit in their teeth ; the Young Ladies Amateur Club, much more satisfactorily. This club is as
it is the " old war-horse" of the society, and they sing it with an impulse select, and hard to get in, as the 32d degree in Free Masonry. If I ever suc-
and power that is inspiring. If Zerrahn were to be parlyzed after beating ceed in penetrating into its mysteries, I shall furnish you full particulars.
one measure, and sending them off, the chorus would roll on of its own mo- It is a sort of a musical " Sorosis," from which the male sex are excluded.
mentum to the close. The work of the chorus grew better and better The meetings are entirely private, as affairs of the greatest importance only
towards the close, and those who missed this slimly-attended performance are transacted. I am told that it is against the rules to have more than ten
members speak at once. I shall be glad to hear Mr. B. again ; perhaps he
may not soon have a chance to hear the club to such advantage.
did not do himself justice in his first appearance, and may improve on
As to the soloists, there are a few faults to find. Miss Kellogg, pains- further acquaintance. The reproach of one-sidedness is so often made against
taking and musically thorough as she is, cannot make a good impression on professional musicians, that it is pleasant to mention exceptions.
the oratorio stage; such numbers as "Hear Ye, Israel," or the " Inliam-
Mr. Brittan, of our city, has just published a short novellette, " A Ro
matus," or- " L e t the Bright Seraphim," cannot be sung by her, no matter mance of Doubt," which is most charmingly written. Another novelty is Mr.
how earnestly she strives. She sings on such occasions without any reserve Matthews' new book, "How to understand Music," written in Mr. M.'sbest
power, and her voice (naturally pleasant) becomes acrid, and the portamento style. It contains an amazing amount of the most practical information.
and missa di voce are unsparingly used.
Our city is liberally supplied with good pianists, and piano teachers.
In the dramatic widow's part she was very good, and also in the short Our most diligent composers are probably Messrs. Pratt and Gleason. At
but difficult monotony of the youth's replies to Elijah.
any rate they have always lots of manuscripts under the arm, when one meets
Mr. Adams, like the chorus, grew steadily better toward the end ; but them. There has been quite a "Hegira " of teachers to this place. Among
with this difference—he began poorly. He tried, by altering his quality the principal new arrivals are Mr. Edward Heimendahl, and Mr. Clement
of tone a number of times, to attain sweetness in " I f with all your Hearts," Tetedoux. Mr. Heimendahl is a violinist. I almost hate to mention the fact
and only succeeded when he half smothered his voice in the pharynx. By
he has studied with Wilhelmj and Wieniawski, for I am down on this
the time he reached " Then shall the Righteous," his voice was well under that
miserable modern humbug, making capital out of the teacher's name. The
control, and he sang very finely.
fact that a person has studied with Chopin and Liszt, does not prove anything
Miss Winant was, as ever, very satisfactory. " She sang, " O rest in the whatever. In fact it is of no interest to anyone but the person concerned.
Lord " with just sufficient feeling, and seems to allow the music to stand for Is there ever a pianist who, on returning from Europe, is not "Liszt's " favo-
itself -without importing into it a high degree of tremulous quality, which rite pupil, who has not run the gauntlet of all the conservatories, and Kullak
only weakens the effect. Her recitatives (a great feature in this work) were to boot. There is some sense in a teacher's boasting of good pupils, but it by
finely given, according to the sentiments portrayed.
no means follows that these great men would be willing to father all the
Mr. Winch was also, in the main, excellent. Only we noticed a slight
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I