December 5th, 1880.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
13
Nilsson's non-appearance, and Torriani was induced to take her place. Under only appeal to a very limited number of connoisseurs, and it is difficult to
such trying circumstances, the then unknown singer made a brilliant suc- gather even these. All professional musicians of course expect complimen-
cess. Later she was the original Aida in this city, where the opera was pro- taries. So between the indifference of the public and the want of interest of
duced, long before it was heard either in Paris or London. Her Leonora the the profession, the artist has a hard stand ; and the only way to obtain any
other night showed the true artist, and was greatly enjoyed, but she has no kind of an audience is to scatter free tickets broadcast. No one likes to play
longer the same freshness of voice, and there is a slight tremolo apparent to empty houses, and, bad as it seems, the tender mercies of the average dead-
when she exerts herself overmuch.
•& ^ j> •-.*
head are preferable to an array of empty chairs. The concert business is
Of the other artists I cannot take time to speak. The chorus is not up largely in the hands of lecture bureaus, lyceums, &c., who furnish popular
to the standard of grand opera either in quantity or quality. The orchestra combinations of great variety at such low prices as to drive all individual
is quite good, and respectable in point of numbers. Mr. S. Behrens has enterprise out of the field altogether.
been the leader at most of the performances ; and his capabilities have been
Our dailies help the cause and interests of music very much. I doubt
developed by long experience.
if any other city receives through that channel of information as much
By the way, there is an amusing incident which Behrens' name recalls knowledge as Chicago. The Inter- Ocean and Saturday Evening Herald devote
to me. One night last week he delegated his place to another leader. There from two to three columns of musical matter every Saturday, and the Times
is a youthful musical critic who has just been attached to one of the leading and Tribune about the same space every Sunday. Perhaps it is due to this
morning papers, and who, on that particular night of all others, concluded that every attempt to establish a musical journal in our city has been a
he would " go for " Behrens. The next morning there was something like a failure. By a musical journal more should be meant than a copy of " Men-
half column of savage excoriation of Mr. Behrens for what he had perpe- delssohn's Letters," "Chopin's Life," " Grove's Dictionary of Music," and a
trated in the way of ignorant leadership on the previous evening. Mr. big pair of scissors. History of music can be studied from the proper test-
Behrens called around at the editor's office, and not finding the critic, who books, and likewise harjnony and counterpoint. When people subscribe to
was doubtless sleeping off the exhaustion of his great effort, he inter% r iewed a journal, they want the musical news of the day, a full resume of all the
the editor-in-chief. That gentleman politely insisted that the paper sup- happenings in the musical world, and not extracts from works, that are
plied a competent person to attend to the musical department, and that while accessible to everyone. As well might a daily paper publish grammar and
itwaa unpleasant to disagree with parties interested, it was a misfortune history, or a religious newspaper the Bible.
that could not be avoided.
Mr. Frank Baird gave a church concert November 16th, at the Third
" But," insisted Behrens, " when you hear the ground of my complaint, Presbyterian Church, which was well attended. The programme included
you may perhaps change your views." A copy of the issue was produced; an anthem by Tours, quartettes by that mystic and convenient composer,
the editor read it over and asked:
'• Selected," Arias by Mendelssohn and Handel, and several organ numbers,
" With what do you particularly find fault?"
ably played by Mr. Baird.
"Well," said good-natured Behrens, who enjoyed the situation, of
The Second Re-union of the Amateur Musical Club took place November
course " I have only one fault to find with that,—I was not there/"
17th. The principal items of interest were a remarkably able rendering of
A funny tribe are critics of all kinds. The best of them rarely agree Hummel's Concerto in B minor by Miss Lizzie Sprague, one of Mrs. Wat-
about anything. Some day it will be asked what excuse there is for their son's best pupils, and a very interesting paper on " Rubinstein," read by
existence? I remember long ago, when English opera first began to be Mr. Edward Freiberger. Miss Ingersoll, and Messrs. Lewis, Allen, and
talked about much in this country, Miss Annie Milner was prima donna of a Eichheim gave their 20th Chamber Concert November 18th, with the follow-
company of which her husband, Henry Cooper, the dulcet violinist, was di- ing fine programme : Quartette, op. 37, Scharwenka; cello solo, Nocturne
rector. Brookhouse Bowler first appeared here then. In New York they and Valse, Grutzmacher-Chopin, Mr. Eichheim ; Allergofrom Quartette, op.
said he could sing, but could not act. In Philadelphia he " was a good 202, No. 2, Raff; Song, " I ' l l crown the Queen," Tours, Mr. Frank K. Root;
actor, but a poor singer." In exuberant Chicago he was pronounced a Trio, op. 12, Raff. -
splendid singer and an able actor; while critical Cincinnati decided that he
The most " naif " announcement of a debutante that I have seen lately
could neither act nor sing.
was that of Miss Ella Schwarke, who invited yourself and ladies respect-
No wonder poor Bewler exclaimed, " What in thunder am I, anyway ?" fully to attend a musical festival, assisted by other talented musicians. The
In your last number you had among your many paragraphs one telling pupils of Mr. S. G. Pratt gave their ninth reception, Nov. 19th, the follow-
of the three prizes of the Mendelssohn Club, which were all won by our able ing numbers being presented: Mazurka and Polonaise, Chopin, Miss Whitley;
musician, Mr. W. W. Gilchrist. Dr. Callcott never did better than that, in " Spring Song," Mendelssohn, Miss Wood; Prelude and Valse, Chopin, Miss
the old days of English Glee writing, when he swept the board more than Millar; Rondo, E flat, Weber, Wedding Polonaise, Pratt, Miss
once, in the same way that Gilchrist has just done here. To show the Wilder; Sonata, op. 27, Beethoven, Miss Nesen; " Marche Henrique," 4
modesty of our composer, his most intimate friends here knew nothing, hands, Schubert, Miss Schimpferman and Mr. Pratt; •'Nocturne," Chopin;
either of his competition or award, until the news appeared in the public "Rondo Capriccioso," Mendelssohn, Miss Schimpferman; Prelude and
journals.
Fantasie Impromptu, Chopin, Miss Moran.
Among the best recent concerts was one on the 20th November, given by
The Chicago Musical College and Mr. Emil Liebling, likewise gave
the professors of the Philadelphia Musical Academy. I am not sure Pupil's Soirees last week, and the Hershey School will give an organ
whether this correspondence has not already mentioned the active and use- matinee next Wednesday, in which all numbers will be performed by stu-
ful way in which the above conservatory is doing its work. Mr. Richard dents of the school.
Zeckwer is the proprietor. He is a capable musician, an admired composer
A very enjoyable programme was executed at Riverside, one of our sub-
of several morceaus, an organist of reputation, and an experienced piano urbs, Nov. 26th, by Miss Ingersoll, Messrs. Lewis and Eichheim, Miss Har-
soloist. He has succeeded in securing able talent to take part with him in mon, and Mr. and Mrs. John Me Wade. It included Gade's Trio, op. 29,
this college of music. D. D. Wood, R. Hennig, W. W. Gilchrist, E. Gastel, Raft's Trio, op. 158, and vocal numbers by Clapisson, Randegger, Holzel,
R. Graner & F. Grischow, are among the professors. Most of them ap- Fesca, Rubinstein and Campana. Mr. Lewis played Wieniawski's Romance
peared at the above concert to celebrate the twelfth annual opening of the and Rondo.
school. There was a choice programme, of which I can only say that Mr.
Mr. Carpenter's Star Lecture Course was very successfully, inaugurated
Grischow played Liszt's " Gondellied" wonderfully well, and that Hummel's on Thanksgiving
Eve, by the Litta Concert Troupe, reinforced by Mr. A.
trio in E, a beautiful work, not very common, was enjoyably rendered.
Fischer, the violoncellist. The large Central Music Hall was entirely filled.
HOWE.
The audience only recognized Miss Litta, and seemed to tre.it all other num-
bers as a necessary evil. Even Mr. Fischer's charming playing barely gained
CHICAGO.
a succes d'esthne.
CHICAGO, November 28th.
Mr. Boscovitz performed the following programme yesterday noon :
r p H E fact that a city may possess a large number of good orchestral
Sonata op. 27, No. 2, Beethoven ; " Slumber Song," Schumann ; "Aimee
JL players, and several good leaders, and still be without an orchestra, is de Pelerinage," Liszt; Barcarole, St. Saens ; Nocturne, Impromptu, and
practically illustrated in Chicago. There have been a good many attempts Valse, Chopin ; Country Dance, Byrd ; "Air de Danse," Handel; Gavotte,
made in times past to establish a standing orchestra, but so far without suc- Bach ; Fantasie on Hungarian Airs, Boscovitz.
cess. The only approach to it are two organizations, respectively led by
At the last Beethoven Reunion Mr. Lewis made a success with his ren-
Messrs. Adolf RosenbeckerandLiesegang, who dispense music to the accom- dering
of Vieuxtemps' Fantasie Appassionata ; a trio by Bargiel was played,
paniment of coffee, beer, and cigars, on Sunday afternoons, on the Northside, and
several numbers were contributed by Mr. Wolfsohn, who does not
to audiences which are largely recruited from the German element. The exhibit
his scholarly piano-playing nearly enough. At Mr. Liesegang's last
•other conductors who could be made available are Messrs. Hans Balatka,
Pratt and Gleason. Mr. Pratt gave a series of symphony concerts last win- orchestral concert Chopin's F minor Concerto was performed by Mr. Emil
E. L.
ter, which proved a financial loss. Mr. Florence Ziegfeld, of the Chicago Liebling, and as encore, his new Florence Valse.
Musical College, tried his hand at it the winter before last, but also aban-
KREHBIEL.—Mr. Krehbiel' of late musical critic of one of the leading
doned the scheme.
I think that one reason for these continued failures (pecuniarily) is, that newspapers in Cincinnati, has come here, to make New York his home. The
we have no down-town concert-hall, similar to Koster & Bial's in your city, gentleman is considered a clever writer on musical topics, and will surely
where the great public could enjoy good music and to a certain extent social be appreciated in our city to the full extent of his capabilities.
intercourse, at popular prices. As it is, there is no centralization of in-
OPERATIC CONCERT.—Mr. Saalfield announces an operatic concert at
terest. In order to make a living the players are obliged to play at balls, Steiuway Hall on Saturday, Dec. 11th. Members of Her Majesty's opera
parties, funerals, theatres, etc. If they had a steady engagement at some troupe, and an orchestra under direction of Signor Arditi will appear.
concert hall at living rates, they could dispense with all occasional engage-
VOCAL UNION.—The first concert.of this season of the New York Vocal
ments, and a pride in- their organization and its excellence would soon follow. Union was given Tuesday evening, Nov. 30th, at Chickering Hall, under the
I hope that our present organizations will bring out works of our resident direction of Mr. Samuel P. Warren.
composers. Mr. Gleason's " Vorspiel " to his opera " Otho Visconti,"
BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC.--The Brooklyn Philharmonic Society will
which Mr. Eddy plays very successfully in his own transcription for the
organ, and several of Mr. Pratt's works, should be afforded a hearing. The have rehearsals of their newly organized chorus on the evenings of Dec. 6,
latter gentleman has just returned from a trip to Cincinnati, where he met 13, and 20. These rehearsals will be purely choral.
MOZART MUSICAL UNION.—On Monday evening, Nov. 29th, the Mozart
with great success.
It is very difficult to make any thoroughly good concert pay its ex- Musical Union, which is an amateur organization of 50 members, gave a pub-
penses ; by thoroughly good concerts I mean those in which the excellence lic rehearsal and reception at the Lexington avenue Opera-house.
TAYLOR.—Mr. David Taylor arranged an interesting concert on Monday
lies in the character of the programme rather than in the appearance of some
particular star. A good string quartette might well be compared to the evening, Nov. 29th, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, in which he had the
iirst-class stock company of a theatre, where no particular star attracts the aid of Signor Catnpanini, Signor Del Puente, Mile. Belocca, Mme. Teresa
public, but instead the excellence of the ensemble. But those of o*ur theatres Carreno, Mme. Chatterton-Bohrer, the harpist; Mile. Marie Geist, violoncel-
that have tried to keep up a good stock-company (like Mr. McVicker), have list; the Temple Quartet of Boston, a male voice organization, and Signor
found it unprofitable, and given it up. Chamber-music and piano recitals Agramonte as accompanist.