8
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
December 5th, 1880.
manner as in the Gounod version ; but the real masterpiece is the Epilogue, nition. Mdme. Donaldi, the prima donna of the combination, possesses a
where even his voice takes the timbre of that of an old, dying man. We pleasing stage-presence, and a soprano voice of sufficient volume, though
think that this scone contains one of the finest bits of acting Campanini has its quality did not strike us as peculiarly sympathetic, while an evident ner-
vousness seriously affected her intonation. Her choice consisted of the Arias,
given us during his career in America.
Miss Annie Louise Cary sang the small part of Martha (in the second "Com'e bello," from "Lucrezia," and "Pace, Pace," from "La Forza
del Destine " The seebnda donna, Miss Marie Schelle, very far from second in
part, Pantalis) and of course did her duty, as she always does.
The invisible Chorus, composed of church singers, was very good ; and anything else than name, and Miss Roderick, contralto, are most valuable ac-
if we are somewhat disenchanted, it is the manager's own fault. He informed quisitions to the troupe in a vocal way, and sang extremely well in several con-
us that he had engaged no less than 160 voices for these choruses, and we certed pieces, duetts, trios, etc., by Campana and Gomez, etc. Of the basso,
thought that for such a quantity of singers the volume of sound seemed Signor Castelli, and the tenor, Signor Belari, not much can be said. Contrasting
rather weak. If the Colonel made a mistake in the number, it is not our with each other, in most ways, Signor Belari also sings with a small but rather
fault. The scenery was very neat and elaborate, and the mise en scene was pleasant voice, and a dull, old-fashioned manner, while Signor Castelli has
more voice and less method, and appears to exist in a state of perpetual ex-
careful- and rich.
One word of praise is due to Signor Arditi, who conducted the perform- citability and nervousness. An orchestra under the leadership of Mr. W. G.
ance not only with great care, but with true artistic spirit. He had the ad- Dietrich opened each concert with an overture, and these performances of
vantages of Boito's personal superintendence in London, and we have reason Weber's " Oberon " overture and Mendelssohn's "RuyBlas" far outshone in
to believe that in everything he fulfilled the composer's demands and inten- precision the later work of the orchestra in the accompaniments—but this
tions. Whatever success was in the performance Signor Arditi and need hardly be a matter of surprise in an orchestra gathered together, as was
this one, at random.
Campanini are perfectly right to claim it as their work.
The second of the Saalfield concerts was given on Monday evening,
STEINWAY HALL.
Nov. 22, before a large and interested audience, and the programme com-
'"ELIJAH" BY THE OKATOEIO SOCIETY.—MINOR CONCERTS.
posed principally of operatic selections, pleased, as such programmes never
N Friday afternoon and Saturday evening, Nov. 20th and 27th respect- fail to please large audiences. There was some disappointment, however,
ively, the rehearsal and concert of the Oratorio Society of New York arising from the non-appearance of Mme. M. L. Swift, who was indisposed,
took place at Steinway Hall. It was the first concert of this society's eighth which necessitated many changes in the arrangement of the performances, aa
season; the work performed was Mendelssohn's " Elijah," and the audiences well as the addition of a harp solo, by Mile. Sacconi, the harpist of " Her
upon both occasions filled every available seat in the hall. Dr. Damrosch Majesty's Opera troupe." But we are not quite certain—little favor as is
made an excellent choice of soloists this year, and the oratorio seemed to generally accorded the harp as solo instrument—as to Avhether the astonish-
possess higher dramatic power than ever before. The principal parts were ing skill and exceptionally good taste of this harpist did not entirely com-
intrusted to Mme. M. L. Swift, soprano ; Miss Anna Drasdil, contralto ; pensate for the absence of any further vocal numbers. So polished a per-
Mr. Geo. Simpson, tenor, and Herr Georg Henschel; and the artistic inter- formance as that of Parish Alvar's " Danse des fees" might reconcile one to
pretations of these singers contributed greatly to the general finished effect. almost any instrument, and this one completely engaged the attention, while
The lesser parts were taken by Miss Anna Sanger, Mrs. Lillie Nickolds and it aroused all the enthusiasm of the audience, who obliged Mile. Sacconi to
Mr. Reinhold Hermann, Mr. Walter Damrosch filling his post at the organ grant an encore. But there were other transformations which appeared more
with much success. An enjoyable freshness and vigor of tone, as well as capricious, such as the singing, by Signor Ravelli, of "M'appaii" instead of
much care and correctness in the work of the chorus, combined to render " Salve Dimora," which was down on the bill, and the replacing on Mile.
this performance of "Elijah " one of the most satisfactory and complete we Belocca's part of the Aria " Voi che Sapete" from Figaro's " Hochzeifc," by
can remember to have heard. The orchestra was that of the Symphony "Ah mon tils" from the " Prophet." Mile. Belocca, destined by fate to be
Society.
the only fair vocalist, bore her honors gracefully, and has never appeared in
Mme. Swift, who sang the same part last year, was in very good voice, better voice. Her duet with Signor Galassi, " La ci darem," had to be re-
notwithstanding her recent indisposition, and she has certainly gained peated. The latter excellent artist contributed immensely to the success of
greatly in experience since last season. Her duett with Herr Henschel—the this concert by some of his accustomed admirable singing in " Eri tu " and
scene between the Widoio and Elijah—in which Herr Henschel's exquisite " O du mein holder Abendstern." Signor Ravelli, the latest tenor, scarcely
powers of expression were brought into prominent display, produced an realized on the concert platform, to which he seemed a stranger, the expec-
excellent mijjression; and her rendering of the grand aria, " Hear ye, Israel!" tations which were at one time rife concerning him, his intonation appear-
was also quite successful. As the part of Elijah appears rather low for Herr ing at all times faulty and uncertain in the extreme, and his tone without
Henschel's baritone voice, he necessarily labored under a slight disadvantage, fullness or volume. His singing was best in the Aria " Spirto Gentil."
and this may account for a diminution of power and vigor in some of the There was also a pianist, Mr. Louis Staab, who played Liszt's "Tannhauser
more dramatic and forcible passages. On the other hand, his interpretations March," a " Nocturne," by Field, and a " Scherzo," by Gottschalk.
of the arias, " O Lord, God of Abraham" and " I t is enough" were most
At Mr. Wilhelm Miiller's concert, which took place on Tuesday evening,
satisfying and really moving. It is in the portrayal of deep feeling expressed November 23, he was assisted by Mrs. Ernst Jonas, contralto ; Miss Anna
with artistic finish—this rarest quality in a singer, as well as the most enjoy- Bock, pianist; Miss Marie Lobeck, violinist, and Mr. Max Liebling, accom-
able and delightful—that Herr Henschel is at his best. Of Miss Drasdil we panist. Some very pretty melodious " Variations Concartantes " for piano
always expect intensity and pathos—in fact, the utmost perfection in the and violoncello, by Mendelssohn, nicely played by Mr. Muller and Misa
rendering of her portions of this oratorio—and we were not disappointed ; Bock, opened this concert, which had excited considerable interest on account
her singing on these occasions was of a noble order, and carried the house by of the debut of Mrs. Jonas. These anticipations, however, were not realized
storm. Mr. Simpson sang, as he always does, most smoothly and with con- in her singing which now followed. Mrs Jonas, who commands an engag-
sistent taste, but also, as ever, with no perceptible tinge of warmth or color. ing appearance and modest manner, possesses several advantages com-
Minor concerts having been unusually frequent during the past fort- mending her to favor as a singer, but with apparently so faulty a method,
night, we will simply record the fact, that the young pianists, Misses Anna these advantages—including the great merits of an excellent taste and inten-
Bock and Florence Copleston, concluded their respective sets of piano-recitals tion in expression and correct musical feeling—cannot obtain their full
in due time, and, comparatively speaking, under favorable circumstances. power. Independently of this want of control of her voice, which detracted
Both players, however, were much too ambitious in their choice of works to be much from an appreciation of its quality, Mrs. Jonas rendered a song of
performed, though they certainly deserve great credit for their self-imposed Kiicken's and Schumann's " Widmung," with poetic sentiment. Miss Lobeck's
labor and study. One cannot but feel with regret, that they might have made playing gave evidence of a good style, and though perhaps not in the most
a ;;joro satisfactory impression on the whole, had they but limited themselves masterly manner—she played very prettily the Ballade and Polonaise, by
to compositions, the complete mastery of which would have been more Vieuxtemps, and an encore. Mr. Muller was heard in his well-known neat
adapted to their powers. Miss Copleston seemed to gain in repose as she and correct, though somewhat cold manner, in Servais' Variations on the
went along, and played many of her pieces much better in consequence; while Sehnsuchts Walzer, in an Adagio, by Bargiel, and, as an encore, Schubert's
Miss Bock remained true to herself, as she was at the first recital, to the very "Ave Maiia." In her solos, some excellent variations on Haydn's "Emper-
end. Her best efforts seemed to us, to be the Prelude and Fugue in E minor, or's Hymn," and " Valse Caprice," by Tausig, Misa Bock did not do herself
by Mendelssohn ; "Gavotte," by Saint-Saens; Impromptu in A flat, major, justice.
" "
H. D.
Schubert; and Gavotte in G minor, by Dupont. For, though more bril-
liancy of execution may perhaps be displayed in the Schubert-Liszt " Wand-
BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC CONCERT.
erer " Fantasie, " Sonate Appassionate," and other selections upon her pro-
grammes, the perfect interpretations of which one might expect to hear from n p H E Brooklyn Philharmonic Society, under direction of Mr. Theodore
a Rubinstein or a Von Billow, Miss Bock can hardly be said to have accom- J_ Thomas, gave the first concert of its twenty-third season, on Saturday
plished this end successfully; and the employment of all her force, together evening, Nov. 20th. Immense audiences greeted both this performance and
with an excessive use of the pedal, often made the intricate passages appear the rehearsal on the day previous, and by the uuusally demonstrative and
very indistinct. Schumann seemed her least successful attempt. Miss Book enthusiastic appreciation displayed, constituted pleasing exceptions to the
enjoyed the assistance of Messrs. Hermann Brandt and Max Liebling. Miss general rule of Brooklyn Academy audiences. It would be difficult, however,
('opleston was assisted by Messrs. Chas. Werner and Rafael Joseffy ; and the to understand a quieter reception of performances which were throughout so
Schumann Andante, and Variations for two pianos, with the latter artist, thoroughly smooth and admirable. Though the solid programme differed
elicited five recalls and much applause for the players. Miss Copleston also considerably from that of our Philharmonic Society, if we except Miss Annie
achieved quite a success in the Scarlatti Sonata which Mme. Essipoff, made L. Cary's singing of the Recitative and Air from Gluck's " Orpheus,"—the
so familiar to us.
same composers were represented. The charming vocalist of the occasion
heard to the best possible advantage, and her lovely voice has naver
Before leaving our city to waste its sweetness upon the desert air of the was
fresher and more thrilling, while her artistically finished and earnest
provinces, the Donaldi-Rummel troupe gave two concerts on the evenings of seemed
manner, as it always does, once again justified the brilliant reputation and
Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19th and 20th, the latter before the Teachers' As- prominent
position she enjoys.
sociation. Ottering both abundance and variety in profusion, this combina-
Herr Rafael Joseffy repeated his triumphs in the Henselt Concerto and
tion comprises elements which cannot fail to please almost all music-lovers
* of whatever degree or kind. On both the above occasions, Mr. Franz Rum- Litolff " Scherzo" with the undeniable advantages of superior acoustic sur-
mel, the pianist, scored the greater share of the artistic success, playing his roundings, and, while every feature of his delicately perfect execution
four works for pianoforte and orchestra—the Schumann concerto, Liszt's seemed more telling, the general effect became far more brilliant and im-
concerto in E fiat and Hungarian Fantasie, and the Weber Concert-Stueck— posing. At the concert, especially, the most perfect harmony existed be-
beautifully, and with much taste and skill. Of quite a high order was also tween the orchestra and the performer of this piece of wonderful virtuosity,
the playing of Mr. Leopold Lichtenberg in an Andante and Rondo Capriccioso and the dainty and precise accompaniment of the " Scherzo " seems to strike
by Saint-Saens, and the Romanza and Finale from the second concerto by one as more marvellous the oftener one hears it.
Beethoven was heard in his eighth symphony instead of the third, and
Wieniawski. This young artist has acquired much finish since last we
heard him, and plays with warmth and expression. Then Mr. Levy, the this graceful expression of cheerful serenity and good humor, proved an ex-
cornettist, may be said to have secured the greatest popular favor, enjoying ceedingly happy choice, receiving a highly elegant interpretation. Wagner's
the gratification of several recalls, and the verve and dash with which he Siegfried-Idyll" followed, reproduced, with exquisite daintiness and poetry,
acceded to the wishes of his audience in the double encore proved his recog_ and to conclude, the rendering of the " Harold" symphony more clearly than.
O