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March 5th, 188 r.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
MUSICAL PERFORMANCES.
by Dr. Danirosch. leader of your Oratorio Society, to sing in the "L'Allegro"
and " II Penseroso " of Handel, and did so on last Friday afternoon and
Saturday evening. She has had much experience in oratorio music. I hope
you heard her and hope still more that you were pleased with her singing.
STEINWAY HALL.
I know, however, that she had but short time for preparation, and there are
few vocalists now-a-days who have pretended to keep up their practice in
ORATORIO SOCIETY—MINOR CONCENTS.
"works so nearly obsolete as this particular one of Handel's. As for Mme.
T
AST
Saturday
a
New York audience was affoi'ded an opportunity to judge
Rosewald, who sang in the same cantata, she told a newspaper man, while
the Abbott Troupe, of which she is a member, was here, that she was going I J of the genius of Handel in a form or rather guise, which his Oratorio's
to " create " the part she sang in this country. The sprightly little soprano " Messiah" ad id genus orane do not present. The Oratorio Society for its
•evidently did not know that " L'Allegro, II Moderato, and II Penseroso" third concert this season, last Saturday night, gave the •' L'Allegro II Pen-
seroso " ed " II Moderato," a composition bused on the poem of Milton, and
•was given in this country at least ten years ago, and perhaps still earlier.
A. concert was given on last Saturday night, at Association Hall, by addition of Jenners, which is, however, unworthy of companionship with
pupils of the Philadelphia Musical Academy. This was the fifth concert of the sublime production of the blind poet.
Handel, though never out of his form (Dr. Damrosch's circular, to the con-
this kind during the season, and the performers were chiefly young ladies,
none of them apparently out of their teens. Of course such a concert is no trary notwithstanding), is in this work so jocose, so graceful, so joyful, so earthy
subject for criticism and I only allude to it on account of a remark made to that, if it were not for the form, one might imagine that he had exchanged whigs
me while there by a very good natured and conscientious musical amateur. with Haydn. The laughing chorus for instance, is a recreation of hearty
He said " This is an excellent idea for the young people, it helps them to humor and exquisite grace. "Come and trip as we g o " is a charming
get over their stage fright." Good heavens! thought I, are all these example. Nor does the work lack evidences of the great master's profund-
•children being educated with the possibilities of stage life before them? ity. It is true the chorus is not so frequently used as in religious produc-
Can there be no other end or aim for musical education? Is there no room tions, but wherever he has introduced it, his effective understanding and
then for music among the pleasures of the home circle? Better, far better, treatment are made apparent.
The solo voices, with the exception of the alto, are given the burden,
that these youthful pupils, ninety per cent, of them, at least, should never
get over stage fright, nor ever know what it means. They would be better and have some difficult Avork to do.
There are very few singers acquainted with the peculiar and traditional
.and happier women, and in most cases do infinitely more good in the world.
On the same evening the Orpheus Club gave the second concert of this manner of treatment associated with Hiindel's works, and we were not sur-
season, at Musical Fund Hall. This is the ninth season of the club, and it is prised to find that, with the exception of Mr. Henschel, the artists on this
in a very prosperous condition. The audiences are all subscribers or friends occasion did not have those peculiarities or appear acquainted with the tra-
-of subcribers, and the houses, on Orpheus Club concert nights, present a ditions. Mrs. Rosenwald, Miss Whinery, Miss Winant, Mr. Henschel and
most fashionable and brilliant appearance. Mr. Michael H. Cross is the Mr. Toedt were the soloists.
Mme. Rosewald proved herself a good artist and an excellent vocalist.
conductor. Nine years ago there was a split in the Abt Male Chorus, Mr.
Cross retiring, or being voted out, from the direction, I have forgotten There appeared, now and then, some lack of familiarity which, to some
which. With a few, not much over a dozen, of the members who went out extent, disturbed what would have otherwise been a very satisfactory per-
•with him, adding some new material, he at once started the Orpheus Club, formance. She is certainly a well-schooled singer, whose efforts it must
which, as I have just said, has done well ever since under his charge. The always be a pleasure to hear. Miss Whinery, the other soprano, has a voice
selections sung by the chorus last evening included Kreutzer's " Chapel," in most respects agreeable, but which, when it gets above G, has a tendency
Mendelssohn's "Beati Mortui," a drinking song by Vogl, Dr. Callcott's to shriekiness. On the whole, however, she seemed to meet with favor, and
antique glee, " A r e the White Hours?" and an entirely new composition, deservedly. Her part is not altogether thankful, and requires care and con-
entitled " San Martino," composed by Mr. R. B. Dodson. Mr. Dodson is a scienciousness, besides voice and some execution. Mr. Heuschel, in this
TO ember of the club, one of the first basses. His production is really very class of music, is simply a model of good work.
We almost forgot Miss Winant, who ought not ever to be forgotten, for
beautiful, and indicates not only a talent for composition and a ready flow of
melody, but dignified and scholarly composition. At the same time there is she is the possessor of a most beautiful real contralto, and if she is not a great
neither the severity nor the dryness which are so apt to be concomitants of vocalist, she at least is free from tasteless mannerisms. She had but one song
much study in young writers. I was delighted with the piece and so allotted to her, " Sometimes Let Gorgeous Tragedy," but it gave her a fine
appeared to be the audience, which re-demanded it and called the modest chance to exhibit the beauty of her naturally mellifluous tone:s.
author to the footlights. Miss Ida W. Hubbell, soprano, of your city, sang
Mr. Toedt, who showed excellent capacity, was evidently embarrassed
several solos, and made an agreeable impression by her careful method of by a severe cold, which rendered his voice somewhat husky and his delivery
singing.
a good deal restrained.
The orchestra did its share well, but that was not as significant as in
I was right about Arbuckle's Band. It is to give a concert here on next
Monday night, and a plentiful supply of other concerts are to follow in modern compositions, Franz, having in his adaptation and arrangement of
the few hints at orchestration left by Handel, kejjt himself strictly within
rapid succession among the attractions of Pugh's Star Course.
HOWE.
the boundaries of appropriateness; but so far as thereby licensed he has
made it effective.
Of the chorus but good can justly be said. I t is an imposing assembly
Pollini, the Hamburg manager, has declined 15,000 florins offered him with a tone powerful and grand commensurate with its numbers, whose
by the Imperial Opera House, Vienna, to allow Herr Winkelmann, the tenor, blending in ensemble is decidedly excellent.
It in all respects follows the directious and suggestions of its leader,
to terminate his engagement at the Stadttheater next autumn.
and in fine has acquired those habits and attributes which only a long, care-
Widor, composer of " L a Korrigane," is busy on a three-act comic ful and intelligent training by a skilfull and painstaking conductor can
.opera, " Le Capitaine Laiz."
insure.
The prelude selected by Dr. Damrosch, Handel having written no over-
Von Holstein's opera, "Die Hochliinder," has been revived at the Ducal
ture to this quasi-oratorio, was " L a Malinconia," the slow movement pre-
ITheatre, Brunswick.
ceding and partly interpolated in the next movement, (finale,) of the " Quar-
A successful performance of Mendelssohn's music to " Athalie " was tette " of Beethoven, Op. 18, No. 6, by which it should be immediately fol-
recently given at Magdeburg.
lowed; the direction at the end of " L a Malinconia " is " attacca subito."
The Doctor in the explanatory circular claims aj^tness for this selection,
Suppe's "Fatimtza " has been given at Rouen and is also in prejjaration
but we did not find it. We think he would have done better with an over-
at Lille, Liege, and Tournai.
ture of Hiiudel, of which there are many unknown to our public.
" Carmen " will be produced this season at the Teatro Real, Malta.
VHITE.
Auber's " Premier Jour de Bonheur " has been brought out very credit-
The eighth concert of the Saalfield Series was given on Saturday, Feb.
ably at the Friedrich-Wilhelmstadtishes Theater, Berlin, and is drawing 19, before an immense audience.
Mr. Saalfield must have a secret
good houses.
method of managing these affairs, for his attractions of late have hardly war-
An International Musical Festival, the first of the kind in Italy, will be ranted such large-sized audiences. He is a clever man, however, and de-
serves at least credit for the popularity which he well understands how to
held next June at Turin.
give to his entertainments.
Liszt is in Pesth, where he has resumed his professional duties at the
At the last concert Mile. Marie Litta made her first appearance in New
Conservatory.
York in concert, and showed to decidedly better advantage than when a
Ferrari, manager of the Italian Opera Houses of Buenos Ayres and Rio member of Mr. Strakosch's Opera Company. When Mile. Litta came back
from Europe, her friends in Cleveland considered her the brightest star on
Janeiro, is in Milan engaging his company.
the operatic horizon, and not only made fools of themselves but hurt the
Boito's "Mefistofele " has been given with success at the Italian Opera, prospects of the girl. One Mr. Underner, her former teacher, thought that
St. Petersburgh.
Litta was sure to captivate the American heart, and was so bewitched that
The King of Italy will make an annual grant to the Teatro Costanzi, he considered her only second to Adelina Patti. Injudicious friends were
always a cause of failure, especially in such a case as this, when Mile. Litta
Rome.
could not act on her own responsibility, but had to follow the commands of
The defunct Palestro Musicale is resuscitated at Rome; so is the Teatro Mr. Underner.
Italiano.
Strange to say, the American public failed to recognize the greatness of
On the 31st of January, his birthday, Schubert's music to " Rosa- Mile. Litta, and did not share the opinion of the Cleveland gentleman.
munde," and one-act opera, " D i e Verschwornen" (Der hausliehe Krieg), Everybody said that Mile. Litta was a clever singer, who had studied a great
the latter in its original shape, were performed at the Imperial Opera House, deal, but lacked very many necessary qualities to make an efficient stage
singer. Mile. Litta is a very valuable concert singer, and proved her excel-
Vienna.
lent qualities at her recent appearance here. She has a great deal of flexi-
Mme. Mallinger has taken a month's leave from the Royal Opera House, bility and execution, Avhich is frequently marred by false intonation.
Berlin, on account of her health.
Signor Brignoli sang some of his old favorite selections, and was rap-
Zajic, Concertmeister of Mannheim, succeeds Lotto as violin professor turously applauded. Signor Liberati, in several selections for cornet-a-
piston, was noisy and inartistic. Miss McLain sang several operatic selec-
in the Strassburgh Conservatory.
tions with a fine voice and a dreary style, and Miss Bangs did justice to her
Gounod is said to be hard at work at his oratorio for Messrs. Novello.
name in several performances on the piano. The really enjoyable part of
The deaths are announced of Mariette Pacha, impresario of the Cairo the evening was the singing of the California Male Quartette.
Mr. Franz Rummel gave his second piano recital on Thursday afternoon,
Opera; of F. Seghen, the violinist, at Bari, Jan. 30, aged 77; of Michele
Mazzara, basso-comico, and father of the prima donna Annina Mazzara Bal- Feb. 24, with the following programme, representing a really formidable
array for piano literature:
jzofiore; and at Nice, of the teacher, Arturo Arrigotti.