Music
October
5 th, Trade
1881.
Review THE
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MUSICAL
CRITIC AND TRADE
REVIEW.
season, with the aid of Mr. Thomas and his monie flute, and the 9th, with the vox kutnana and
tremolant, in which the great organ is introduced
orchestra.
Our Beethoven Society will not be behind in its very effectively and boldly, to lead up to the clos-
endeavors to make the season rich in attractions. ingfngata.
It offers Mendelssohn's "Hymn of Praise,"
The organ and violin movement, by Mr. Batch-
Liszt's "Prometheus," Saint-Saens' "Noel," a elder and Mr. Schultz, was a charming blending
" Te Deum" by Hensohel, and Gade's "Zion," of harmonies and was listened to with unaffected
and " The Crusaders." Besides these larger offer- pleasure. Mr. Meakin's part in the programme,
ings, the society gives a monthly reunion, at which was marked by all the excellent features of that
string quartettes and pianoforte works are played, gentleman's usual work. His selections, were per-
while vocal selections of the solo, or quartette haps, not all equally felicitous, but his undoubted
order, add variety. The programmes are always skill in manipulation and technical knowledge of
filled with the most worthy selections from modern his instrument were abundantly evidenced.
and classic authors.
The voices lent a pleasing variety to the occa-
A new society called after Mozart has come into sion, and their efforts found admirable support
being since the last season closed. It is a Manner- in the jndicious accompaniments of Messrs. Batch-
chor, and will number among its members the best elder and Meakin.
of our male singers. Mr. Balatka, the conductor
The organ itself, I should not forget to add, is
of the last Sangerfest is the conductor. A large a superb piece of mechanism, replete with all
number of our people enjoy music of the four part modern devices, and possesses fine voice, but is
order, and I have no doubt that the society will lacking in volume. This the judgment of a first
CHICAGO.
win for itself popularity.
hearing, but as we are promised other opportuni-
CHICAGO, Sept. 25th.
One or two smaller societies, the "Bach and ties, and. at no distant day, one's views may un-
•:Q INCE the close of the summer-night season of Handel" and the Mannerchors of the Germans are dergo a change in some particulars.
O
concerts by Mr. Theodore Thomas and his yet to be heard from in regard to their winter offer-
Heas's Acme Opera Company put in an appear-
orchestra, musical entertainments have not been ings in the way of concerts.
ance last week, and gave us a season of three
very numerous in this city. Active preparations
In regard to chamber concerts we are to have a nights and a matinee in " Mascotte." Their audi-
are being made by our home societies for the fall goodly number, while a number of our pianists ences proved to be numerous and enthusiastic,
season, however, and it bids fair to be one of the have underlined recitals, and the visiting artists and it is a matter of general regret that their stay
most successful in many a year.
will swell the list almost without end. The cul- was so limited. The national calamity has very
Chicago is noted for its enterprise in commercial mination of our next season is to be a spring-time materially interfered with the business of the
affairs, but its position in matters of art and taste festival under the direction of Mr. Thomas. The company through the State circuit, and they have
is often over-looked by the good people of the Festival chorus is already organized and at its wisely concluded to cancel their engagements un-
East. Yet there are many earnest endeavors being work. A complete programme is not yet made til after the last services are rendered to the de-
made in the direction of art, which at no very late public, but Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony," parted President. They are spending the interval
day will so manifest themselves as to claim the Handel's " Messiah " and " Jubilate" and a march in this city.
acknowledgment of the whole country. It is a by Schumann, are among the works to be given.
Musious.
mistaken notion to think that our people are only It is to be hoped that a number of symphony con-
engaged in the practical operation of money-mak- certs will yet be arranged, for orchestral music has
ing, for there are other factors at work, which aim been our greatest need in the past seasons. If Mr.
at the more agreeable side of life, even those Thomas can find worthy support for forty orches-
which administer to the pleasure and advancement tral concerts in the summer, doubtless a small
of the mental man.
number of symphony entertainments at mid-winter
FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE.
In the West the practical is the forerunner of would meet with full appreciation. But the ques-
MADAME FAVABT.
OFFENBACH S
the esthetical, but good taste and culture are pre- tion of a home orchestra is one that we have yet
dominating elements that are sure to make them- to meet.
English adaptations of French operas, especially
selves felt when the right time is at hand.
It will be my purpose in these notes to keep of the school of Offenbach and Lecocq, are, as a
In the past ten years a wonderful impetus has your readers en rapport with our musical affairs, rule, poor substitutes for the originals. The
been given to the art side of our western develop- both artistic and commercial, and I shall make dialogue, by-play and national esprit, form an
ment, and many good results may be seen. In no mention of all these entertainments as they occur. important adjunct to that class of work, and where
case is this more marked, than in our musical In this simple manner, our more humble endeavors the adaptation substitutes poor puns and unnatural
matters. In viewing this from its commercial may receive some acknowledgment in the East, situations, the representation becomes gross and
side, we may observe that a very large business is even as our light is reflected back to the orb that absurd. Expense and all necessary outlay to make
being done by a goodly number of music houses, gave it being.
a great scenic effect, have been overlooked at the
C. H. BBITTAN.
:and that the combined transactions of these
Fifth Avenue Theatre, and as a result of such a
merchants already amounts to millions of dollars
bold and liberal spirit, the eye is perfectly gratified.
during this year. That one large firm has over a
But few instances can be recorded where so much
DETROIT.
hundred men in its employ is enough to prove
attention has been bestowed upon detail and extra-
DETKOIT, Sept. 20, 1881.
that its business is active.
vagant scenic display and costumes; the ohoruses
In pianofortes and organs this city is one of the
HE first event of the season was the opening are fresh, vigorous and exhilarating, and the orches-
largest distributing points in the country, and in
organ concert at the "Church of Our Father," tra is sufficiently large for the purpose, and, except
small goods, closely following New York in the Sept. 14, under the direction of Mr. I. C. Batch- that it does not pay close attention to the most
amount of its business. There is a feeling of elder, organist of St. Paul's Church, with whom delicate portions of the work, performs ita duty
necessity among the merchants of the East to were associated Mr. Henry Meakin, organist First satisfactorily.
either have good agencies here, or to establish St. Presbyterian Church; Mrs. Gleason, of Chica-
Refined shading and the ability to seek the most
branch houses, for the wide-awake business man go, soprano; Mr. Slocum, of Detroit, tenor; and delicate episodes of an opera, and give them proper
realizes that this city is one of the best points for Mr. Schultz, of Detroit, violinist.
expression, depends entirely upon the conductor.
distribution in the West.
What proved to be a miscellaneous concert was Mr. Cellier has the best material at his disposition,
It has been a sure indication of the rapid ad- originally projected as an organ exhibition, but as but he seems to lack the' essential quality of inter-
vancement of a love for music all through the West, the public taste is not sufficiently developed for an preting an Offenbach opera. Vivacity, grace and
for as a general thing the people only spend their exclusive entertainment of that description, the abandon are wanting, and it seems to us like a poor
money for what they want. The development of earlier design was modified into the following version of a Sullivan attempt. The solo parts are
taste in music, also shows a more marked discrimi- programme:
in the hands of well-meaning artists. Miss Dora
nation in regard to kind and quality. A better
Organ — Chromatic Fantasia, (Thiele), Mr. Wiley makes up excellently, and would be able
instrument is called for, and the first-class publica- Batchelder. Vocal—(a) Serenade, (Raff), (b) Rev- to sing her part if she had sufficient voice; the
tions of good authors are finding a ready sale. eries, (Rubinstein), Mr. Slocum. Organ—Schiller same may be said of Marie Jansen, although she
This condition of things is healthy from both the March. (Meyerbeer), Mr. Meakin. Vocal—Reci- could gain much by observing Miss Wiley's acting.
art and commercial sides of the question.
tative and Aria, "With Verdure Clad," (Haydn), Major Goiignac, by Mr. Win. Hamilton, is very
Discrimination in regard to the musical enter- Mrs. Gleason. Organ—Theme with Variations, acceptable, with the exception of a little too much
tainments offered has reached a very high point in (Smart), Mr. Batchelder. Organ and Violin— brusquerie in the first act. Hector, by Mr. J. C.
the past few years. Kind and quality are no nega- Adagio, (Merkel), Mr. Batchelder and Mr. Schultz. Armand, is about the most objectionable feature.
tive elements in the public consideration, although Vocal—Duet, (Eli)—"Wherefore is my soul cast Young men who cannot sing and cannot act, who
our present state of development in art, is by no down?" (Costa), Mrs. Gleason and Mr. Slocum. stand like statues, have no business on the operatic
means at a very high point of attainment. Yet ad- Organ—Tema con Variazioni, Opus 8, (Beetho- stage. Decidedly the most welcome and pleasant
vancement is being made, and the present promises ven), Mr. Meakin. Vocal—(a) "Thou art the feature is Mr. Fred. Leslie's impersonation of
rest," (Schubert), (b) "Sancta Maria," (Faure), Chas. Favart. It embodies dash, knowledge of
a brighter future.
Organ—Overture to "William the character, consistency and routine. Mr. Leslie
In our home undertakings our best endeavors Mrs. Gleason.
has an excellent voice, and knows what he is about.
are made manifest, and to bring those more fully Tell," (Rossini), Mr. Meakin.
before the readers of THE MUSICAL CBITIC AND
Mr. Batchelder's first number was a very judi- Such actors and singers as he are perfectly adapted
TBADE REVIEW I will make some mention of our cious selection, and exhibited admirably his superb for Opera Bouffe.
musical societies, and of their plans for the technique, for nothing but the neatest quality of
Taking it all in all, " Mad. Favart " is presented
season.
execution could have overcome the difficulties of aa well as any translated version of Offenbach has
In classic order I name " The Apollo Club " this composition.
been in this country, with the additional merit of
which takes a leading rank among our choral
A chromatic fantaisie is not particularly inspir- excellent scenic effects such as are rarely witnessed
societies. This club has brought out a large ing, but Mr. Batchelder's crisp touch and treat- in works of that order.
number of very important works during the years ment of the arpeggio passages as well as his re-
it has been before the public, and will not lessen fined phrasing made it a work of decided interest.
its reputation by its efforts during the coming sea- The same conscientious study characterized this
GERMANIA THEATRE.
son. The works mentioned for production are fine organist's rendering of Smart's Theme and
" L A FHIIJE DE MADAME ANGOT."
Mozart's "Requiem Mass," the "Messiah" of Variations. His beautiful registration of this in-
Lecocq's opera was given at this theatre several
Handel, the "Crusaders" by Gade, and the teresting composition gave it a coloring which
"Damnation of Faust" by Berlioz. This last brought out, with delightful effect, its unquestion- times lately by a German company under Mr.
named work was given three times during last able merit, notably in the 6th Variation, with har- Adolph Neuendctf'ff's management, the parts being
Tales," "Demidoff's Travels in Southern Russia,"
"Life of Balfe," "Correspondence of Honor<5 de
Balzac," some lives of celebrated women, entitled
'•Daughters of Eve." several minor dramatic
pieces, a number of popular lyrics—-e. g., the
"Vagabond"—and upwards of a score of adapta-
tions of foreign operas, among which Mozart's
" Nozze di Figaro," with Beaumarchais's text,
Meyerbeer's " Africaine," Gounod's " Medecin
Malgre Lui " (Mock Doctor), Offenbach's " Grande
Duchesse," "Belle Helene," "Blue Beard," and
' ' Princess of Trebizonde." For some years he had
been suffering from a dangerous and intensely
painful illness, from the effects of which he died
on Thursday, 25th of August, aged fifty-eight.
STAFF CORRESPONDENCE
MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
T