Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1882 Vol. 5 N. 18

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
April 20th, 1882.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
287
A PARISIAN JOURNAL'S MISTAKE.
The next number will
PERFORMANCES.
{Continued from page 285.)
contain a resume of the Festival.
f T I H E Paris VEurope
Artiste says that
_L "Mignon" is a very popular opera in
Such was the case several times on this occa-
America. W e must tell our contemporary sion.
THE LAT3ST ABOUT PATTI.
Neither Miss Little, nor Mr. Remmertz,
that
this
is
incorrect.
"Mignon"
is
one
of
nor Mr. Toodt have the quality of voice required
T HAS been reported that Colonel Ma-
pleson has probably engaged Adelina the least popular of all the operas produced by Berlioz for the parts in "Romeo and Juliet"
Patti for the coming season to sing with his here, whether by an Italian or French com- assigned to them.
They sang the music correctly, yet the quality
company at the Academy of Music. As pany.
of the voices were inadequate, Miss Little's voice
every statement made by Patti and her
being too small, Mr. Toedt's entirely too small,
ENGLISH AND EUROPEAN MUSIC.
and Mr. Remmertz's voice not within the register
managers has been contradicted either by
N referring to Mr. Gye's coming season, of Berlioz's score.
the diva or her managers themselves, we
the London Illustrated Sporting and The "Leonore Overture, No. 3 , " which opened
simply mention the report, which should be
the concert, was performed with finish and ex-
Dramatic
News of A p r i l L s i , . . :
taken cum grano salis.
"For many reasons the coming season at Co vent ceptional expression by the orchestra.
Garden will be regarded with special interest. Our
German friends, who seldom hesitate to let us know
PHILHARMONIC CONCERT.
that they are the proper persons to dictate to us on r
GEO. GBOVE AND OTTO GOLDSCHMIDT.
musical matters, declare that Italian opera is 'played T^HE fortieth season of Philharmonic concerts
OME of the London journals do not out,'and that the chief musical attractions of this JL ended with the one hundred and ninety-ninth
approve of the appointments of Mr. year will be the German operatic performances at concert of the society, which took place at the
George Grove as "director" and Herr Otto Her Majesty's Theatre and Drury Lane. This re- Academy of Music on April 15.
mains to be proved. The German performances will
The season was pre-eminently successful, and
Goldschmidt as "conductor" of the Royal meet with a courteous and impartial reception, but
the society can be congratulated on its choice of
neither
English
amateurs
nor
English
musicians
will
College of Music which is to be.
to foreign dictation on matters of taste. Mr. Thomas as director. His selections, his con-
One of the journals calls Mr. George Grove submit
Nous avons change tout cela, and if we find the struction of programmes, and his intelligent di-
"a cultivated amateur of distinguished abili- 'music of the future' and its interpreters unsatisfac- rection have resulted in a series of concerts that
ty," and Herr Otto Goldschmidt, "a German tory we shall not hesitate to say so. It is, however, have not been excelled during any of the pravious
a curious fact that, whereas London has for many seasons.
conductor of third-rate rank."
years supported two Italian opera houses and dis- The programme of the last concert was inter-
This meets the views of many who have pensed with German opera, we shall this year have esting.
two German opera companies and only one Italian
any knowledge of the situation.
Beethoven's overture, "Consecration of the
opera company. The performances of the "Ring des
The great conservatories of Europe, those Nibelungen," with its hideously repulsive details in House," was the first number, followed by Her-
institutions that have graduated the most cel- the second portion of the tetralogy, is only welcome mann Goetz's piano concerto, op. 18, played here
for the first time, Mr. Hermann Rietzel being the
ebrated musicians, are in Germany, France for the reason that it is likely to do much to cure the soloist.
craze for unmusical noises in the shape of opera.
and Belgium. Our institutions, like the Col- We may rely on it that Mr. Ernest Gye will make a
Signor Campanini sang the aria, "Unter Blii-
lege of Music in Cincinnati and the Peabody gallant fight in favor of that form of musical enter- henden Mandelbaumen," from Weber's "Eury-
tainment which has for a century and a half been anthe." The "Vorspiel," from "Lohengrin," was
Conservatory in Baltimore, have done abso- popular
in England. English lovers of music will
lutely nothing, except to produce gossip and wish success to him and to the Royal Italian then played, the concert closing with Schubert's
Ninth Symphony.
Opera."
discussion.
The members of the Philharmonic being famil-
The private conservatories in New York,
Our English cousins should control their iar with the Beethoven overture, they played it
well. An interesting number was anticipated in
and the New England Conservatory in Bos- tempers.
the piano concerto. Goetz's works have not been
ton, being under proper and able manage-
There never has been a complete perform- heard here, although his name is known.
ment, have been doing much better in all re- ance of the "Ring des JSibelungen" in Eng-
His "Taming of the Shrew" was to be produced
spects than subsidized institutions here and in land, and in the interest of the art, in which here by Mapleson this season.
England.
For certain reasons not known to many, the
no prejudice should exist, all opinions should
opera was not included in the repertoire of the sea-
An intelligent and capable management be withheld.
son just closing, although the musical world was
must direct a conservatory of music, and
The fact that a certain class of musical per- anxious to hear it.
neither distinguished amateurs, nor third-rate formances has been popular in England for a
The opera has had a successful entree in some of
conductors, nor conceited laymen can be suc- century and a half is no indication of posi- the large European cities, and Goetz is spoken of.
cessful in managing the destinies of such in- tive merit; at least, the century and a half there as a gifted composer.
The concerto is an elaborated composition con-
stitutions.
has not produced a single great musician in ceived in a broad spirit, and the technical execu-
England.
tion of the score shows Goetz to have been a mu-
BRAHMS AND ENGLISH AUDIENCES.
Therefore, a little innovation and less con- sician of splendid attainments.
TP1HE sudden popularity which Brahms ceit may be productive of good results, and
The themes are concisely developed, the piano
_L achieved in the musical circles of Lon- a little less of Handel and Donizetti and is treated in a scholarly style, and the labor of
don does not appear to have continued for Verdi, and more of Rubinstein and Wagner, studying it is fully repaid. The orchestration is
an attractive feature, and the composer is fully in-
any length of time.
may also be beneficial to our friends across the itiated in the secrets of modern instrumentation.
The "Andante" movement is built upon a de-
The later overtures from his pen did not water.
licious liquid theme, the melody being quite orig-
create any impression on English audiences,
ABOUT GROVE'S DICTIONARY OF MUSIC.
inal. Taking it all in all, although not one of the
and even the finished performance of his vio-
heroic class of piano concertos, it can be produced
N
casually
looking
over
this
work
again,
we
lin concerto by Joachim at the Crystal Palace
notice some more discrepancies. But a pecu- successfully at concerts of this description.
Concert, London, on March 18, was coldly re- liar spirit seems to pervade it, in addition to posi-
Mr. Hermaun Rietzel must have studied assidu-
ously in accomplishing the difficult task of mem-
ceived.
tive errors regarding facts.
This spirit consists of the undue prominence orizing the work. He did not succeed in creating
Judgment is suspended in the criticisms,
any artistic effects, although his technique is suf-
but it appears as if there exists a unanimity which is given to English composers. For ex- ficiently developed to have risen above the mere
ample, Bishop, the English composer, gets two
of opinion in regard to the pedantic style and one-half columns, while Glinka, the renowned difficulties of execution. Tone and breadth of
which prevails in his compositions. They are Russian composer, is finished up with not quite treatment were lacking. Mr. Rietzel is talented
and to all appearances a student, yet in the per-'
considered overburdened and obscure.
one column.
of this concerto he did not evince any
The London violin makers have four columns, formance
but Maggini, a great Italian violin maker, is not in scholarly attainments.
Campanini tried to sing the Weber aria, but
the dictionary at all.
THE WOOD COLLEGE OF MUSIC.
made a wretched display, his voice giving out
Mathew
Lock,
an
Englishman,
who
was
born
in
W E E K or so ago some friends of the the seventeenth century, and who wrote some completely. As we have heretofore mentioned,
Samuel Wood College of Music, met at mediocre sacred hymns, has over two columns. he is by no means a youth. His voice has had a
the residence of Dr. William A. Hammond, Metastasio, the Italian, born in the same century, great deal of wear, and is, in fact, worn out. All
the consummate skill he possesses in covering the
and, after some talk, appointed a committee and whose name has become immortal in connec- weak points does not compensate for the positive
tion
with
the
classical
works
of
Gluck,
Mozart,
"to wait on the Trustees of the 'Samuel Wood
Porpora, Meyerbeer, Handel, Cimarosa, Scarlatti, absence of voice. I t was a most painful exhibi-
College of Music,' and respectfully request Haydn and Spontini, all of whom used bis libret- tion.
them to hold a meeting at their earliest con- tos for some of their operas, has about one col- In order to have a remnant of voice for next
season, he must go into retirement, and cease all
venience, for the purpose of filling the umn.
As the opportunities present themselves, we will efforts to sing in public, unless he wishes to make
vacancies now existing in the Board of Trus-
such failures as he did at the Philharmonic.
tees, electing a president, and doing such take a look into Grove's Dictionary of—of—Eng-
It is surprising that the audience insisted upon
lish Music and Musicians—as it might aptly be
other acts as may be necessary to put the col- called.
an encore, and more surprising that Campanini
^___
gratified them.
lege in a condition to effectively carry out the
The "Vorspiel" of "Lohengrin" was played in
Mr. Courtney's Pupils' Concert at Steinway
purposes of the testator.''
a perfect manner. We do not remember having
Hall on April 14 was largely attended.
This looks encouraging. In a century or
Madame Julia Rive-King is on her way to San heard a more satisfactory performance of this re-
two the trustees will meet, and shortly there- Francisco, where she will give a series of piano markable prelude.
The symphony of the evening, Schubert's No.
after we may see the foundation for the recitals and grand concerts, with orchestral ac-
9 in C, is a true exponent of the grace and individ-
Wood College of Music started.
companiment.
TKADE REVIEW.
I
I
S
I
A
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
288
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
uality of the composer, and is intense and at the April 11, at Lyric Hall. Mrs. Harriet Webb, Miss
same time complete. There is no wild nor studied Jennie S. Parker, andSignor Montegriffo were es-
search for melody, and still it abounds in melo- pecially well received.
dies that follow each other with surprising rapidity.
Form and symmetry are adhered to without an
GILMORE'S BENEFIT CONCERT.
apparent effort, and the result presents a great
R. P. S. GILMORE enjoyed his annual bene-
tone-picture which should be heard again and
fit concert at the Twenty-second Regiment
again to be admired more and more.
-The symphony was played with taste and ex- Armory, on Fourteenth street, on Monday, April
The attendance was very large. Among the
pression; indeed, it proved to be the chef-d'oeuvre 10.
soloists, Miss Letitia Louise Fritch seems to have
of the evening, as it undoubtedly was intended to carried
off the honors.
be.
Gilmore is a very popular gentleman who lias
Nothing more desirable could have been chosen
of friends who do not hesitate to spend an
to round off the season. Mr. Thomas was the re- hosts
half-hour for P. S., and in this instance
cipient of a recall, and thus the fortieth season of occasional
undoubtedly succeeded in getting up a
the concerts of the Philharmonic Society came to they
splendid benefit performance.
a close.
M
STANDARD QUARTETTE CLUB.
OBITUARY.
r
T^HE season of the Standard Quartette was
J_ closed on Tuesday, April l l , the last concert
taking place at Steck Hall before an appreciative
audience.
Beethoven's Quartette, op. 59, No. 1, and Mo-
zart's, No. 4, the E flat major, were played. We
have heretofore referred to the absence of finish
and the lack of delicate shading that characterize
the performances of the Standard Quartette
Club.
Again during the performances of the two quar-
tettes was this observable.
The gentlemen who comprise the club are mu-
sicians of standing, and have been playing mauy
years, and this most important feature of quartette
playing seems to be neglected by them.
There is no doubt that, with attention and care-
ful inquiry as to the intentions of the composers
of the celebrated quartettes which appear on the
programmes of the club, more satisfactory per-
formances can be given than those of this season
have been.
Mr. Hermann Rietzel, a promising young pianist,
performed an impromptu by Chopin (F sharp, ma-
jor), and Joseffy's arrangement of Chopin's Etude,
op. 10, No. 5.
MISS SYLVESTER'S CONCERT.
FRTEDERICH WILHELM KUCKEN.
T7" UCKEN'S name is known throughout the
I V musical world as one of the most popular
"lied" composers that Germany has produced.
He was not a great musician, however, but a
"singer" for the masses. "Ach wie wars moglich"
is one of those songs that every one has heard who
has traveled in the fatherland, and the melody has
gone beyond the bounds of Germany the world
over.
He was born in Bleckede, Hanover, on Novem-
ber 16, 1810. After the preliminary studies on
various instruments and harmony, under the guid-
ance of Hiirss, a relative and musical director at
Sohwerin, his talent soon manifested itself as a
comuoser of songs.
While in Berlin he composed an opera, "Die
Flucht nach der Schweiz," which was produced in
1839, and scored a "success d'estime."
In 1841, he went to Vienna, where he remained
for some time. In 1843 he conducted the singing
festival at St. Gallen, Switzerland. After study-
ing several years in Paris under Halevy, Kiicken,
in 1847, went to Stuttgart, where he produced his
opera, "Der Pratendent."
He was conductor at Stuttgart until 1861, when
he resigned, spending the greater part of his time
in composing.
He wrote pianoforte sonatas, and sonatas for pi-
anoforte and violin, also many instrumental com-
positions of the same description. His most pop-
ular works are his songs. The best known are
"Ach wie wars moglich," "Das Sternlein," "O,
Weine Nicht," "Trab, Trab," and the well-known
"Maid of Judah."
April 20th, 1882.
TALK OF THE DAY
"MAN ABOUT TOWN."—Mr. Townsend Percy
makes some very happy hits in "The Man About
Town" in the Sunday Star.
BILSE'S BRUTALITY.—The members of Bilse's
orchestra, Berlin, have had a serious misunder-
standing with that well-known, popular director,
in reference to a number of concerts which were
to be given in Warsaw. It seems that he treated
the gentlemen constituting the orchestra in an
exceedingly brutal manner when they demanded
increased pay for the concerts which were to take
place in the Polish capital. A new director has
been selected by them in place of Bilse, who is
now engaged in establishing a new orchestra.
DR. BLIDGE'S EFFORT.—New York is to have
three Italian opera companies playing at the same
time.—London Musical World. When?
Where?
We suppose this is one of Dr. Blidge's squibs.
Oh, doctor, when will you cease?
A FALSE RKPORT.—We read in the European.
Musical that Mile. Hauk will return to Europe via
Japan and India. This is a false report. Mile.
Hauk will remain here for some time.
ROYAL PARSIMONY.—The royal family of England
contributed comparatively small sums to the Royal
College of Music. For instance, the Duke of Al-
bany, Victoria's youngest son, gave $500, a sum
that was equalled by Messrs. Steinway & Son.
SIGNING FOR THE NILSSON SEASON.—Del Puente
has signed with Abbey for the Nilsson season of
Grand Opera this coming fall. He will make a
trip to South America, returning in time to fulfill
the engagement.
CAMPANINI'S BENEFIT.—Signor Campanini's ben-
efit will take place on Monday, April 24, at the
Academy of Music. He will no doubt attract a
large audience, as he usually does at his benefit.
Two THOUSAND SINGERS.—The Siingerfest which
is to take place in Philadelphia, beginning June
29 and terminating July 4, will be attended by the
societies belonging to the National "Sangerbund."
It is expected that at least 2,000 singers from the
German singing societies will be present.
ISS HENRIETTA SYLVESTER has been
announcing a concert to take place at Chick-
ering Hall for several weeks past. The concert
really did take place there on April 11.
A very attentive and demonstrative audience
A VERY INDEPENDENT ARTTST. —Anton Rubin-
was assembled—said audience being apparently on
stein is reported to have accumulated 5,000,000
an intimate footing with Miss Henrietta Sylves-
francs, and his copyrights and engagements repre-
ter, or some one of the artists who then and there
JOHN KELLY, VIOLINIST.
sent a large income, in addition to the investments
assisted.
he has made. His position is very inde-
Mrs. Hettie Douglas opened said concert by John Kelly, for forty years a violinist and mem- which
now, and he accepts only such offers as are
playing upon the piano keyboard a piece, but we ber of Her Majesty's Theatre Orchestra, died in pendent
suitable
to his taste. Most artists are compelled
London
on
March
6,
aged
62.
do not know what the piece was; the programme
to accept offers that are suitable to the taste of
J. L. MANDEL, ARION SOCIETY.
stated that it was Chopin's "Polonaise Militaire,"
others.
but we doubt the correctness of the programme.
J. L. Mandel, a member of the Arion Society,
Then Mr. Eemmertz gave an excellent rendition and for a number of years Treasurer of the Wil- ABOUT THE ONE-ARMED PIANIST.—Count Geza-
of Mr. D. Buck's basso song, "Where the Lindens liamsburgh Benevolent Society, died on April 3, Zichy, the one-armed Hungarian pianist, who has
Bloom."
on board of the steamship City of Columbia, half been concertizing in Germany with great sucoess,
After that appeared Miss Henrietta Sylvester, an hour after her arrival from Charleston. For has just accepted an invitation from the Prince of
whose many friends were happy to see her, and three months he had been in Florida for his Wales to appear-during the spring at some London
•whose many friends applauded her efforts loudly health.
concerts. The Count, quite a young man, being
before she sang, and very much louder after she
only thirty-two years of age, lost his right arm by
got through singing Faure's "Stella," a kind of
CHICAGO MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
accident, when a boy. and has since devoted his
waltz song.
E are not prepared to give in detail the pro- time to practicing with the left hand only, his pro-
Then Miss Henrietta Sylvester returned and
gramme of the Chicago Musical Festival, ficiency by this time being wonderful. He plays
sang again, just to satisfy her many friends.
but the following are the most important works only for charitable purposes, and has turned over
After that Mr. Remmertz again appeared in con- to be produced:
or distributed thus far $80,000, the income of two
junction with Mr. Christian Fritsch, and together A Bach Cantata (for the first time).
years of concerts.
the}' sang Balfe's duet from "Killarney." They
Mozart's "Jupiter Symphony."
retired, and Miss H. Louise Warner sang a solo.
Beethoven's "Fifth Symphony."
FIGARO'S ENGLISH PRIMER - N o . 1.
We do not desire to say any more regarding this Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony"
pleasant, sociable affair, except to add that Miss Wagner's programme, as given in the New York What, papa, Is a Royal Col-lege of Music?
Isidora Martinez, the accomplished soprano, did Festival.
An idea, my son, to get Mo-ney from English Peo
sing her aria in an artistic manner. Had it not Schumann's Posthumous Mass.
pie*.
been for her and Messrs. Remmertz and Fritsch, Berlioz's
Is it, then, to teach Eng-lishPeo-ple, papa?
"Fall of Troy."
we might have left the hall in doubts as to the ex- Compositions
Mendelssohn, Weber, Gluck, Yes, my sou ; and to pay Gei-mans.
act nature of the performance. This is what was Rubinstein, and by
Why should We pay Ger-mausV
lesser composers.
known as Miss Henrietta Sylvester's concert.
Be-cause we arc told Herr Joa-chim, of Berlin, is
Steinway Hall was crowded on the evening of to be Prin-ci-pal.
should Herr Joa-chim be Prin-ci-pal?
JOHN LAVINE'S CONCERT.
April 13, on tne occasion of a complimentary con- Why
he is a Ger-man, my son.
R. LAYINE'S seventh annual concert on cert under the auspices of Mme. Murio-Celli. It Because
not an Englishman be cho-sen?
April 12, at Stein way Hall, was largely at- was given for the benefit of the Sisters of Notre ? Why ? should
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
tended. The following artists aided in making the Dame of Fort Lee. Among the most successful
occasion interesting: Miss Emily Wiuaut, Mrs. artists of the evening we may mention Mr. L. G. Queries by T H E MUSICAL CBITIO AND TRADE
Imogene Brown, the Meigs Sisters; vocal quartette, Gottschalk, the baritone; Mr. Wm. F. Mills, the REVIEW :
"Why should not an Eng-lish-man be cho-sen?"
Mr. Christian Fritsch, Mr. Carlos Hasselbrink, pianist, and the Misses Walker and Neuberger.
"Be-cause there is no Eng-lish-man fit for the
Mr. Edward Connell. Lenor G. Nunez, and the
Mollenhauer Quartette. Mr. Lavine has succeed- The last concert of the season of the New York po-sit-ion."
"Why is there no Eng-lish-man fit for the po-
ed in establishing a large business in engagements Philharmonic Club, on April 4, at Chickering Hall,
for artists, and has made friends of most of them. presented the following programme: Spohr's Quin- sit-ion?"
The past season has been a very flourishing one tette, D minor, op. 130, an evening song and a "Be-cause. be-cause. You know, my son, the
pastorale by Joseffy, and Mendelssohn's octette, few En-glish-men that have made any re-pu-tation
with him
op. 20. Mr. Richard Hoffman was the soloist, in music were ed-ucat-ed in Ger-man con-ser-va-
NEW YORK CHORAL UNION.
playing a novelette by Schumann, a gavotte by tories."
"Then, of course, why not appoint a German?
r~T^HE seventh season of this organization came Bach, and a scherzo on a subject from the Scotch
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
JL to a close with the concert given on Tuesday, symphony.
M
W
M

Download Page 11: PDF File | Image

Download Page 12 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.