Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
April ioth, 1882.
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THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
283
The programmes of both series of concerts being
season of opera through with success entirely by After much subtle machination on the part of
her own ability and prestige.
the Apollo management, the greatly-in-demand as choice as the very varied taste of the community
Her prestige has waned somewhat here, for prima donna was wrestled from the out-stretched would allow, there were times when it apparently
after enjoying Patti's and Minnie Hauk's singing and eager hand of the enterprising but economical was not consulted, and a menu consequently of a
and fine acting, Ohicagoans are less dazzled by Mr. Newell of the Mozart Society, and her pres- purer kind really delighted the happy few.
ence secured a splendid audience for the club, and
That these concerts were not a pecuniary success
Gerster's flute-like head tones.
is almost a natural consequence.
Nevertheless, Gerster stands to-day with but many shekels for the coffers thereof.
one rival in roles to which she is vocally adapted. Gerster sang Arditi's Polka Cantabile, "Flor di As for the first and second violins, they had no
The finest piece of work that Gerster has ever Margharita," the Polacca from "II Puritani," the rest between the two orchestras and the Tivoli.
done in Chicago was the scene in
Carnival of Venice, and "Maerznacht," the charm- This place, which is a sort of a concert garden af-
ing song written for her by Taubert.
ter the continental plan, with a theatre, drew
"HAMLET,"
throngs nightly on account of the general excel-
She received an ovation.
ending with the death of Ophelia.
Eemenyi was also on hand, and he was enthusi- lence of performance and small rate of admission.
The scene is a musical and dramatic gem, which astically applauded for playing the dead march in The singing was often more than tolerable, and
affords a prima donna a splendid opportunity for "Saul," for violin solo(!)
the playing quite on a level with performances
effective acting.
When Remenyi next appears here, we shall ex- credited with more dignified surroundings, since
Gerster grasps this opportunity and evinces a pect to hear him in "Old Hundred," with accom- those who participated were the very ones who had
thorough appreciation of its value. Her acting is panying cymbals and trombone obligato, intro- drawn the bow in behalf of the greater musical di-
distinguished by refinement, nice attention to ducing an original cadenza as long as the moral vinities during the day.
points, and considerable power, and she brings law.
As an intermezzo came the
the fate of the love-lorn and unhappy Ophelia viv- Jerome Hopkins's "dialogue oratorio,
HARTMAN 0ON0EET,
idly before the audience.
"SAMUEL,"
always
announced
quietly, but nevertheless pro-
Her wild laughter changing quickly to poignant
given on the same evening as the concert of ducing a deep stir in musical circles, swaying by
grief, her fixed eyes and pitiful smile depicted the was
Apollo Club. It was done so badly that judg- its very absence of display.
semblance of a mind dethroned in a manner the
Mr. Ernest Hartman, a pupil of Mosehelles and
ment
upon the work's merits must be indefinitely
both natural and touching.
Kullak,
an exponent of the schools of these two
deferred.
Thomas's music in this scene is lacking in ten- Hans Balatka is to have a testimonial at Central masters, is yet,
borne by the spirit of more modern
derness and pathos. The music whose strains are
Hall on Tuesday evening, when Hoffman's thought to develop the highest intellectual and
heard as Ophelia is borne by the current down the Music
"Fair Melusine" will be given by the Germania artistic tendencies of the age, he has gathered
stream should be a veritable "swan's song" to Msennerchor
and selected soloists. Aside from around him, during his long residence here, many
realize what the librettist must have imagined.
event, and the first concert of the Philhar- earnest admirers and a few disciples.
This opera is unworthy of the composer of the
Society on Saturday night, the musical Having appeared when a very young man before
"Mignon." It abounds in tedious recitative, is monic
the public in New York and Philadelphia, he was
outlook
is not dazzlingly bright.
H. B. S.
always gloomy, and frequently uninteresting. It
introduced in the above-named city through the
was heard on last Friday night for the first time
medium of the Philharmonic Society, and was im-
in Chicago, and was doubtless produced for the
SAN FRANCISCO.
mediately acknowledged and appreciated.
express purpose of displaying Gerster in the one
Some time after, having chosen California as his
SAN FRANCISCO, March 22.
scene referred to.
home, he became at once the foremost musician
The title role was assumed by Signor Ciapini, T TAVING once been a resident of your city for a and teacher in San Francisco.
and his impersonation was a creditable effort XTl sufficiently long period to enable me to bear Yet he has seldom appeared in concert, the fa-
which was well received by the audience. His in my memory the many advantages accruing to tiguing life of a teacher interfering, as it always
acting displayed much intelligence and a good such an habitation, permit me to say that I en- does, with other artistic plans and ambition in its
conception of the part, and his singing, though dure transplanting only indifferently well, and as absorbing and often onerous duty. An interval o
marred by his unfortunate tremolo, was spirited I am decidedly of musical origin, my growth and a year having elapsed since his last concert, a largb
consequent development in intellectual fields have and appreciative audience welcomed Mr. Hartmaa
and vigorous.
Hamlet's drinking song, one of the best numbers been, I am conscious, somewhat retarded by a cer- to that place in the front rank of eminent artists,
of the opera, was sung in stirring style and won a tain flatness and want of vitality in the musical he so undoubtedly holds.
atmosphere here, which, at times, so strongly re-
recall for Ciapini.
The programme which I here insert will perhaps
The part is a magnificent one, and was created, sembles what nature abhors, a vacuum, that after- interest
those of your readers to whom its selec-
I believe, by Faure, while Ophelia was written for wards when there is really good breathing-room, tions may familiarly appeal.
Christine Nilsson. The numerous minor characters one may be almost said to breathe too much at With the remembrance of Rubinstein's rendi-
were indifferently sung, and the choruses were once, and make this function an abnormal process tion of the ' 'Sonata Appassionata" yet fresh in my
nearly all cut out, while those that were retained hardly capable of being regulated at will.
the power with which Mr. Hartman's inter-
This very long sentence leads me appropriately mind,
were relentlessly mangled.
pretation
recalled and sustained this memory is no
In Ophelia's "Mad Scene," her appeals and and sincerely to express my gratitude that I have inconsiderable tribute to his noble playing.
questions to the villagers were answered in panto- been several times fully restored to pristine con- Mr. Hartman has a fine technical method. His
mime, which must have been something of an an- ditions solely by the agreeable stimulant of your conceptions are broad, and he gave us the "Sonata
columns; to testify that we, of San Francisco, owe
noyance to her.
Appassionata" in the full blaze of its strength
The audience, however, was contented to accept you much, and consider the debt ever increasing. and beauty.
This
first
effort,
therefore,
to
contribute
a
mite
to
dumb show where murdered music had been an-
Mr. Hartman always interprets intellectually,
ticipated. A passing word of favor is due the the disbursement of such an obligation is only one and with the refinement and delicacy that the
of
the
methods
lively
recognition
uses
to
further
ghost of Hamlet's father for his wierd and ghastly
thought demands, but never coldly.
make-up, which was highly satisfactory. His sing- its end.
As Beethoven exacts as much intensity of emo-
Let me, then, in attempting to epitomize the tion
ing, too, evinced signs of advanced dissolution and
as intellect to give his creations all that they
general condition of musical affairs in San Fran- require,
a flavor of dampness and decay.
is hardly to be expected of human per-
The other event of interest in the past week of cisco, state that after the Joseffy concerts had formance; b'ut to make of his greatest sonata a
created all sorts of musical disturbances in our worthy whole, means almost a triumph in itself of
opera was the first appearance here of
town, by producing two violently opposed piano- genius in reproduction.
GEKSTEIt AS MAKGHARITA,
forte schools, each of whose advocates believed to
The Bach player may be said to be animated to
which occupied Wednesday evening. The char- the death either in Joseffy or some antithesis of
acter, with its transitions through all the joys of his, there was a wild pause on the departure of some extent by the same spirit that moved him to
happy girlhood, the awakening to love, the growth this famous artist, during which the musical com- reverence in Beethoven; yet the gigantic figures
of passion, sin, suffering, repentance and death, is batants hovered around two apostles of orchestral that guard the ideal treasure in Bach's kingdom
often hide its glowing jewel, except from the most
one of the most difficult in the range of lyric roles, learning—
ardent seeker. To find, therefore, amid so much
and its proper conception is beyond the prima
HTNRICHS AND HOMIEB,
stately form, this poetic, spiritual life, is the
donna's capabilities as an actress.
that even a gentle fluttering became apparent crowning reward of him who searches for the
Although Gerster "looks the part" much better ao society
more exclusive than the freer, uncon- beautiful.
than Minnie Hauk, she could learn much from the in
ranks from which the musical fraternity In this case it might be well imagined that
latter artiste's interpretation of Goethe's heroine. ventional
hail.
these geniuses of the shrine met Mr. Hartman
As Patti says of Gerster: "She does not act generally
Homier was chosen by a wealthy citizen to di- half way, as, in the Arabian stories, when the
from the heart," and that is the first requisite for rect
an orchestra in a series of six concerts, and if legitimate hero appears to take possession, every
a good Margharita.
the
subscription
did not suffice, the residue was to formidable power acknowledges the advent of the
Vocally, too, the part is unsuited to Gerster; be furnished by Croesus—thereby
that is, it is far from showing her voice at its best. tain liberal Bostonian of like tastes. emulating a cer- master.
From a strictly musical point of view, the orig-
The jewel song was, however, sung in almost
Nevertheless, the other candidate, without such inality, grace, and strikingly delicate manner
faultless style.
stimulant, organized the Philharmonic Society with which Mr. Hartman brought us to the under-
It would improve her acting if she would find a Concerts,
and the rival bands being thus brought standing of Bach in the Preeludium deserves this
other means of expressing mental agony than the into
existence, alternated with each other in the comparison.
writhings and contortions she indulges in. These production
of many important works during the It was to be expected from Mr. Hartman's order
are more suggestive of physical pain.
winter. The noble harmonies that were discussed of mind that no morbid interpretation of Chopin
Gerster repeated her successes as Lucia and did
not stifle the very loud voice of discord, whose could proceed from a musical temperament so well
Rosina, and the remainder of the week was occu- apple
rolled at sweet will from one to another of balanced, and in this we were not disappointed.
pied by a wretched performance of "Mignon," the disputants
even Olympus and Christianity
Why one cannot be said to play Chopin who
"Aida" and "Faust" (the second time with differ- combined could till
not
stop it.
never loses sight of the structure of the work in
ent cast).
This was chiefly owing to the fact being well its elaboration, to whom judgment is as valuable
One of the most brilliant concerts of the season recognized,
that a city of inconsiderable popula- as poetic warmth and emotional intensity, has al-
was that of the
tion might possibly sustain one orchestra in its ways been a great mystery to me.
APOLLO CLUB,
musical efforts, but to thrust upon it, even with To many it was a delightful revelation that Cho-
word and warning, another, would indeed be pin could be played thus—the a^ry architecture,
given on Thursday evening, March 30.
And now I have to revert to Gerster, whose tempting that musical providence the mystery of of which he is the founder, requiring a firm basis,
presence has been all pervading here for the past whose beneficence and ways will ever continue to in order that its pinnacle may, indeed, touch the
afford matter for ingenious speculation.
three weeks.
very clouds of heaven.