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THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
The moment one plays Chopin in time, he is ac-
cused of being cold and deliberate, with no poetic
insight or fervor, or, at least, with none of the
warm-blooded gifts that push passion to frenzy.
In short, there are these who say Mr. Hartman
lacks the abandon requisite to portray the roman-
tic mood of Chopin's creations.
I even think that the severe and noble school of
Bach and Beethoven has undoubtedly influenced
Mr. Hartman's bearing towards all other schools.
The proposed restrictions, however, of a mind
accustomed to deal with epic greatness may only
interpose a delicate barrier of refinement between
the sensuousness of a too capricious conception
and a false idea in art.
CECILTA.
April froth, 1882.
Mr. Mayerhoefer, as the Master, in the "Lay of
ALBANY.
the Bell," sang exeellently at the start, but his
ALBANY, April 11.
voice collapsed before his task was finished, much
USICAL entertainment in Albany partakes of
o his visible chagrin and the disappointment of
what may be described as the "feast or fam-
the audience.
ine" style of amusement. For a short period you
Mrs. C. H. Kloman, in the "Lay of the Bell," get any quantity of it, and the music lover is
sang with much taste and expression, and her solo happy.
was one of the features of the evening.
The theatrical palate is regaled with a hash con-
In Schumann's "Gypsy Life," the chorus was sisting of equal parts dramatical and musical, and
excellent, as also in Gade's "Message of Spring," for a time matters slide along with the usual calm
a beautiful composition, the rendition of which serenity of the small boy on the cellar door.
was marred by the inadequacy of the orchestra.
But this happy combination does not endure
Miss Anna Henne sang the popular "Frei- long, and is invariably succeeded by a musical
schuetz Arietta" in a charming manner, and was drought, when the voice of the sweet or otherwise
rewarded by a hearty recall. Miss Henne has a singer is no longer heard.
splendid voice, but would do well to guard against Through such a season we have but recently
continually using it to its full extent; even in this passed, and the balmier period being at hand,
"Arietta," a little more piano singing at times once again furnishes employment for the corre-
PITTSBURG.
would have been advisable.
spondent's pen.
PITTSBURG, April 11.
In the number «f "Lohengrin," Miss Wallaoe The
The audience which assembled at Library Hall and
Mr. Zimmerman deserve especial praise. Miss
EMMA ABBOTT OPERA CO.,
on Thursday evening, March 30, on the occasion Wallace sang with her usual success—with that
including, beside the prima donna, Fabrini, Conly,
of
taste and spirit which have made her a favorite and Miss Annandale as support, sang in the opera
CARL BETTER'S BENEFIT CONCERT,
here, and Mr. Zimmerman, used his fine voice to 'Martha," at Music Hall, Tuesday, the 4th.
was one of the largest and most cultured of the the best advantage.
The house was crowded to the doors by a large,
season, giving Mr. Better well-merited evidence To say that this number of the programme was fashionable, and, to judge by the frequent but
of his popularity and of an appreciation of his at all acceptably rendered, is praise sufficient, somewhat indiscriminate applause, well-pleased
many years of conscientious and diligent work for and that can truly be said, for the soloists and audience.
chorus did well; and had the orchestra been equal Why Miss Abbott should meet with such a
the cause of good music.
The affair, judging from the size of the audience to the requirements, the whole would have been a marked success where other and superior artists
and the complaints of habitual "dead beats" of praiseworthy performance.
have failed, is one of those things which no fellow
"no free tickets," must have been financially suc- Mr. Better conducted with his accustomed self- can tell. Such, however, has been the case in this
cessful, and while, musically, it was far from ex- reliance and ability, imbuing the chorus with that city, where she is a great favorite.
cellent, yet it was by no means the fiasco which confidence which was partially the reason of its The lady has certainly a pleasing voice, and has
even some of Mr. Better's friends feared it would good work.
just as certainly many faults in her acting, which
be.
The concert of the
mar her performance. The support was good
And those fears were certainly justified—based
throughout, Miss Annandale, at times, singing
PITTSBURG
MUSICAL
CLUB
on the difficulties which Mr. Better was known to
unusually well. The chorus and orchestra ac-
have encountered in getting up the concert, and on March 31, given to its honorary members, was quitted themselves very creditably.
on the boldness of his arranging the folio wing pro- well attended, while its repetition on April 1, for Atkinson's Jollities Combination gave two per-
gramme :
the benefit of the sufferers by the recent floods in formances of their musical absurdity, the "Elec-
the South, was by no means as successful, finan- trical Doll," at Tweddle Hall, April 4 and 5, and
PART I.
were greeted with fair-sized audiences on both
1. Overture—"Baymond"
Thomas cially, as it should have been.
The club should study more before again ap- occasions.
Orchestra.
pearing in public, as its best performances were There are some very pretty numbers in thii
2. Sehiller's Poem
Bomberg but crude and unsatisfactory.
trifle, and while the music is not of a very high
However, Mr. Thomas F. Kirk, the director, de- order, it is jolly and catching, and never fails to
THE LAY OF THE BELL.
serves praise for achieving even so much with the please.
Soli, Chorus, and Orchestra.
Soloists—Mrs. C. H. Kloman, Mrs. L. Loheyde, material of which his orchestra is composed. The Felch and Daniels were as funny as ever, and in
Mrs. J. E. Porter, Mrs. G. Noble, Messrs. T. B. young gentlemen display ample enthusiasm and conjunction with Kate Chester, the new soubrette,
Evereon, Fred. J. Bussman, Jos. Vogel, W. B. willingness to learn, but as there were many new made an irresistible trio, and kept the audience in
Edwards, D. Bullock, C. H. Kloman. Master— beginners when the club was organized, and as continual good humor.
Borne was proverbially not built in a day, they
The
Mr. H. Mayerhoefer.
need much diligence and patience.
VOKES FAMILY
PART II.
Mr. Fred. Toerge, who, with his excellent
1. Spanish Dance—Bolero
Mozskowski orchestra, is always on hand at bon ton appeared at the Leland, to large houses, April 10
Orchestra.
parties and balls, surprised me with a violin and 11. The play for the first evening was the
2. Gypsy Life
Schumann solo, a Vieuxtemps polonaise, rendered as few of well-known "Belles of the Kitchen," and on Tues-
day evening, for the first time in this city, the
Soli, Chorus, and Orchestra.
the audience thought him capable of render- nautical
sketch, "Fun in a Fog."
Soloists: Misses Bosa Weber, Bertha Kloman, Mrs. ing it.
C. H. Kloman, Messrs. T. B. Everson, Jos. Vo- Mr. Toerge is well known as a thorough mu- The singing of Miss Victoria Vokea was some-
unique and very pleasing, and the dancing
gel, D. Bullock.
and, judging from his success on this oc- what
of
the
lady and her talented brother, Fred, was
3. Arietta—Der Freischuetz
Weber sician,
casion, will soon have a reputation as a solo vio- a charming
feature of a very pleasing entertain-
Miss Anna Henne.
linist.
4. Message of Spring
Gade He should appear oftener in that capacity, as ment.
The ever-popular Boston Ideals, who appeared
Chorus and Orchestra.
performance was far superior to many violin
Balfe's "Bohemian Girl," at Tweddle Hall on
5. Kroenung's Marsch
Kretzschmar his
solos which have been lauded to the skies by in
the evening of the 10th, were accorded a rousing
(From Die Folkunger.)
Pittsburgh would-be critics.
reception by a large and enthusiastic audience.
Orchestra.
The opera is full of pretty ballad music, and re-
6. Prayer and Finale
Wagner The musical feature of the
ceived a fair rendition at the hands of this troupe.
ART SOCIETY'S RECEPTION
LOHENGRIN.
To Mr. Whitney belong the honors of the evening,
Act 1.
on Thursday, April 6, was a clarionet solo by his singing throughout being especially fine. The
Elsa
Miss Jean Wallace Mr. A. Voight, and our people are discovering orchestra played correctly and well.
Ortrud
Mrs. Bose Schaarschmidt that there are excellent musicians among us, who,
BRIEFS.
Lohengrin
Mr. Paul Zimmerman whether from modesty or because it pays best,
Telramund
Mr. Barclay Everson pursue the even tenor of their way as band-mem- Treasurer Haskell, of the Leland, benefits short-
ly-
King Henry
Mr. J. J. Benitz bers in preference to appearing as soloists.
"Patience" will be produced by Albany amateurs
The advertised orchestra of ''forty musicians" The musical programmes in the various churches
proved to be chimerical; the aetual number was for Easter service presented nothing extraordi- in a short time. Their costumes are the same as
nary, although they were published and com- was used by the New York company.
nineteen.
Easter music at the various churches in this city
The promised chorus of seventy-five voices also •aented on by all the daily papers.
Probably a little more attention and study were was unusually fine this year. The churches were
lacked about twenty of that number, but it must
be said that the ubiquitously numerous "dummy' devoted to their rendition than at other times, and crowded at each service, and in a few instances
was non est on this occasion. Mr. Better's care in the attendant bustle probably convinced the good many were unable to get within the doors.
G. E. I. S.
people of the various congregations that they
selecting his chorus bore good fruits.
Criticism of the work of the orchestra is super- were hearing something unusually good and grand.
HAMILTON, CANADA.
fluous. While there were some of our best profes- The existing rivalry between the choirs of St.
sionals among that insignificant number of nine- Andrew's and St. Peter's churches is undoubtedly
HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, April 6.
teen, what results can be expected from an or- conducive to better music than the respective
USICAL matters in this city lately have been
chestra of that size undertaking the rendition of congregations are wont to hear; therefore let it
very dull, but the monotony was somewhat
go on, as long as the organists do not venture on relieved by the appearance of
the music embodied in the above programme?
As to the chorus, it was perhaps the best ever compositions of their own, as is the case with the
EMMA ABBOTT IN "LUCIA,"
heard here, and this assertion carries with it quite organist of Trinity.
Why Dudley Buck's, and Tours's, and Saint- on the 27th ultimo.
an amount of praise.
The chorus numbers were given with much Saens's, and the old masters' compositions are not The selection of the opera was left to the vote
Bpirit and certainty, and there was not the hesita- good enough for Trinity, is more than I can ex- of the ticket holders, and great dissatisfaction was
tion usual with amateur choruses. Mr. Better plain; but having had no auricular evidence of expressed at the production of "Lucia," as "The
may well be proud of what he achieved with that the value of the compositions of Trinity's organ- Bohemian Girl" was expected, it having secured
chorus in the short space of time he devoted to its ist, I cannot but continue to believe that those the majority of votes polled.
older compositions are at least as good as his orig- Miss Abbott's singing was very good. She
training.
evoked great enthusiasm, being called before the
Of the soloists, some were admirable and all ac- inal ones.
curtain several times.
HXLABTUS.
ceptable.
M
M