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.
J
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW
'285
The music of the "Mad Scene" was exquisitely The Hess Comic Opera Company produced The selection of Berlioz's "Romeo and Juliet"
sung, and wrought the audience up to a state of The Widow," for the first time in this city, at as the last work of this season of successful con-
the Grand Opera House on March 20. The en- certs was a bold undertaking on the part of the
genuine excitement.
X)i Miss Abbott's acting one cannot speak so gagement was for only one night, which was, how- director. The chorus parts of portions of the
highly. It is, of course, much more difficult to ever, long enough for this opera. The company composition are exceedingly difficult, and the
act in opera than in drama, for the reason, among is an excellent one, but if they care aught for rehearsals and labors connected therewith must
others, that the requirements of the music inter- reputation they should leave "The Widow" have been arduous.
fere with the ease and naturalness essential to severely alone, as it must prove a bore in any Although not fully as satisfactory as could have
been desired, the chorus was nevertheless effective
hands.
good acting.
The choruses were decidedly poor; the orchestra The Wilbur Opera Company is playing "The in certain portions of the work, justifying its pro-
duction.
Mascotte" at the Grand to large audiences.
was fair.
Berlioz's dramatic symphony, "Romeo and
Fabrini as Edgardo, and Stoddard as Henry
N.
Juliet," is considered one of his representative
Ashtotiy were both good.
compositions; it is constructed according to theo-
Mr. Conly, who was billed, did not appear, on ac-
ries originated by this great man, and which he
count of some indisposition, but our local papers,
sought to introduce under the most distressing
in "blissful ignorance" of the fact, criticised his
conditions. The era of the "programme" school
singing and acting all the same.
really dates from the time that his compositions
PEG. A. NINNY.
ITALIAN OPERA.
were publicly produced. No matter how violently
FTER a successful subscription series, Col- Berlioz was opposed by the coterie which in his
EOCHESTEE, N. 7.
onel Mapleson inaugurated a supplementary days controlled the musical opinion in Paris, he
season on April 10, with lower prices, although labored and built structures which have now be-
ROCHESTER, N. Y., April 8.
USICAL attractions during the past two the attractions were the same.
come permanent.
The result manifested itself in increased attend- It was his endeavor to utilize music in a descrip-
weeks have simmered down to a pretty
small point, and that about the size of the Abbott ance, and a more cosmopolitan spirit prevaded the tive sense, and to portray nature's scenes and hu-
Opera Company, which presented "Olivette" and Academy of Music.
man emotions alike by means of the most highly
"Patience" respectively on the afternoon and Verdi's "Ernani" was one of the last subscrip- developed instrumental or vocal, or their com-
evening of the 29th ult. to crowded houses at tion operas given. Signor Ravelli sang the title bined effects.
role, Signor Del Puente sang Carlos, Silva was The intricacies of all instruments were carefully
the Corinthian Academy.
It is needless to enlarge upon the merits and sung by Novara, and Elvira by Mile. Rossini.
and exhaustively studied with untiring energy,
"Ernani" is as closely allied to the name Verdi and all the resources of the vocal organ were ap-
demerits of Miss Abbott and her company of so-
called artists, as they are too well known to the aa is "II Trovatore." It overflows with melody plied as became necessary.
and contains evidences of Verdi's gifted qualities He selected such subjects as appealed to the
musical public to need further mention.
The latter part of Lent has had the effect of as a composer of dramatic operas.
broadest intellectual development. It would be
quieting down the amusement season to an un- His great triumphs are based upon his ability absurd to question his ability as a musician—that
to combine the lyric and dramatic elements, and has never been doubted; his theories were ques-
usual degree.
Local musicians have been busy preparing the presenting both with good effects and momentary tioned, not his knowledge of theories then in vogue,
various works in the hands of societies for pro- inspirations he could not fail to impress his and it is therefore painful to notice th at many crit-
duction within the next few weeks. Church auditors.
ics fall to blundering by attempting extensive an-
For this reason his operas are still popular, alyses of parts of Ms works which are simply
choirs have all been at work on music for Easter
although in structure and development they are embellishments in instrumentation, and do not as
day.
The following are some of the best programmes not in keeping with the progressive schools of the such pretend to be innovations.
lyric drama.
rendered:
For instance, the Scherzo, "Queen Mab," in
" Signor Ravelli did some of the best work of the "Romeo and Juliet," is an example of this kind.
BRICK CHURCH—MORNING.
season
in
this
opera.
His
powerful,
clear
and
Yet The Sun critic disposes of this wonderful bit
March Religieuse
Guilmaut
Christ our Passover
John Goss resonant tenor voice was heard to the best ad- of orchestration by saying that it "runs to thin-
vantage
in
Ernani.
ness and triviality." Who is there that can with
As it began to dawn
Buck
Signor Del Puente also gave an excellent rendi- two indefinite terms settle the question of the
Christ the Lord is risen
Warren
I know that my Redeemer liveth
Handel tion of Carlos, and Signor Novara was fully as ac- musical value of Berlioz's "Queen Mab?"
Festival Benedictus
Buck ceptable as Silva.
Another ipse dixit by the same writer, referring
Angels roll the rock away
Chaffin Mile. Rossini as Elvira introduced some excel- to the description of the dying agonies of the two
lent dramatic situations, full of passion and fervor. lovers in the tomb, is as follows: "The attempt
EVENING.
She might have improved somewhat the rendition was more suggestive of the last struggles of an
Organ Voluntary
of "Ernani involami" had she taken the tempo less impounded poodle under the drastic influences of
Awake thou that sleepest
Stainer hastily.
strychnine than the lofty pain and pathos of
Benedic Anima
Buck
The chorus was very powerful and had an Shakespeare's 'creation.'"
Why seek ye the living
Warren abundance
of tone, which we would have been
Berlioz anticipated such critics, as he attached
Christ our Passover
Woeltge pleased to hear in some of the other operas.
a "note" to this part of the work which the amia-
Rise, Glorious Conqueror
The orchestra had no especial difficulties to ble and magniloquent critic of The Sun should
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH—MORNING.
overcome, and played Verdi'a score with apparent look through carefully. This is what the master
Organ prelude
Bach ease.
says:
Carol—Crown Him Everlasting King
Warren During the supplementary season all the operas NOTE. -"The public has no imagination; there-
Why seek ye the living
Hopkins of the later repertoire of the Mapleson Company fore, pieces which are addressed solely to the imag-
God hath appointed a day
Tours were given.
ination have no public. The following instrumental
Gloria Patri
Wilson The "Faust" performance on April 8 was es- scene is in this case, and I think It should be, omitted
pecially
noteworthy.
Mile.
Hauk's
Margkerita
whenever this symphony is given before an audi-
They have taken away my Lord
Stainer
Day of Resurrection
Keller presented a pleasing picture, and as she was in ence not having a feeling for poetry and not famil-
iar
with the fifth act of Shakespeare's tragedy. This
excellent voice and thoroughly familiar with every
Ladies' Quartette.
its omission ninety-nine times out of a hun-
Organ postlude
Guilmaut minute requirement of the role, the performance, implies
aided by Campanini's Faust, passed off with dred. It presents, moreover, immense difficulties
ST. PETER'S CHURCH.
of execution. Consequently, after Juliet's funeral
Organ prelude
Mendelssohn splendid effect.
procession a moment of silence should be observed,
Galassi
as
Valentine,
and
Novara
as
Mephistoph-
Why seek ye the living
Hopkins
then the Finale should be taken up."
eles,
completed
the
cast,
although
we
must
not
The Lord is my light
Hiles
Genius manifests itself in the wonderful appre-
forget
to
make
special
mention
of
Mme.
Lablache,
I know that my Redeemer liveth
Handel
ciation Berlioz had of the ability of the average
Organ—March
Handel whose performance of Maria was full of anima- mind to "take in," as it were, his creations. Ber-
tion.
AFTERNOON.
"Les Huguenots," "Ernaai," lioz was a psychologist. He knew that every age
Organ prelude
Bach and "L'Afrieaine,"
"Lohengrin"
have been given during the produces such critics as the one we refer to, and
Christ the Lord is risen
Wilson supplementary season,
"Aida" and "Carmen" in order to spare their feelings he preferred that
I will mention
Sullivan are announced, as well and
as Meyerbeer's "Robert le this exceptionally poetic number of his great
How beautiful are the feet
Handel Diable."
symphony should be passed over in silence than
be misunderstood.
Christ our Passover
Buck
Colonel
Mapleson's
experiment
has
been
suc-
Sanctus
Gounod cessful, and he has convinced himself that grand Let it be known that conflicting art theories
Organ—March from Handel
Guilmaut Italian opera can be given at popular prices to cannot be decided in a few columns of a news-
PLYMOUTH CHUECH—EVENING.
crowded houses. What effect this will have on paper; neither can a great movement of a sym-
the future of Italian opera in this city we are not phony, which is considered of sufficient worth
Organ Voluntary
Glory to God in the highest
Verdi prepared to say. It is, however, fully demon- to be rehearsed and produced on many occasions
As it began to dawn
Buck strated that a great part of the New York public is in many cities, be cast aside with a few flippant
Love Divine! All love excelling
Stainer anxious and willing to hear Italian opera, pro- remarks.
If the critic does not understand the subject, he
vided the inducement is offered.
"When Thou tookest upon Thee"
\ Q ir
The high subscription prices which have been could pass it by without comment, and thus not
"We believe that Thou shalt come"....] K3Uillvan
On high the stars now are shining.... Rheinberger charged have made the opera inaccessible to a only avoid exposure, but also a much more serious
The attraction for the present week will be large class of our citizens, and their willing re- harm—the dangerous influence he creates by de-
Mahn's Comic Opera Company at the Grand sponse to Colonel Mapleson's "popular price" sea- preciating a great work of art and the name of a
Opera House on the 13th, 14th and 15th inst., son is evidence that this plan of grand Italian Berlioz.
The execution by the orchestra, chorus and
and the last three nights of next week Haverly's opera in this city is feasible and profitable.
soloist was by no means perfect. Dr. Damrosch
"Patience" Company appear at the Academy.
often becomes intensely excited, and then loses
M.
SYMPHONY SOCIETY.
control of his forces, and that at times when his
INDIANAPOLIS.
TTTITH the assistance of the Oratorio Society, direction should be characterized by firmness.
INDIANAPOIIIS, April 4.
His beat then becomes indefinite, and delicate
VV the last concert of the Symphony Society
EAKIN'S LILIPUTIAN OPERA COMPANY took place on April 8, the public rehearsal taking phrases are entirely lost.
(Continued on jw^e 287.)
place on the Thursday afternoon preceding.
appeared at English's, March 24 and 25.
PERFORMANCES
A
M
D
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
286
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
Tie i s M Critic
AND
TRADE REVIEW.
April 20th, 1882.
IMPORTANT NOTICE.
world where so large and efficient an orchestra
E wish to call especial attention to our standing can be gathered as in New York. This is
notice, that all communications must invari- due to the encouragement New York gives to
ably be addressed to the Editor, Charles Avery Welles, musicians to locate here, and as a result we
864 Broadway, New York City. Letters from cor-
respondents and advertisers are frequently addressed always have them at hand for frequent prac-
to individual members of the staff, and in case of an tice together."
editor's absence from the city, must await his return
These remarks are to a great extent em-
before they can be opened. This puts us to a great phatically true, especially in reference to the
deal of trouble.
W
efficiency of the orchestra that can be gath-
ered here. For its size, it will be an incom-
THE MAT MUSIC FESTIVAL.
N less than two weeks the May festival parable body of players.
With which is incorporated THE MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL.
will be in progress, and the laborious du- Mr. Thomas expresses the following opin-
ties of months and years will be on the eve of ion in reference to the chorus:
* THE OEGAN
"They are mostly Americans, though small
realization.
The Seventh Regiment Armory has been but valuable contingents are Germans. The
Of the Musicians
fitted with elevated seats, the seats on the women's voices are better than those found
AND THE MUSIC TRADES OF AMERICA. stage are in place, the organ under the stage in the European choral societies. The tenors
is in position and in complete order, and work are a little too light in quality; the altos and
PUBLISHED on THE 5th & 20th OF EACH MONTH is in progress towards the completion of the basses are rich and full. They are all hard
students and, as a rule, learn easily. Some-
large sounding-board.
At 864 Broadway, bet. 17th and 18th Sts.
times they are a little slow at first, but
Mass
rehearsals
have
taken
place,
the
New
AMERICAN NEWS CO.,
Sows AGENTS.
York and Brooklyn choruses being in attend- when they have begun to grasp the mu-
ance with the strength of about fifteen hun- sical idea of the composer, advance with
rapid strides. They nave continuity of
voices.
CHARLES AVERY WELLES, dred
The "Handel and Haydn Society" of Bos- purpose, but a very few dropping away from
Editor and Proprietor.
ton, the "Cecilian"of Philadelphia, the "Ora- their places, and those principally from
torio Society" of Baltimore, the Worcester sickness or through unexpected business
All communications should be addressed to the editor, "Festival Chorus," and the Reading "Singing demands on their time. They are easily sub-
CHARLHS AVIRY WELLES, 864 Broadway, N. Y. City.
Checks and Post-Office Orders should be made payable to Society" have all been rehearsing under their ject to discipline when present; the only lack
CMAKLES AYKRY WELLES, Proprietor.
of discipline they show is in occasional ab-
We are not responsible for the return of rejected manu- respective leaders, and Mr. Thomas has been
sences. An unexpectedly large percentage
script.
present
at
some
of
their
rehearsals,
in
order
Correspondence must always be accompanied by the name
and address of the sender, not necessarily for publication, but to familiarize the chorus with his beat and the are professional musicians, teachers, etc.
as a guarantee of good faith.
They have a greater nervous force than for-
Trade reports. Items and communications, relating to the tempi.
music trade, are solicited from all parts of the world.
Judging from the elaborate preparations eign choristers, and, though they have to be
made for the purpose of producing a perfect aroused to the necessity of working hard at
choral body, there is but little doubt that this the first rehearsals, will nerve themselves to
NEW YOEK, APRIL 20, 1882.
feature of the festival will be the most r extraordinary exertions at the last and sur-
prise you by what they will accomplish at
markable of its kind.
ADVERTISING RATES.
The 3,200 voices, after this preliminary the last moment. They seem to find pleas-
ure in conquering difficulties, which they at
The following is the schedule of advertising rates for training, will constitute a noble body of sing-
ers, and as the societies have been specially first approach sluggishly, but afterward com-
1 MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW :
selected in accordance with their adaptability bat most determinedly. Take the Beethoven
COVER PAGES.
for this purpose, and not at random, as in Mass for an example; at the first attack they
The, four pages of the cover are divided into two col many other instances, we may anticipate more could not make head or tail of it, but when
umns to a page.
it once began to be clear to them they did
IN THE WIDTH OF A SINGLE COLUMN ON THESE perfect chorus work than has heretofore been
not want to leave it, and asked for extra re-
produced in America.
COVER PAGES THE RATE IS
$ 2 0 PER INCH for one. quarter (3 months.)
The orchestra of 300 selected performers is hearsals. The class of music they seem to
of
a high grade of excellence, many of the have a fondness for indicates their taste or
INSIDE PAGES.
performers
representing the most experienced inclination for simplicity and melodiousness
The inside pages are divided into three columns to a
type of orchestra players that can be found of style, such as the Gluck music, but what
page.
the national taste is, positively, it is impossi-
IN THE WIDTH OP A SINGLE COLUMN ON THESE anywhere.
INSIDE PAGES THE RATE 18
ble to state from the limited experience with
There
are
3,200
seats
for
the
chorus,
300
$ 1 4 PER INCH for one quarter (3 months).
for the orchestra, being 3,500 seats on the these singers, to many of whom the work
is a beginning of mu-
DIRECTORY
stage, while the auditorium contains 7,000 they are undertaking
1
sical
education.
'
seats,
making
in
all
a
seating
capacity
of
Including subscription to the MUSICAL CRITIC AND
TRADE REVIEW.
A national taste in music has by no means
10,500.
In the "Directory of the MUSICAL PROFESSION AND
According to the decision of the committee been developed here yet.
THE Music TRADES," a space of THREE LINES,
Musical festivals are excellent mediums
in charge of that part of the work, no more
NEITHER MORE NOR LESS, IS ALLOWED FOR A SINGLE
CARD. These cards will not be taken for a shorter time tickets will be sold than will cover the abso- for the musical education of the public, al-
than one year, and their wording cannot be altered after lute seating capacity of the building, thus though no national taste can be created with
the firvt insertion, except in the case of a change of ad- avoiding the unpleasant feature of crowded festivals which are essentially cosmopolitan
dress, or something equally necessary. Payment for
in their character, both as to the great va-
these cards MUST INVARIABLY BE MADE IN AD- aisles and an inordinate crush.
VANCE. They will not be inserted until paid for.
In the course of an interview with Mr. riety of compositions and even the soloists
THE RATE FOR A SINGLE CARD IS
Thomas, published in the New York ITerald, and the composition of the chorus and or-
$ 1 2 , THREE LINES, ONE TEAR, INCLUDING ONE
TEAT'S SUBSCRIPTION TO THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND he is reported to have said, among other chestra.
TRADE REVIEW, INVARIABLT IN ADVANCE.
things in reference to the festival, that no The time has not yet come for the devel-
comparisons can be made between this festi- opment of a national taste in music.
With some nations it has required a great
val and those of the old world. He said :
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
"Foreign festivals do not include the wide length of time, but we doubt not that in
variety of music such as is presented at this the future a native composer or composers
UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
festival. In England, for instance, the great- of originality will be able to evoke certain
The rates for subscription to the MUSICAL CRITIC est festivals are given over to colossal per- characteristics of composition which will be
AND TRADE REVIEW in the United States and Canada formances of the 'Messiah' and 'Israel in different from anything hitherto produced,
are:
and which may embody distinct elements
1 YEAR (including postage)
$2.00 Egypt,' and various selections from Handel's
6 MOS.,
"
"
l . O O works. In Germany, for instance, they find that will have a national type.
3 MOS.,
"
"
5O difficulty in interpreting Italian music, and
This, however, is a question that leads one
into the widest speculations
in
France
'Handel'
would
present
terrible
dif-
FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
Mr. Thomas demonstrates most forcibly
ficulties to the people. So each country
In all foreign countries included in the Postal Union makes a specialty of such music as they best that our choruses are composed of singers
the rates for subscription to this paper are:
Here we who love the art for the sake of the art, and
1 YEAR (includingpostage)
$2.50 understand and can best interpret.
« MOS.,
"
"
1.25 have cosmopolitan audiences and singers and this is in itself an evidence that there is a
3 MOS.,
"
"
6 5 players of cosmopolitan taste; therefore, we great future for music in this country.
ALL THE ABOVE RATES MUST INVARIABLY BE PAID
The programme was published in the last
can give a wide variety of music. As to our
IN ADVANCE.
orchestral facilities, there is no city in the number of T H E MUSICAL CRITIC AND
SINGLE COPIES
1 0 CENTS.
I

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