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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
here, again, be sure that it is not too cum-
bersome and the wood rightly seasoned, or
you will have a heavy tone?
" To my mind, in many instances, the
numerous coats of varnish help to give a
brittle tone—hard, without real bril-
liancy."
A very excellent suggestion is made
by the author of this essay which however
is not original notwithstanding the claim
made in this connection. It is this: "Why
should not the beautiful carvings on piano-
casings be left in the natural state of the
wood, and simply oiled ? (Of course, the
tone would have to be considered in regard
to this, too.) We preserve other carvings
in the natural state of the wood for almost
centuries. After all, the manufacture of
pianos is as yet in its infancy—so much
yet to learn."
Yes, verily there is much yet to learn.
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C O Teresa Carreno, that charming per-
^ sonality, is to be with us again. As an-
nounced editorially she visits this country
the coming season to play the Chickering
piano.
It is fitting that an American artist such
as Carreno should play the Chickering
piano—for Carreno is entitled to be con-
sidered an American. Although born in
Venezuela, she always made New York her
home, and it was here her artistic talents
were developed and appreciated. While
abroad the influence of the great artist and
genius D'Albert, whom she married,
marked a new epoch in her artistic life.
There can be no question but it is due to
his training that she displays those great
individual qualities which are associated
only with the very few virtuosi in the
piano world.
During her last visit here—in February,
1897—we were enabled to fully estimate
and appreciate the phenomenal success
which was hers in those critical cities, St.
Petersburg and Berlin, as well as else-
where on the European Continent. The
most skeptical had to admit that she is
now in the fullness of artistic bloom and
fully entitled to be considered as one of
our greatest artists. Her reception in this
city during her last visit as well as en tour
was what is generally termed a " Patti"
welcome, for it was both enthusiastic and
sentimental.
It is certain to be even
more cordial this year, in view of Car-
reno's recent successes abroad.
tt is interesting in view of Mme. Car-
reno's coming tour with the Chickering
piano to note what the leading critics said
of her playing during her last visit:
N E W YORK TRIBUNE.—Mme. Carreno comes back to
us with her dashing impetuosity unimpaired, but with
riper judgment and saner sentiment than she possessed
when first she won the American heart. Her reading of
the familiar concerto was clear and strong throughout.
N E W YORK EVENING POST.—When the first chance
for applause arrived there was a tumult of approval. The
enthusiasm was unbounded. She played the superb D
Minor Concerto of Rubinstein, and when she came to the
climax of the cadenza in the first movement, the excite-
ment of the audience reached such a high pitch that it
would have interrupted the music with applause had it
been a less refined assemblage. As it was, it waited to
the end. Every movement was warmly applauded, and
at the end she had an ovation which must have come up
to her fondest hopes.
N E W YORK HERALD.—Rubinstein's D Minor Con-
certo No. 4 was chosen by Mme. Carreno as the most
suitable means for the renewal of the entente that had
always existed between her and the New York public.
She chose well, for the manner in which she interpreted
the work was convincing and masterly, and old concert-
goers were inclined to the opinion that the concerto had
not been so well played here since Rubinstein himself
played it. It was apparent to all who were familiar with
Mme. Carreno's method and temperament that duiing
her European experience her style has broadened. She
often almost attains to virility, but one had only to hear
her rendering of the second movement of the concerto
and of Chopin's Berceuse, which she gave as an encore,
and which was such a striking contrast to the dazzling
finale of the Rubinstein number, to feel that behind the
artiste's brilliancy there is still an amplitude of womanly
tenderness. The ease with which she disposed of the
technical difficulties of the rondo, bore testimony to her
virtuosity, if any such was needed. As for her playing
of the Chopin Berceuse, delicious is the most appropriate
adjective to apply to it. It represented a faultless
technique and a most poetic conception.
N E W YORK WORLD.—She received a warm welcome
from an immense audience, which included many of her
old admirers.
A Berlin critic dubbed her once the
" Lioness of the Piano," and the designation is apt.
T H E N E W YORK COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.—I have
heard Rubinstein, Von Bulow, d'Albert, Bloomfield-
Zeisler and Paderewski play this beautiful pianoforte con-
certo in the key of D minor. Both Von Bulow and his
follower, d'Albert, gave it to us as the product of ripened
intellect, but intellect predominated o\er music. Rubin-
stein's performance was, of course, hopelessly magnifi-
cent. It reached heights and plumbed profound depths
that no pianist before or after has dared to dream of.
He set before us the model, and pianists have all been
helplessly imitating it since. But Fannie Bloomfield-
Zeisler plays the last movement with terrific abandon,
and Paderewski sang the romance in F in lovely, sooth-
ing tones.
Carreno plays the first movement better than these
three artists, and in that culminating cadenza and coda
she caused Anton Seidl to say that since Rubinstein—you
know the rest!
for it has within its lines that "something"
indefinable which thrills the soul of the
true patriot, and recognizes no North or
no South but one country which all must
love. The melody, the arrangement, and
the words of this song merit especial praise
and we are not surprised to learn of its
popularity.
;
Prince in the Toils.
John J. Prince, who is well, if not favor-
ably known to the trade was arrested last
Monday on a charge of having used the
United States mail with intent to defraud.
He was locked up in Ludlow Street Jail,
where he passed Monday night. He was
bailed on Tuesday by D. G. Terry, a dep-
uty sheriff, who furnished bonds for $2,-
500.
Prince is the clerk of the Committee of
Estimate and Appraisal of the Dock De-
partment. The place is regarded as im-
portant, and it was held under Mayor
Strong by a sound money democrat, who
was turned out by Corporation Counsel
Whalen to make way for Prince. Mr.
Whalen has the appointment of the clerk.
Frank A. O'Brien, one of the Post Office
N E W YORK SUN.—Mme. Carreno showed excellent
Inspectors,
made the affidavit upon which
judgment in the choice of programme for her first recital,
Prince was arrested. He declares that on
which took place yesteiday in the new ballroom of the
Waldorf. She played the two Chopin preludes eminent-
June 10, 1897, Prince, as Prince & Co.,
ly well, and entered gloriously into the spirit of the G
flat etude and the A flat polonaise, the former especially
" devised a scheme and artifice to defraud
being rendered with such captivating brilliancy and grace
divers
persons, and particularly one M. E.
as to rouse even the well gloved audience of women to
rapturous applause.
Its repetition was insisted on.
Corcoran, of his moneys."
With the broad, sweeping strength of the classic masters
Mr. Corcoran lives in Crosby, Mich.,
also, the pianist shows complete sympathy, as was proven
by her dignified and wholly adequate interpretation of the
and
the affidavit charges that on the date
Bach Fantaisie, which headed the programme, and the
mentioned Prince sent him a letter fraudu-
Beethoven Sonata Appassionata, which immediately fol-
lowed.
Mme. Carreno approached this sonata in the
lently representing that he was a manufac-
spirit not of a wooden image all angles, as some consider
proper, but of a warm-blooded human being with a large
turer of high grade pianos, and that he
heart and a broad mind. Under her eloquent fingers the
would furnish at a certain price a piano
old music throbbed with new vitality.
which would compare in tone, quality, fin-
It was not unlil she reached the Liszt portion of her
programme, however, that Mme. Carreno found a vehicle
ish
and durability with any piano whole-
for the best display of her marvelous technical skill, and
the fire and passion of her temperament. In the familiar
saled at from $150 to $175.
" Soire"e de Vienne " and "Campanella" the player main-
The affidavit declares that Prince did
tained a dazzling alternation of limpid, crystalline agility
and a wondrous dramatic force.
The "Campanella"
not
intend to sell any piano to Corcoran,
has never been played herewith the splendid clearness
and exactitude declared in it by this gifted woman. It knowing himself to be insolvent when he
was received with excited demonstrations of approval by
wrote, and that he did not make any piano
the listeners, as was also the "Sixth Hungarian Rhap-
sody," which brought the recital to a sensational close in
of the style described, but intended to de-
legitimate and approved fashion.
fraud Corcoran of $110.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE.—But it remained for the Liszt
Prince's letter was headed "Prince,
Hungarian Fantasia to show the artiste at her best, in her
fullest temperamental response and most congenial
Pianos, Produce, Prosperity." His address
element.
was given as Nos. 487, 489 and 495 Fifth
It was a veritable triumph. The orchestra was literally
left behind in the fervor of her enthusiasm. It was but
avenue. The affidavit says that it is
natural that a scene such as welcomes only the really
founded on the investigations of the in-
great artist should be accorded Mme. Carreno—a scene of
the Auditorium variety, with waving of handkerchiefs
spector, correspondence and statements
and applause that makes the ears tingle.
made by Corcoran.
v
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Prince waived examination and was held
JOHN A. BYRNE, secretary of the Lyon
for
the Grand Jury.
^
& Healy corporation of Chicago, is
unquestionably one of the all-round talent-
Henry B. Fischer Traveling.
ed men of the music trade industry. That
he shines forth as a speaker, is proved by
Henry B. Fischer, of J. & C. Fischer,
his address on credits in last week's Re-
left
town on Monday for an extended
view, meanwhile he is equally as effulgent
as a musical composer. His latest compo- Western trip. He will probably remain
sition, "Our Yankee Boys, Hurrah," is a on the road until the middle of October.
stirring National song and is filled from Fischer business, both wholesale and re-
start to finish with the fire of patriotism, tail, is satisfactory.
the ingenious wedding of the blue and
Chance for Piano Man.
the gray under the starry sky of freedom
and the folds of dear old glory, as they
WANTED.—A good man to work at
have marched on shoulder to shoulder to retail piano and organ trade. One who
meet the foe. That it will appeal to all has had experience and is willing to drive
who carry the love of country in their preferred. Address X.Y., REVIKW Office,
hearts cannot be doubted for one moment, 3 East 14th Street, New York City.