Music Trade Review

SUPPLEMENT.
December 20th, ]88o.
Mr. Gill's vocal pupils, assisted by violin pupils of Prof. Singer, and
the club gave a musical festival at tlie immense building, which at the
time existed and was known as Moody's Tabernacle, assisted by a number of the teachers and pupils of the Northwestern Conservatory of Music,
gave a recital at Evanston, tho 10th inst., The directer, Mr. Iren Locke,
eminent soloists, and Thomas' orchestra.
At that time Mr. Hamilton was president, Mr. E. G. Newell, secretary, announces a grand orchestral concert to be given next February. The
and Wm, Cox, treasurer ; and the fact that the festival netted a considerable principal numbers of the programme were: Sonata op. 26, Beethoven, Miss
surplus, speaks well for the management. Since then the club has experi- Simpson, " The Day is Done," Bali'e ; Miss Hutchinson, Polaccu op. 72,
enced another change of mind, in electing Mr. Van Imragen, who certainly Weber; Miss Scott, Chopin's " Fantasie I m p r o m p t u ; " Miss Thompson,
deserved that honor by his unswerving devotion to the interests of the club, and Mendelssohn's "Ave Maria " (Loreley) for chorus and soprano. The Third
president, and Mr. Hamilton, secretary ; and since the completion of our Chamber Concert of the Liesigang. Heimendahl String Quartette took place,
new and beautiful Central Music Hall, the club is domiciled there, leaving Dec. 11th, as follows: Quartette op. 18: 3 Beethoven. Sonata Pastorate,
E. L.
the elegant and commodious rooms they had occupied at the American Ex- Schoenefeld, and quintet; G. Minor, Mozart.
press building. All these changes did not eflect Mr. Tomlins, who still re-
tains his post, and also manages to conduct the Milwaukee Arion Club, who
BULLDOZING OUR CHICAGO CORRESPONDENT,
have come down here to Chicago and in the most friendly spirit of " rivaliz-
ing camaraderie," sung with the Apollo's.
CHICAGO, Dec. 6, 1880.
The present season of the club was inaugurated by two grand concerts, Editor Musical Critic and Trade Review :
which took place Monday and Tuesday evenings, December 6th and 7th.
The last number of the Musical Bulletin, published in Chicago, contains
The club had the assistance of Miss Fanny Kellogg, Myron W. Whitney, and an attack upon me, to which I wish to reply: The article in question claims,
Chas. Fritsch, and Messrs. Barnes and McWade, of our city. Mr. Eddy pre- that being a pianist myself, I am unable to give a fair and unbiased criti-
sided at the organ, and a large orchestra had been secured. The sale of cism of other pianists, and am kindly advised that it would have been better
tickets to the first concert was at first limited to the associate members, who taste on my part to have expressed myself in more complimentary terms in
availed themselves of it to such an extent as to exclude the general public regard to Mr. Boscovitz's playing. No doubt it is very awkward and em-
altogether. The large Music Hall was completely filled with a musical, ergo, barrassing to have people in the audience, who are perfectly familiar with
critical audience. I noticed a good many scores among the audience, and the pieces to be rendered ; but that knowledge should certainly not disfran-
have no doubt that they all turned over at the right place. Hsendel's ' 'Acis chise any one from passing an able criticism. * In fact, to a great many
and Galathea" opened the concert. In the choruses of this work, and also people that would seem a special qualification. Now, it is a singular fact,
" The Seasons," which followed, there was noticable a want of breadth and that the expressions of almost all principal musicians and competent musical
massiveness, out of proportion to the number of singers.
amateurs are in accord with my remarks ; or is perhaps the entire city preju-
Part of it may have been due to the fact that a considerable number were diced, biased and jealous ?
stationed under the organ loft, which I think cuts off a good deal of reso-
I regret that a strict regard for truth prevented me from giving Mr. B. a
nance. Otherwise the choruses were clearly sung; the sopranos attacked more favorable notice than I thought his playing deserved. His attempt to
their part with hardly enough spirit. Miss Kellogg made a pleasing im- create a personal issue between the gentleman and myself is utterly silly.
pression. Her voice seems scarcely robust enough for this sort of work. Our city is too large to be run by any one pianist or clique. " Fine words but-
Chas. Barnes was very husky in the First Part, but redeemed himself nobly ter no parsnips." No amount of undeserved adverse criticism will hurt a real
in the aria, "Love sounds th'alarm." Of course Myron Whitney was "a artist ; but on the other hand, blarney has never yet created one. Mr. B. may
Polyphemus whose "torture, fury, rage and despair " the average Acts might well pray to be delivered from Ids friends, for in their undue and injudicious
wellbeafraid of. The gigantic recitative, " I r a g e , I melt, I burn," was sung zeal they have found it necessary to employ very peculiar methods, and he
with the most perfect enunciation and vocalization imaginable; and its sequel, is hardly to be envied the auspices under which he has appeared here.
" Oh, ruddier than the cherry "—an aria which has something cyclopic
There is just enough truth in one statement of the article referred to to
about it—gained him the unavoidable encore. Of Haydn's " Seasons," make it appear plausible. It is to the effect that I criticized a performance
" Spring " and " Summer " were partly presented. " With joy th' Impatient which I had not attended. It is true that E left Hershey Hall just before
Husbandman " was finely sung by Simon Whitney, and Miss Kellogg im- Mr. Boscovitz commenced Liszt's 12th Rhapsody. I did so in the expecta-
proved upon " Galathea " by her rendering of June's part. The recitative, tion that Mr. E. G. Newell, who attended the recital with me, would join
'*' Our Fervent Prayers," was well done. In the duett and chorus, " Spring, me, as previously agreed, as we had another engagement later in the evening.
her Lovely Charrns Unfolding," the mixed chorus became decidedly mixed. On reaching the door I.found that Mr. N. had not followed me. I waited
Mr. Fritsch's voice sounded like the vox hmnana of an organ. It had the for him. just outside at the half oxjendoor of the hall, where I could as plainly
shakes very badly. The trio and chorus, from whose abundant stores, were hear every note as if I had been the same distance inside of the door. At
well sung, also the " Fugue," " God of Light," which ends the first part. the end of the piece Mr. N. joined me at the. door. This will explain how it
The best chorus work of the evening was done in " Hail, O Glorious Sun !" was possible for me to state as a fact, based upon the knowledge of every note
which is a very trying test of a chorus' ability. Miss Kellogg achieved a of the piece referred to, what I d.d concerning its performance.
great and well deserved success by her magnificent rendering of " O h , how
As to the other misstatements which I am credited with, the proper
Pleasing to the Senses," and also " Dread Thro' the Dim Expanse," with its course for thrf journal to pursue would have been to have corrected them.
characteristic pizzicato accompaniment. The orchestra did well, and the Being unable to do so, they were obliged to have have recourse to wholesale
fact that to Mr. Eddy was entrusted the organ accompaniment insured to abuse, unsubstantiated assertions, and the worn-out claim of professional
the chorus a great assistance.
jealousy. It simply remains for me to add that had the writer of the Bulletin
Rubinstein's " Tower of Babel," was performed the second night. I t is article been sufficiently acquainted with the piano literature presented at
as unsatisfactory at a first hearing, as Boito's " Mefistofele." Perhaps it is Mr. B.'s Recitals, he would perhaps have agreed with
the uncertain choice of the subject in both. Nirarod was impersonated by
Yours truly,
EMIL LIEI$:LING.
Whitney, who is perhaps the only one who will ever succeed in making that
august personage at all interesting ; a youth by the name of Abraham, was
" DER RATTENFAENGER VON HAMELJN."—We had intended in this issue to
badly treated by Fritsch, and McWade, did passably as Master Workman, give an extended review of the performance and character of this work,
which part is too heavy for his baritone voice, pleasant as it is. The chorus which was produced at the Germania Theatre on Dec. 14th; but the crowded
work is very difficult and intricate, and its execution showed considerable state of our columns compels us to defer it until our next issue, and we have
study. I think the production was premature and would have been much only room to state that the opera was composed by M. Adolph Neuendorff,
finer had it been deferred a few months. I trust that the work will be per- with libretto by M. Italiener. It was performed before a ci-owued house,
formed several times during the seaso.;, it would almost seem, as if the great and was well received.
amount of labor which necessarily precedes the rendition of such a work was
OBITUARY.—Walter H. Merrifield, of Worcester, Mass., died on the
almost wasted, if it is only produced once.
Strakosch & Hess have brought their International Opera Troupe evening of Dec. 6th. He excelled as a pianist, having a brilliant power of
here, which is better than its name. Chorus and orchestra are good. Miss execution, and was a fine harmony scholar. Much of his training was under
Laura Schirmer is a line acquisition to English opera, and did especially well Mr. B. J. Lang, of Boston. He was organist at All Saints Church, Wor-
in "Carmen," fairly dividing the honors with Marie Roze. Among the cester, and had filled a similar position in several other churches, having
operas that have been and are to be produced are " i r a Diavolo," " Mefisto- begun playing in public at an early age.
i'ele," "Carmen," " Trovatore," "Aida," "Tell," and "Bohemian Girl."
GERSTEK.—Mme. Etelka Gerster sings on Sunday, the 19th inst., in con-
Marie Roze sang, looked and acted Carmen most charmingly. Byron's voice cert, at the Academy of Music. This will be the last concert during the fall
reminds one somewhat of Brignoli's; it has the same ring. His acting has season of Italian opeia.
also the grace that distinguishes Brignoli's impersonations. Conly gives a
HOWARD.—Mme. Constance Howard, whose two recent piano recitals at
grand rendering of Mejistofele, and is a striking contrast to Perugini, who is
a much better actor than singer. I must not forget Mr. Carleton, who Steinway Hall were so successful, plays at the next Philharmonic Society
looked and sang so well as EscamUlo, that no one present could have blamed concert in Providence, R. I.
Carmen for transferring her affections to him. The troupe is playing to fine
CHICAGO AHEAD OF NEW YORK.—Rubinstein's "Tower of Babel " was on
houses.
the programme of the last May Festival in Cincinnati, but was not per-
The Boston Ideal Opera Company open at the Grand Opera Housa to- formed. Dr. Damrosch wanted to produce the work for the first time in
morrow, and have had a large advance sale. They are to play the following America at his festival next May. But he can only be second, for the first per-
operas: "Bells of Corneville," "Fatinitza," "Bohemian Girl," "Sorcerer," formance of the "Tower of Babel" took place on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at
and "Pinafore." This week will also bring the first concert of the Beetho- Chicago, in the Central Music Hall, by the Apollo Club, Mr. Tomlins, di-
ven Society, who will sing " Elijah," assisted by Mr. Geo. Henschel. Mr. rector.
Henschel is also announced for a long recital later in the week. The follow-
HARLEM MENDELSSOHN UNION.—The Harlem Mendelssohn Union an-
ing programme was rendered before the Amateur Musical Club, Dec. 1st:
"Sonata op. 28," Beethoven, Mrs. Getchell; Vocal, "Yearnings," " T h e nounces a concert on Monday, Dec. 20, at Chickering Hall, on which occa-
Page," Rubinstein, Mrs. Hall; "Fileuse," Raff, " Loure," Bach, Miss Lily sion Mr. George Henschel and other soloists will make their appearance.
Fay; " Adieu," E. Liebling, Mr. Knorr; Ballet Music, "Rienzi," Wagner,
ANOTHER ONE.—Mr. Franz Rummcl commences a series of piano-
for 8 hands, Mrs. Hadduck, Mrs. Smith, Miss Morton, and Mr. Schaefer; recitals.
" The Village Blacksmith," Hcelzel, Mrs. McWade, "Soiree de Vienne,' (
OLIVETTE.—" Olivette," an opera comique that has been received with
Tausig, Miss Dyer; " Alta Stella Confidente," llobandi, Miss Mulford; Aria, much favor in Paris, and is said to be exceedingly bright in music and dia-
" Gigue Gavotte," Bach, Mr. Ledochowski, and Mosjkowski's "Spanish logue, has been purchased by Mr. J. C. Duff, and will be produced at Abbey's
Dance," for 4 hands, played by Miss Alport and Mrs. Barbour.
Park Theatre at an early date.
At their Twenty-first Chamber Concert, Miss Ingersoll and others per-
HEBREW FAIR.—Mr. J. B. Polk, Mr. Henry Brandeis, tenor; the Franko
formed the following programme: "Andante" op. 16, Beethoven; Raffs
"Quatuor" op. 192, No. 2, and Rheinberger's Quintette op. 114. Mr. family, and Mr. Thomas' orchestra, appeared at the Metropolitan Concert
Hall on the evening of Dec. 12th, for the benefit of the Hebrew Fair.
Lewis played Wieniawski's "Valse Caprice."
Miss Rose Whitten's Benefit Concert came off Dec. 2d, under the direct-
CAMPAKINI.—Signor Campanini sang on Sunday, December 12, in
erahip of Mr. Schoenefeld.
Boston.