Music Trade Review

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February.5th,
i88r.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
11
Mr. Becker is teaching at Miiller Conservatory.
I must frankly confess that I went to the concert with an indefinite feeling of
prejudice and mistrust, partly induced by the formidable look of the pro-
Mr. Hattstaedt lectured on Haendel January 22.
gramme, which real as follows: 1. (a) "Polonaise in E," "Campanella,"
A new conservatory of music is to be started on the west side.
"Spinning Song," and "Tannhauser March;" 2. (a) "The Wanderer,"
A curious omission is in Weitzmann's " History of Piano Playing,"
(b) "Erl-King," (c) " Waldesrauschen," (d) " Faust Valse;" 3. " E flat Con- where Joseffy's name is not mentioned, while a great many lesser lights are
certo"—all by Liszt. This programme brought back to the writer a pleasant noticed.
reminiscence. While at Weimar (with Mr. Pratt), during the spring of
Mrs. Bruch is credited with the composition of " Salamis " in a late
1876, Miss Martha Kemmert, a most talented girl, playedaLiszt programme, number of the Times.
consisting of the " Hungarian Fantaisie," " Polacca Brillante," after Weber,
The Chicago World published a full review of Mr. Eddy's last chamber
and " Ruins of Athens." She was assisted by her sister, an actress and music recital six hours before it took place. Surely a remarkable instance
member of the Court Theatre at Weimar, who read two poems to which Liszt of prophetic ability.
has added a melodramatic piano accompaniment. I was requested to play
The Apollo and Beethoven"societies will assist at the Saengerfest.
the accompaniments, and also the orchestral parts to the piano pieces on a
"Prospective bliss:" The Mapleson Opera, Theodore Thomas' concerts,
second piano. The Maestro himself rehearsed with us several times, and Ingersoll Chamber Music Soiree, Feb. 3d; Liesegang's " Beethoven " Con-
the concert was a gnat success. Miss Reminert is now playing in Austria. cert, Feb. 6th; Dengremont's Concert, the 68th Pupils' Soiree of the
She was so noted for her assiduous practice, that the piano dealers in Vienna Hershey School, Feb. 2d; the Remenyi concerts, and the Beauplau French
refused to rent her an instrument, and Liszt, who is never so happy as when Opera Troupe.
E. L.
he can assist a young struggling artist, permitted her to use his own Bech-
stein grand. But to return to Miss Harris. As said before, the programme
BALTIMORE.
looked too much like " rubbing it in." The average player is supposed to ITALIAN OPEKA.—A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO FEMALE MEMBERS OF MAPLESON's
have had enough after pitying the " Polonaise in E," but here it is followed
TROUPE.—A WEAK PERFORMANCE BY THE PEABODY.—THE HAYDN ASSOCIA-
without intermission by the " Campanella" and five other exacting numbers,
TION.—THE NEW ORATORIO SOCIETY.—DEARTH OF MUSICAL EVENTS.
besides the " Concerto in E flat." Miss Harris played entirely from mem-
BALTIMORE, Jan. 31. 1881.
ory, with almost unfailing adherence to the score. Her wrist is splendidly
developed, her octaves are very fine, the use of the pedal perfectly discreet,
T last we have had a bit of Italian opera and a touch of symphony since
and the trill very brilliant. Her playing possesses repose and animation.
my last letter.
She is defective in absolute finger technique. Her scales and cadenzas are
Mapleson gave us four operas, and the unusual phenomena of a strict
uneven and too slow. Her finger action leaves nothing to be desired, but adherence to the original announcement. The operas—" La Sonnambula,"
she lacks smooth continuity, and especially velocity in passage work. The "Don Juan," " Lucia," and "Mefistofele"—were given in the order of
most artistic performance of the evening was " The Wanderer." Such a per- advertisement, and no "sudden sickness " intervened to disturb the serenity
formance can but reflect the greatest credit on her teacher, and must of the occasion. It is not necessary to go over the ground of criticism,
advance his claims for recognition as teacher of the most advanced order of which has been exhausted by the original criticisms in the MUSICAL CRITIC;
piano music materially.
suffice it to say the opinions then expressed are endorsed by the musical
of this community. Gerster is by no means the same she was on her
Among the other pupils' recitals that have occurred are those of Mrs. public
appearance, and Valleria has improved most remarkably. The new
Watson, Miss Hill, Messrs. Koelling, Pratt, Fuchs and Leibling, and a former
created a very favorable impression, and can be given again with
Recital by the younger pupils of the Chicago College of Music. The vocal opera
It is probable that Mapleson will return for three weeks in March,
teachers do not seem to bring out their pupils as often. There is no lack here profit.
of talent, and the different teachers may well look upon the result of their as he made money here and has a prospect of repeating it in the spring.
The company gave two operas in Washington, and on the way to Pitts-
labors with satisfaction. Such pupils as Miss Sprague (Watson), Misses
Guggenheimer and Blumenfeld (Wolfsolm), Eva Mayers (Eddy), Nellie burg quite a scrimmage took place in the Pullman car in which Mme. Gerster
Bangs (de-Roode Rice), Miss Wishard (Ziegfeld), Lydia Harris (Matthews), was traveling. Two of the female artists had been agitated for several days
and Adele Geiser (Liebling), aro not to be met with everywhere. Miss about one of the male artists, and the culmination was reached on this trip
Blumenfeld is now t tudying in Vienna, and Miss Bangs is the concert when one of the ladies, in a moment of excitement, reached for the hair
pianist of the Litta Troupe. Miss Wallace, of Pittsburg, and pupil of Mr. embellishments of the rival, and a disastrous rout took place. Mme. Gerster
Clement Tetedoux, sang at Mrs. Watson's Recital. But that little pet- did not participate, but kept herself in the background awaiting the action
poodle dog will hereafter repent his forwardness in solitude and seclusion of the Pullman conductor and porter, who, after much trouble, succeeded
in separating the combatants. Thus the matter was hushed up, and the
for taking such a prominent part in the performance.
Mr. H. Clai'ence Eddy has given two interesting chamber-music names of the combatants have been kept in petlo.
The Peabody inaugurated its present season on Saturday night, Jan. 29th,
Recitals, Jan. 15th and 29th, and an organ Recital, Jan. 22. Trios by
Haydn, Bargiel and Beethoven were played, also a novelty, Emil Hart- with Rubinstein's "Symphony Dramatique." Mr. Remmertz sang Rubin-
xnann's "Serenade," op. 24, for piano, clarinet and 'cello. Mr. Coffin and stein's songs; Mad. Carreno played Grieg piano pieces, and the concert closed
Miss Bate were the vocalists. The organ recital was unusually interesting, with Svensden's " Norwegian Rhapsodie." The audience was large, the ap-
as will be seen from the following programme: 1. Schumann, Fugue, op plause very bountiful, the newspaper criticism extremely lavish and the per-
60, No. 6. 2. Merkel, Pastorale in G-. 3. Best's transcription of Spohr's formance most outrageously bad. In the first place the orchestra is the weakest
130th Psalm. 4. Rheinberger, Sonata, op. 111. 5. Buck, Variations, op. that has ever played at the Peabody. The best violinists, 'cellists and flutists do
51. 6. Silas, Andante, op. 74. 7. Saint-Saens, Elevation in E. 8. Gounod, not attend; there being about a half-dozen performers in the orchestra that
can play their scores of the Rubinstein "Symphony" technically correct.
" Marche Militaire."
This "Symphony " was first produced in New York in March, 1875, by a
The principal numbers of the Beethoven Society Reunion of Jan. 20, competent
when your correspondent heard it, but failed to recog-
were Goldmark's " Suite " for piano and violin, op. 11, and Schumann's D nize a single orchestra
feature
of
original in the performance at the Peabody on
minor Trio. Wolfsolm played a new Sonata by Brandeis, and Heimendahl, Saturday. Taken from the
standpoint the whole performance was
Schumann's " Abendlied." Miss Ettie Butler, who sang lately in Springfield, absolutely ridiculous. The a " critical
Symphony " was cut in the most unmusical man-
111., with success in Balfe's "Sleeping Beauty," sang Liszt's " Loreley."
ner after the attempt at the public reheasal, on the day before the concert,
Liesegang's programmes have been very good of late. Beethoven's demonstrated that its performance was a failure. The press, however,
Septett and Mendelssohn's A major " Symphony " were performed last Sun- approves of the fiasco, and after attempting to scrutinize the composition
day, and to-day is one of his " Composer Concerts," devoted to Wagner and, by the way, stating that it has " no form," one of the newspapers com-
and Liszt. The Amateur Musical Club had another pleasant meeting at mits the egregious blunder of praising the performance, excusing the faults
Messrs. Pelton, Pomeroy and Cross' warerooms, Jan. 19th, assisted by on account of the want of rehearsals. Does an audience ask how many
Messrs. Clark and Heimendahl, The latter is getting to be quite a lion rehearsals Mr. Wilhelmj underwent to play the " Beethoven Concerto"?
among the ladies as to Charlie his success in that direction is well known. How many rehearsals Dr. Damrosch ordered for the "Damnation de Faust"?
It is claimed that Mr. Frederick W. Root's pupils get married quicker than How many rehearsals Carlberg made with "Struensee"? The musical
others ; if this becomes generally known Fred will have to teach day and audience wants to hear a corrrect rend tion of a composition, and
night to accommodate all applicants. It certainly looks so, for within a if it is a travesty or a nonsensical parody, which can only produce
year Miss Bartlett has become Mrs. Davis, Miss Somers and Mr. John a smile of commiseration, it becomes the duty of the person who writes
Me Wade have entered into that partnership, whence there is no return, and for public information to state the truth or decline to write about
now Harry Cleaveland is "litta-rally gone."
things that are incomprehensible. There is not a musician of any prom-
M,r. Julius Fuchs has taken Mr. Blackman's place as leader of the Bach- inence or ability in Baltimore who does not pronounce the first concert a
Haendel Society.
ridiculous farce, of course, personal acquaintance with the director is suffi-
Mr. Will J. Davis, manager of the Grand Opera House, has been danger- cient ground for excusing derelictions on part of the orchestra. It may be
ously ill, but is recovering.
stated here than an agent of the Peabody made no hesitation in stating that
Mr. R. Cross is studying the Book of Job with great zeal.
quantity was the first desideratum in the formation of the orchestra. The
Mr. E. G. Newell is considered the most '' fire-proof " bachelor in the city. pay is so beggarly that good musicians can occupy their time more profit-
The piano department of the Root & Sons Music Co. is to be under the ably in teaching, than on, say one dollar a rehearsal and five dollars a con-
-charge of Mr. Jones, late of Milwaukee. The Weber piano will be well cert, an income of about ten or eleven dollars per week. Shade of George
Peabody! He wanted a conservatory on the model of European institu-
represented.
Mrs. Grace Hiltz-Gleason of our city has made a very successful appear- tions that he had visited, and Symphony concerts to enable the students to
hear good music, and what do the trustees of the beneficence give us?
ance in Providence, R. I.
" The Play" is a very sprightly weekly paper, the musical part being Humbug!
edited by Mr. Edgar H. Sherwood.
The Haydn Association gave another characteristic concert on the 19th
Mr. Boscovitz has recovered from his rheumatic attack, and will shortly
and drew an immense house. The criticisms in our daily papers read just
appear again in public. He and the Park Institute have left each other.
Mr. Heimendahl has written three very musical songs, published by the like the criticisms on the Peabody concert. The one farce is treated just
like the other.
Chicago Music Co.
Rehearsals of the new oratorio society are progressing, about 500 mem-
Mr. Brewster, the Buffalo organist, has been visiting here.
being on the roll. Many are however incompetent and must be weeded
Mr. Von Ambuhl, of Chickering's, left LJT San Francisco last Monday. bers
out of the chorus. The "Messiah" is under rehearsal and will be pro-
The George B. Carpenter Memorial Concert netted over $2,500.
duced provided the paying members'pay up. We hope by all means they
Mr. Geo. B. Armstrong, of the Inter-Ocean, is recovering from a severe will do so.
attack of illness.
Newell, the American pianist, gave two recitals here which were largely
Miss Maud Powell is a very talented violinist, and pupil of Mr. Wm. attended by members of the G. A. R., for whose benefit one of the concerts
Lewis.
was given.
One of our best 'cello players casualty remarked the other day that he
Thus you have a resume" of musical concerts in our midst and you must
had been teacher of the 'cello in several conservatories for years, and has acknowledge a dreary prospect ahead, all due to one thing: the absence of
never yet had a pupil.
(Con tinned on page 13.)
A