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Musical Courier 1894-12-12: Vol 29 Iss 770, 1894
45 lines. Read by computer on 20 September 2026. Printed page 10. See the scan on archive.org.
1and I must decline all invitations for conducting and so forth for the present."
2This proves clearly that the fourth violin sonata is not at present forthcoming.
3Last Friday afternoon the London Academy of Music held a concert at St. George's Hall, when the pupils contributed both vocal and instrumental selections, and the orchestra for the occasion, led by Mr. Pollitzer, the principal, played several numbers. The most promising of the students was Maurice Alexander, a little violinist who certainly is remarkably clever for a boy of tender years. He showed marked ability. Another pupil, Harold Samuel, also showed great promise in his playing of Moszkowski's "Caprice Espagnole," and Miss Bessie Greenhill also played a violin solo. This young lady has had considerable experience, I understand, in a ladies' orchestra, and plays extremely well. A young baritone, Mr. Walter George, who sang the aria, "O Star of Love" from "Tannhäuser," Miss Mabel Calkin, a soprano, and Mr. Gilbert Dennis, a tenor, were the best of the vocalists. The program altogether was a success and reflected credit on the staff of professors at the London Academy, which includes among others Mr. Pollitzer, Mr. J. F. Barnett, Signor Denza, Signor Romili and Signor Bonetti.
4Miss Amy Hare gave a piano recital at Messrs. Broadwood's rooms last Saturday afternoon. Some of the most popular numbers of her program were selections from Grieg's "Peer Gynt" suite, Brahms' romance, op. 118, and rhapsodie, op. 119, a transcription from "Tannhäuser" and Schumann's "Abschied." This popular lady, the quality of whose playing has been tested both in America and on the Continent, fully sustained the reputation which she has gained abroad. The press speaks highly of her playing in Dresden, Cologne, Bonn and other cities on the Continent, and in Washington, Baltimore and other places of America. She was born in Taunton, Somersetshire, and studied in London at the Royal Academy of Music, where she gained several medals, the Potter scholarship and Sterndale Bennett prize. While there she studied the violin and played three years in the orchestra. After graduating she went on an extended tour on the Continent with the celebrated Heckmann Quartet, and the press speaks most favorably of her efforts on the occasion. She played in different cities in Germany with Madame Sembrich and then went to America.
5Mr. Josef Hofmann gave his only recital in London this season at St. James' Hall Monday afternoon, when this popular concert room was well filled with an appreciative and critical audience. The opening number, d'Albert's arrangement of Bach's preludium and fugue for organ in D major, was played in his best style, and all present felt the magnetism of this young disciple of Rubinstein. Without enumerating his whole program, which was thoroughly well arranged, I will mention those excerpts which were the most popular. Of the three, "Lieder ohne Worte" (Mendelssohn), the one in A major, was the best liked. He was not at his best in Weber's sonata in D minor, although he received a recall. Chopin's polonaise in F minor was excellent, and Liszt's arrangement of Schubert's "Morgenstündchen," by special request, was played most delightfully. He introduced for the first time a suite from Moszkowski, including preludium, caprice and aria in G, the first two movements of which are rather heavy, but the last is bright and pleasing; it will hardly prove a favorite. Following this was a polonaise by Rubinstein, dedicated to Mr. Hofmann, which also was performed for the first time, and served to display his technic to the best advantage. He played two selections from his own pen, a scherzo—which was very bright and effective—and a mazurka, ending with Liszt's sixth rhapsodie, which he played very well indeed, and was induced after a hearty recall to give as an encore a transcription of the fire music from "Die Walküre."
6One of the most enjoyable of the popular concerts this year was given Monday evening, when Lady Hallé made her reappearance amid tumultuous applause. Beethoven's C major quartet opened the program, receiving a very fine performance, particularly the andante, with its Gluck-like sentiment. Lady Hallé's associates were Messrs. Rees, Gibson and Popper. The other concerted piece was Brahms' trio in C minor, for viola, violin and 'cello, with Mr. Schonberger at the piano. This excellent piece, which was at the end of the program, was a very attractive number. Mr. Schonberger chose for his piano solo Beethoven's sonata in D minor. He was not at his best in the first movement, but the second and third were better, and he responded to a recall with Bach's C minor sonata. Lady Hallé's playing made up for the uninteresting selection she made of three Irish pieces—a lament, hush song and jig—by Dr. Stanford. The splendid tone she brings out of the violin, her brilliant technic and perfect intonation carry everything before her. The third piece, with its abrupt harmonic changes, she made the most effective of any. For her encore she played a study for violin alone. Lady Hallé is exceptionally fortunate in being the possessor of the famous violin which Ernst used, and this greatest of lady violinists fully understands how to make the best of it. Miss Kate Cove was the vocalist, and sang Sullivan's "Orpheus and His Lute" and Goring Thomas' "Wind in the Trees." Her singing is most artistic, and she was thoroughly appreciated.
7The principal feature of the Saturday Popular Concert was the first appearance this season of Herr David Popper, who took the place of Mr. Whitehouse, and Mrs. Becker, which Signor Piatti will fill next Saturday. His solos comprised the adagio from Schumann's 'cello concerto, and a gavotte of his own, which he played charmingly, adding for an encore Schubert's "Du bist die Ruh." Mlle. Wietrowetz led the quartet for the last time this season, and with her were associated Messrs. Borwick, Rees and Gibson, in a performance of Brahms' quintet in F minor, op. 34, which opened the concert. Mr. Borwick's solos were Haydn's familiar variations in the same key. Madame Sherwin was the vocalist, singing "An ein Veichen" and "Ständchen" and the berceuse from Godard's opera, "Jocelyn."
8Last night the first Wagner concert this season, directed by Herr Felix Mottl, was given at Queen's Hall. The program opened with Beethoven's "Leonore" overture No. 3. Herr Mottl has studied Wagner's suggestions with regard to the tempi and general interpretation of this work. He took the beginning considerably slower than we usually hear it given, lingering on certain phrases and giving great light and shade, thus making it very expressive. He secured splendid climaxes. The full rich tone of the strings was more than ever apparent last night in contrast to the Scottish Orchestra last Thursday. Herr Mottl seemed to be laboring under some difficulty in the first part of the Venusberg music from "Tannhäuser," but recovered himself and gave an excellent reading of the second part. He is to be thanked for introducing into England Chabrier's introduction to Act II. of "Gwendoline." This splendidly written piece is strikingly Wagnerian in style, but shows evidence at times of the French school also, and is certainly one of the most worthy orchestral selections which have been introduced in London for many a day. The wood wind effects are exceptionally beautiful, and the performance was perfect. Another first time piece was Wilhelmi's "Festival March," which contains fairly well marked themes treated in a conventional manner, and it cannot be said to have any striking originality or great merit to commend it as a program selection. The composer was among the audience. Herr Mottl took the "Walkürenritt" faster than we usually hear it in England. This closed the purely orchestral part of the program. Miss Marie Brema repeated her dramatic impersonation of "Brunnhilde" in the closing scene of "Die Göttterdammerung." The splendid finale of "Das Rheingold," the entry of the gods into Walhalla, was sung by Miss Evangeline Florence, Miss Minna Fisher, Miss Agnes Janson, Messrs. Edwin Wareham, William Ludwig and Arthur Barlow, all of whom sang with conspicuous success. Herr Felix Mottl, of course, conducted the "Götterdämmerung" selection much better than Herr Siegfried Wagner, subduing the orchestra and taking the tempi slower, so giving Miss Brema a better opportunity of displaying her fine voice and dramatic talent, of which she took full advantage.
9Mr. Frederick Lamond, the Scottish pianist, has recently been playing in Leipzig, Dresden, Frankfort and other German cities with great success. It will be remembered that some two years ago he played here before the Philharmonic Society and at the Crystal Palace and other places in the metropolis and the provinces.
10Madame Belle Cole is expected home from her Australian tour to-morrow. Miss Margaret MacIntyre is back from the Cape, and will leave for Italy early next week. I believe that she will not accept any engagements during her stay here.
11Mr. Ben Davies, Mr. Tivadar Nachez and Mr. Algernon Ashton are back from their German tour, having met with great success.
12Herr Sann gave his second piano recital at St. James' Hall this afternoon and a detailed review of it will appear in my next letter. He met with tremendous success.
13FRANK V. ATWATER.
15The Crow Hill Orchestra.
16WARDEN PATRICK HAYES, of the Kings County (N. Y.) Penitentiary, has decided upon a novel plan for entertaining the prisoners there. They will be allowed to play upon musical instruments one night each week of the new year. The penitentiary is on the outskirts of the city, upon what is known as Crow Hill, so that there are no neighbors to be annoyed by the musicales which will take place.
17There are at present over 1,000 convicts in this institution, and when the musically inclined begin to play on banjos, guitars, drums, trombones, cornets, fifes, mandolins, accordions, concertinas, jewsharps, harmonicas, violins and other instruments there is likely to be a pandemonium such as has never been heard in these parts before.
18The members of the Brooklyn Board of Accidents, as the City Fathers are called, who recently attempted to have street bands prohibited, will be invited, it is said, to listen to these concerts. The Warden is also thinking seriously of having several anvils taken from the blacksmith's shop to the prison, so that an anvil chorus may be instituted.
19Warden Hayes believes that this scheme will be of benefit to the convicts, but the unfortunate prisoners who cannot play upon any instrument and who have no soul for music will dread the nights when the weekly musicales of Warden Hayes' Crow Hill orchestra take place.—The "Sun."
21Buenos Ayres.—The Italian opera company, now singing at the Politeama Argentino, in Buenos Ayres, recently gave two representations, the proceeds to go to the fund of the Donizetti memorial at Bergamo, Italy.
22Bremen.—Charlotte Huhn, from Cologne, made a good impression in Bremen when she sang the alto aria from Bruch's "Achilles" at the second Philharmonic concert. The orchestra played on this occasion Schumann's B flat major symphony; "Don Juan" (first time), by R. Strauss, and overture, "Euryanthe," by Weber.
23New Zealand.—At Wellington, in New Zealand, a musical festival lasting five days was recently held, and the following works were produced: Haydn's "Creation," "Israel in Egypt," by Händel; "Golden Legend," by Sullivan; "The Spectre's Bride," by Dvorák; "Times' Great Monotony," ballade for baritone, chorus and orchestra by A. F. Hill; "Lobgesang," by Mendelssohn; symphony in B flat major, by Schumann; extracts from the opera "Tannhäuser," by Wagner; "Peer Gynt," by Grieg; overture "Rosamunde," by Schubert, &c. The chorus numbered two hundred voices and the orchestra sixty-one pieces.
25INNES and his Famous New York Band of 65 eminent soloists, now playing at the Pittsburgh Exposition seven weeks ending October 21, has just completed a remarkably successful tour of forty Eastern cities, producing the Great Historical and Musical Spectacle, WAR AND PEACE.
26Everywhere hailed and acclaimed as the grandest musical spectacle of its age, performed by the greatest band in the world.
27Theaters were overcrowded and street cars utterly inadequate to carry the crowds to parks where the band played. The most successful of all band tours.
28The INNES BAND will commence October 22. The band will carry its own famous artillery accompaniment, great vocal quartette, etc., to be assisted by local choruses, military (armed) war veterans, auxiliary bands, fife and drum corps, etc.
29For terms, open dates, etc., address F. N. INNES, HOWARD PEW, Business Manager. Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pa.
31New Haven Palladium: Innes' Band drew nearly 10,000 people to Savin Rock yesterday in spite of rain.
32New Haven Leader: Innes' Band gave the best concerts of the kind ever heard here.
33Bridgeport Daily Farmer: Fully 15,000 people visited the Innes' Band production of "War and Peace." The scene beggars description. Innes out-Gilmore's Gilmore.
34Saratoga Times: The mantle of Gilmore has fallen on Innes.
35Baltimore American: An overwhelming ovation greeted Innes at Ford's.
36Baltimore Herald: Innes' "War and Peace" was the greatest affair in the history of the park.
37Cincinnati Argus: Fully 6,000 people paid for the afternoon concert alone.
38Scranton Truth: The most admirable band concert Scranton ever heard. In "War and Peace" the audience rose to its feet in enthusiasm, and the performance is the most popular topic of the day.
39Washington Post: A radical departure from anything of the kind ever attempted. It is well conceived and the result picturesque and admirable. A great band.
41ROSE and OTTILIE SUTRO, Ensemble Pianists.
42Address all Communications to
43C. F. TRETBAR,
44STEINWAY HALL, NEW YORK CITY.
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