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Musical Courier 1895-01-09: Vol 30 Iss 774, 1895
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1mann with great intelligence, her style and diction being excellent.
3Berlioz's "Faust" was given by the Royal Choral Society on Thursday evening at the Albert Hall, and a large audience gathered to hear this work, which is increasing in popularity. The great forces were under the direction of Mr. Randegger, in place of Sir Joseph Barnby, their accustomed chief, who was seriously ill. It is greatly to Mr. Randegger's credit that he was able to conduct this difficult work so successfully. Through circumstances over which he had no control he was unable to secure a rehearsal of the band, chorus and soloists together, but the performance went off splendidly. Miss Ella Russell, as "Marguerite," added again to her laurels as one of our leading soprano vocalists, and her ability to give representations of the severer works was again exemplified. Her beautiful voice was heard to the best advantage in the "King of Thule" ballad. Signor Campanini did not make much effect in the tenor music. His pronunciation was not all that could be desired, and his voice has gone off considerably. Mr. Douglas Powell, who made his début at the Albert Hall on this occasion, sang the "rat" song with excellent style and finish. His enunciation was good, he made no straining at effect, and each note carried to every part of the vast auditorium. He was somewhat nervous at first, but made a most successful début, and thus so pleased the powers that he was secured for Mr. Oudin's part in "The Golden Legend." Mr. Andrew Black in the part of "Mephistopheles" did very good work indeed, securing hearty applause in the beautiful aria "Mid Banks of Roses."
5The novelty at the Symphony concert at Queen's Hall on the same evening was a new concerto in D major for piano and orchestra by Mr. Emanuel Moor. Mr. Moor presided at the solo instrument, proving himself an executant of high attainment. The work is marked with Hungarian characteristics; the treatment of the themes, especially in the first and last movements, is very skillfully done. The work is richly scored, and throughout are beautiful passages for the piano. The piece was fairly well received, the composer being recalled to the platform. This concerto has been given in the North twice before by Mr. Henschel, when Mr. Benno Schonberger was the soloist. This is the second time that the Scottish Orchestra have played for us, and their mettle was further tried in Dr. Mackenzie's popular overture "Britannia," Saint-Saëns' "Danse Macabre," and Liszt's symphonic poem "Les Preludes." This second appearance was certainly very favorable, and added to the impression they made on a former occasion. The vocalist was Mme. Medora Henson, who sang extremely well "Elizabeth's Greeting" from "Tannhäuser." Her dramatic soprano voice and excellent interpretation of this number were greatly appreciated by the audience, and gained her a hearty recall. This concert was probably the most successful of any that they have had this season.
7At Steinway Hall on December 12 a very interesting concert was arranged by Miss Alice Thomas, who chose this occasion to make her début as a singer. The fair aspirant to fame is a pupil of Signor P. Delevanti. She possesses a flexible, sympathetic contralto voice, and her altogether pleasing style of singing could not fail to impress her numerous and friendly audience very favorably. A number of other artists contributed in an able manner to the success of the concert.
9Mr. Wilbur Gunn gave his second annual concert at the Queen's (small) Hall on Friday afternoon. The unpropitious weather undoubtedly accounted for the small attendance, but those present made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in numbers. Mr. Gunn was assisted by Mme. Belle Cole, Miss Edna Grey, Mlle. Virginie Cheron, Miss Fanny Wentworth, Mr. Bantock Pierpoint, Mr. Avon Saxon, the Saxon Glee Singers, Miss Lita Jarratt (violin) and Mr. Sidney Brookes (violoncello). He took a very modest part in the program, giving only one number which was not down, and as I was not there until after it came off, naturally I cannot give its name. Mme. Belle Cole sang Cowen's "Promise of Life" and Adam's "Valley by the Sea." Mr. Bantock Pierpoint was in excellent voice and was very successful in Mozart's "Non piu andrai" and Rockel's "The Laird's Fling." The other artists lent efficient aid.
11The Royal Academy of Music gave some scenes from "Il Flauto Magico," "Lohengrin" and "Carmen" in their hall on Friday, when the students took part. The accompaniments were played on the piano, and some of the performers exhibited considerable talent.
13Sir Joseph Barnby had progressed so favorably up to yesterday morning that he was removed to Bournemouth, where it is hoped that he will rapidly recover from his severe attack that is taking him away from his active duties in the London musical world. Inquiries as to his condition were made on behalf of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, Sir Arthur Sullivan, Mr. Asquith and many others during the past few days.
15One of the most enjoyable entertainments given this season in London, and patronized by a large audience, was that of Mr. and Mrs. Durward Lely, with Signor Carlo Ducci as solo pianist, at St. James' Hall last Tuesday evening. Those who are familiar with Mr. Lely's entertainments, both in England and America, will readily grasp why he kept his audience in a continual state of merriment during the evening. There are few people before the public to-day who so successfully entertain as Mr. Lely. On his program, entitled "Scottish Song and Story," were: "O Sing to Me the Auld Scotch Sangs," "Annie Laurie," "The Laird o' Cockpen," "O Open the Door," "Hame Cam Oor Gudeman at E'en," "O a' the Airts the Wind Can Blaw," "Come Under My Plaidie," "The Land o' the Leal," "The Barrin' o' the Door" and "Allister McAllister." These were delightfully illustrated with traditional and other remarks prefaceing each. The piano selection was Scotch airs, excellently played by Signor Ducci, and Mrs. Lely accompanied at the piano with her accustomed success.
17The same evening at Steinway Hall Mlle. Douste de Fortis gave a concert, when she was assisted by her sister, Mlle. Jeanne de Fortis, Herr Josef Claus and Mr. Rene Ortman (violinist). A well selected and varied program was chosen to interest and entertain a most appreciative audience.
19At the Salle Erard last Wednesday Mr. John Thomas, harpist to the Queen, with Mrs. Mary Davies, gave an excellent harp recital, when most of the works were of the concert-giver's own composition or arrangement of others. The selections from Parish Alvars' "La Danse des Fees" and "The Mandolin" (Grand Study) were very acceptable. Mr. Thomas is an artist of rare merit on this instrument, and his knowledge enables him to write very effective and acceptable compositions for it. That charming vocalist Mrs. Mary Davies sang among other songs Mr. Thomas' "The Memory of Love," which was also popular. Her other numbers were Mendelssohn's "On the Wings of Music," Goring Thomas' "Wind in the Trees" and "The Ash Grove." Her songs were accompanied on the harp.
21Mrs. Katharine Fisk will sing at the Imperial Institute on December 19, and at the Royal Amateur Orchestral Society's concert on the 21st.
23Messrs. Plunket Greene and Leonard Borwick's last recital before Christmas will take place at Tunbridge Wells on Saturday afternoon. They will resume their recital tour on January 15 at Hastings.
25The concert at the Imperial Institute on Wednesday evening was given by the students of the Royal College of Music. The orchestral numbers included the "Oberon" overture, the Tchaikowsky symphony in B minor, in memory of Anton Rubinstein, and also Guiraud's caprice for violin and orchestra, the solo being played by Mr. William Akroyd. The vocalists were Miss Frances Harford, in Händel's "Lascia Amor," and Miss Louisa Kirby Lunn, in Goring Thomas' "My Heart Is Weary."
27Mr. Edgar Hulland, assisted by Miss Rosa Leo, soprano, and Miss Angela Vanbrugh, violin, entertained a small audience at the Salle Erard on Thursday afternoon. The concert-giver exhibited considerable talent in Schumann's "Fantasie" and a group of pieces by different composers, including a "Valse Caprice" of his own, which proved an acceptable addition to this class of music. Miss Vanbrugh joined him in Saint-Saëns' sonata for piano and violin, afterward playing Max Bruch's "Swedish Dances." Miss Rosa Leo was suffering from influenza and hardly did herself justice in Frances Allitsen's "Unto Thy Heart" and Godard's "Dites-moi."
29The Royal College of Music gave a performance at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Thursday afternoon of Delibes' comic opera "Le Roi l'a dit." The college deserves hearty congratulation and thanks for enabling us to hear this opera, which otherwise is not to be heard. The orchestra included forty-six players, all of whom, with the exception of six, were college students, and did very good work.
31The chorus was excellent and so were the soloists. The performance was all round of a very high standard, and reflects great credit upon the work that the college is so thoroughly carrying on. Perhaps the best voices among the soloists were Miss Clementina Pierpoint, Miss Constance Sim and Mr. Albert Archdeacon. The house was well filled and the audience were discriminating in their approval, but all agreed that as a whole the performance was most excellent. Dr. Parry, the new director of the college, and many musicians connected with the institution and others were present.
33Another organization has come forward for the purpose of giving chamber music. Mrs. Roskell, a professor of the piano, who recently attracted much attention by a paper on the musical training of children, gave the first of a short series of quartet concerts in the Queen's (small) Hall on Wednesday evening, with a program including well-known works. Mrs. Roskell was associated with Messrs. Elderhorst and Eayres, violins; Mr. Hobday, viola, and Mr. Adolph Schmid, 'cello. Miss Marie Brema and Mr. Walter Ford added variety in the way of several songs, the new song by Maud V. White, "A Protest," proving a very popular number.
35The autumn season of "At Homes," so ably carried out by the Musical Exchange since October 1, was formally brought to a close by a grand evening in the galleries of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colors in Piccadilly last Saturday. A very extended program was given, and I herewith quote the names of those who took part: Miss Florence Lenton, Miss Maud Rene, Madame Antoinette Sterling, Miss Hilda Wilson, Miss Ethel Bevans, Miss Noona Macquoid, Miss Margaret Mos, Mr. Charles Chilley, Mr. Trefelyn David, Mr. George Aspinall, Mr. Franklin Clive, Mr. John Morley, Mr. Arthur Barry, Mr. Roger Peck, Miss Louise Nanney and Mr. E. du Domaine (violins), Mr. Sidney Brookes (cello), Madame Else Mathis and Mr. Frank Howgrave (piano), Miss Edith Drake (cello), Miss Nora Hastings and Mr. Norman V. Norman (recitation), Mr. George Pritchard (musical sketch), and Mr. Quentin Ashlyn ("The New Humor"). A notable feature of the proceedings was an admirable speech by Madame Antoinette Sterling, who spoke with words of encouragement to the management of this newly founded institution, and congratulated them upon the success that they have attained in so short a period, and also upon the very flattering outlook. Mr. Percy Notcutt, the general manager, also made a short speech, recapitulating what they have already done, and mentioning the bright prospects for the future, and incidentally indicating several new features that will be added, one of them being that they intend to found one or more scholarships in the musical schools of London, whereby young people of unusual talent will have an opportunity of developing the same to the best advantage. Altogether the Musical Exchange is closing its first season under very happy auspices.
37The Royal Academy of Music gave a students' orchestral concert at St. James' Hall last Wednesday afternoon, under the direction of Dr. A. C. Mackenzie. The program included Rubinstein's concerto in D minor, in memoriam, with Miss Edith O. Greenhill at the piano. It will be remembered that this lady won the Steinway grand given by Sir Augustus Harris recently. Mr. Aldo Antonetti gave an excellent performance of Vieuxtemps' "Fantasie Appassionata;" Miss Lydia Clare sang the "Inflammatus" from Dvorák's "Stabat Mater," and Mr. Bertram H. Wallis Mozart's "Qui s'degno," from "Il Flauto Magico." Miss Clara Williams and Miss Mildred Drake sang the duet from "Der Freischutz" in place of Beethoven's quartet that was down. The first performance in London of Goring Thomas' cantata "The Swan and the Skylark" was given, and was a very creditable performance. The work of the Academy, like the other schools of music, shows marked progress.
39The second of a series under the title of "Marco" concerts was given at Ladbroke Hall on Monday night. The principal attraction was Senorita Yva Alvez, the new Spanish-American contralto, with a register from low E to high B. This young lady was born in Malaga, studied with Lamperti in Italy and Nicholas Bassi in Buenos Ayres. She has now completed ten years of careful preparation, and in that time has learned about forty complete operatic rôles for contralto, embracing the works of all schools, besides a large number of oratorios, concert arias and songs from all nations. She has been recently singing in South America, where she has appeared with great success in some ten or twelve of the more popular operas. In addition to the compass given she has four more notes that she can use on occasion, and her voice has no break in the whole range of three octaves. More about this young lady's singing will be heard from time to time. She was assisted on this occasion by Miss Flora Leoni and Miss Bella Leoni, violinist and pianist respectively, who are from California, Mr. Arthur Barry and others.
41Miss Eugenie Joachim, niece of Dr. Joachim, of whom I have spoken before in these columns, is having great success in her teaching of German diction, and she has a large class of both amateurs and professionals. One of the best indorsements of her work is that she has a number of Germans who are learning diction for Lieder and other operatic works. Her method of teaching is her own and secures rapid advancement.
43Herr Emil Sauer gave his two last recitals of the season last Friday and Monday. At the former he still added to his popularity, playing two numbers extra after a Liszt rhapsodie, and an extra Chopin number after that composer's "Allegro de Concert," op. 46. His playing was a masterly performance, with wonderful trill and pianissimo passages in the Liszt number. His Beethoven sonata, op. 53, was manly and forcible, yet delicate in those passages that called for this treatment.
45On Monday he was suffering from a cold, as was announced from the platform, and his work in consequence was not up to the usual standard. The barcarolle of Chopin was taken too fast and too boldly, but the program as a whole was very finely played. Henselt's "Si oiseau j'étais," which is played by everybody, brought him an ovation, though it was not as evenly played as by De Pachmann. After the recital laurels and flowers were showered upon Herr Sauer, and the people were most demonstrative. He played two extra numbers, which were insisted upon by the large audience.
47On Saturday Herr Sauer played at the Popular Concert, which was probably the reason why such a large number of people were present. He was down for Beethoven's "Appassionata Sonata," which everybody is supposed to know, and gave a rendering of this which was in the main approved of by all present, both amateurs and connois-
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