Scan 19
Musical Courier 1896-07-01: Vol 33 Iss 852, 1896
121 lines. Read by computer on 20 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 20. See the scan on archive.org.
A town on its own line is one of the directory's headings. That is where the town on a maker's page comes from.
1Genevra Johnstone-Bishop.
2THE well-known photographer, Mr. Morrison, of Chicago, never had a more charming subject to picture than the subject of the present sketch, Genevra Johnstone-Bishop, whose picture adorns the cover of this issue and who for years has reigned absolutely without a rival as the queen of song in Chicago. In her talent of a most exceptional order has been united to a most charming manner and winning personality.
4Mrs. Bishop is the daughter of a prominent Ohio lawyer (I. C. Johnstone) and went to Chicago in March of 1886 upon her return from Europe, where she had studied with Randegger and Madame de la Grange. She was immediately engaged as soprano at Plymouth Church, where she remained six years.
6Possessing a strong, flexible, brilliant soprano of splendid range, sweetness and power, it was not long before Genevra Johnstone, as she then was (she married Dr. Rufus Bishop six years ago), became in great demand for concerts and high-class musical entertainments. But this result, great as it was, did not satisfy her artistic ambition, and she resolved to make a return visit to Europe. In the second year of her marriage she went to London, and under the advice of Edward Lloyd obtained finishing tuition from the splendid oratorio teacher, Frederic Walker, from whom she gained the most valuable assistance in oratorio work, which she had by this time determined upon making her specialty. She returned to Chicago an accomplished and finished artist, and at once took front place in her profession, and there she has since remained. Many good voices have been heard, other stars have arisen, but no one has wrested from Genevra Johnstone-Bishop the position which she so admirably sustains. The Second Presbyterian Church promptly secured her services as soprano, where she sung until this year, although at the same time doing an enormous amount of concert work.
8Mrs. Bishop is one of the best known artists in America, and has sung in every city of consequence in the United States and also in Canada and Manitoba.
10During the coming season extensive engagements will take her to California, whence she goes to Europe for a year. Many of the leading artists on the other side of the Atlantic have advised her to remain over there; in fact, Madame Patti, whom she met at Craig-y-nos, strongly advocated her taking up her residence in England and devoting herself to oratorio, as there are so few who can compare with her either for oratorio or artistic work in this particular branch of music. She has appeared with many of the world's leading singers, including Edward Lloyd, Santley, William Ludwig, Madame Joachim and others too numerous to mention.
12A critic wrote about Mrs. Bishop: "Not only is she an artist but a lady of rare social gifts. There is a dignity of bearing about her which is in perfect accord with the highly classic powers that mark the excellent style of her singing. Her breadth of tone, easy grasp of technical difficulties, faultless intonation and total lack of affectation cause her to bring to our remembrance some of the world's greatest artists, and she loses nothing in comparison with any. This is the highest compliment that can be paid her."
14Following this, Mrs. Genevra Johnstone-Bishop gave the recitative and aria Praise the Redeemer's Name from Beethoven's Mount of Olives. Mrs. Bishop's appearance Tuesday was not such as to justify an appreciation of her ability as an artist. This afternoon she met with a grand reception, which was fully deserved—all the more so because she took a severe cold yesterday, and it was feared at one time that she would be unable to appear. Mrs. Bishop's delivery of the recitative was a clear and broad interpretation, showing that the artist had studied the works of the masters to advantage. This was followed by a rendition of the aria, clear, expressive, forcible. Her articulation was perfect, her phrasing correct, and she made the success of the afternoon's concert. The enthusiasm of the audience was so great that she was obliged to repeat the latter part of the number.—Boston Journal.
16Naturally the greatest event of the evening was the appearance of Mrs. Bishop, as her fame is as wide as the country. How well she pleased the audience can be judged by the encores to which she was obliged to respond, as well as an extra number which she kindly rendered. She has a very prepossessing manner and fine stage presence, with a voice which is remarkable for its brilliancy of tone, correctness of intonation and a remarkably sympathetic quality which is hard to describe, but which everyone in the house felt.
18In fact her reception amounted almost to an ovation.—Kansas City Times.
20Mrs. Johnstone-Bishop renewed, and, if possible, increased the favorable impression she made on the Pittsburgh musical populace. She is one of the most cultivated and finished soloists in the country. She sings with an ease and grace that one can but marvel at.—Pittsburgh Leader.
22Mrs. Genevra Johnstone-Bishop, the soprano, whose fame was established by her excellent work in the recently produced cantata, Placida, sang exquisitely the aria, With Verdure Clad, from Creation. She was applauded to the echo, and compelled to return to the platform three times in acknowledgment of the enthusiastic reception accorded her effort.—St. Paul Globe.
24Mrs. Johnstone Bishop has a rare voice of a high register, under splendid control, and has full command of it in trills and crescendo passages. Mrs. Bishop has won her way into the hearts of the Chicago people, and is greatly admired as a lady and as a singer.—Chicago Inter Ocean.
26Mrs. Johnstone-Bishop, the cantatrice of the evening, was hailed with an outburst of applause as she appeared for the second time this season before a St Louis audience. Her voice is one of great purity and extreme firmness of tone, and her execution rich and brilliant.—St. Louis Globe.
28Mrs. Genevra Johnstone-Bishop, of Chicago, is one of the most excellent vocalists Cincinnati has heard for many a day. Her voice is rich and warm, of even scale and good compass, and her method is well matured; while her style is admirably dramatic, fervid, but not straining beyond the confines of legitimate musical effect.—Cincinnati Inquirer.
30Mrs. Bishop, the Chicago soprano, really carried off the honors of the evening. Her voice is clear, well trained and strong, and possesses a remarkable range. In her singing she grasps the feeling of the selection, be it pathetic or dramatic, and imparts it in such a pleasing manner as to captivate the audience. Her work in two selections in the first part of the program and in Christophorus cannot be praised too highly, and during the evening she frequently received enthusiastic applause.—Detroit Free Press.
32Regarding the soloists it is hard to say too much. Mrs. Johnstone-Bishop, of Chicago, sang the soprano solos with such thorough appreciation and sympathy, and such a flexible and perfectly trained voice, that the applause could hardly wait for her to finish. Her rendition of I Know that My Redeemer Liveth and Come unto Me moved the audience to quick appreciation of the sublime music.—Minneapolis Journal.
34Mrs. Bishop has made the part of Eve a special study (having studied with the composer himself), and her interpretation was finished and artistic. Her sympathetic voice fairly thrilled her hearers, and it rose and fell in faultless harmony. Her tone is uniformly sweet and sustained. In oratorio work Mrs. Bishop stands alone in America to-day.—Minneapolis Times.
36Mrs. Johnstone-Bishop, though suffering from an almost unmanageable cold, sung the Beethoven selections nothing short of splendidly, and created much enthusiasm.—Boston Transcript.
38Of her singing in Bach's Passion Music last Easter, under the direction of Walter Damrosch, the New York Tribune said: "Mrs. Bishop sang with unimpeachable correctness and much artistic intelligence. She has a voice of great compass and power, frequently astonishing us by the charm and purity of her high tones."
40The Times-Herald, Chicago, referring to her work with Ludwig, Lloyd and Joachim in Bach's music, says that Mrs. Bishop (the only American artist singing last night) did excellent and representative work in her trying task.
42One of the most notable performances of the eve, and indeed the entire Saengerfest, was the aria, Let the Bright Seraphim, from Händel's Samson, sung by Mrs. Bishop, of Chicago. As an oratorio
44MORRIS RENO,
45REPRESENTATIVE OF
46First-Class
47Concert Artists,
48144 WEST 74th STREET,
49New York.
50NOW IN EUROPE.
51WILLIAM C. CARL,
52AMERICA'S GREAT ORGANIST.
53On his return Mr. Carl will make an extended tour of the United States, giving Organ Recitals and inaugurating new Organs. . . . . .
54Tour Now Being Booked.
55For Terms and Dates communicate at once with . . .
56J. V. GOTTSCHALK, Manager,
5721 East 20th Street,
58New York.
60HILKE,
61Dramatic Soprano.
62ORATORIO
63and CONCERT.
64ADDRESS—
65Remington Squire,
66MANAGER,
67113 West 96th St., New York
69ADÈLE LAEIS BALDWIN,
70CONTRALTO.
71Oratorio, Concert, Music ales.
72Address 134 West 82d St. or 37 Wall St., New York.
73NEW SONGS
74BY—SEBASTIAN B. SCHLESINGER.
75Love Haunted.
76Little Boy Blue.
77Phil's Secret.
78There, Little Girl, Don't Cry.
79Love, I Shall Know It All.
80Hark to My Lute.
81Published by J. M. SCHROEDER.
8212 EAST 18TH STREET. NEW YORK.
84Marie Parcello
85CONTRALTO,
86CONCERT and ORATORIO
87"Mlle. Parcello sang magnificently."—GALIGNANI MESSENGER (Paris).
88"A voice of pure, rich, vibrant contralto quality, of wide range and accomplished, intelligent and sympathetic singing."—THE MUSICAL COURIER.
89"A voice of unusual power and sweetness, which is distinctly dramatic."—MAIL AND EXPRESS.
90"Mlle. Parcello possesses a rare contralto."—STATORIUM. one of two readings
91"Mlle. Parcello possesses a rare contralto."—ST. LUCY'S. one of two readings
92"A contralto of wide range and delightful timbre."—AMERICAN REGISTER (Paris).
93"Mlle. Parcello sang with such fervor and breadth of style that she created a profound impression."—STANDARD TIMES.
94Address: Studios 862 and 863
95CARNEGIE HALL, NEW YORK.
96Photo by Cameron, London.
98DO YOU SING
99SOPRANO, ALTO, TENOR or BASS?
100Whatever your voice, ALL music written, for whatever range, is exactly suited to it, Played as Written, by use of the
101Norris & Hyde
102Transposing Keyboard Piano.
1032249-2261 Washington Street,
104Boston, Mass.
105New York Agents: Wm. A. Pond & Co., 25 Union Square.
106Boston Oliver Ditson Co.
108New York College of Music
109128 & 130 EAST 58th STREET,
110ALEXANDER LAMBERT, Director.
111College is Open the Entire Year.
112Catalogues Sent on Application.
114Mr. CHARLES ABERCROMBIE, Tenor,
115Soloist for ten years at H. M. Chapel Royal, St. James' Palace, Royal Albert Hall, Crystal Palace, St. James' Hall, Covent Garden, etc., etc. Concerts and Vocal Teacher, London, England, will accept engagements, Oratorio and Concert. Pupils prepared for Opera, Oratorio or Church. Special training for teachers. Diplomas granted. Contracts made with professionals for partially deferred payments and instalments. Will give lessons June, July and August at 401 Carnegie Music Hall, New York.
117MINA SCHILLING,
118The Young American Prima Donna.
119The past two seasons with the Damrosch Opera Company. Large repertory of operas and oratorios; also French, Italian, German and English songs. For terms, dates, &c, address
120363 Fifth Avenue, New York.
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