Scan 23
Musical Courier 1897-01-13: Vol 34 Iss 880, 1897
48 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026. Printed page 24. See the scan on archive.org.
1THE directors of the Royal Carl Rosa Opera Company have arranged with H. T. Brickwell to give a short season of grand opera at the Garrick Theatre, commencing on Monday, January 18. This announcement will be hailed with satisfaction by the members of the company, as we learn that, without previous warning, notice was posted by the company on Boxing Day that a recess of four weeks would be taken from January 9. It is alleged in many directions that the management of the company does not secure the esprit de corps that Carl Rosa inspired during his lifetime. If this be the case, a notice of four weeks' recess coming without warning in mid-winter would not tend to improve matters when the company reassembled. Happily there has been a change in the plan of the directors.
3The chief artists for the London season will be Mlle. Elandi, Miss Zelie de Lussan, Miss Alice Esty, Miss Kirby Lunn; Messrs. Hedmont, Brozel, Ludwig, Paull and Alec Marsh. They will give four of Wagner's operas, Die Walküre, Die Meistersinger, Tannhäuser and The Flying Dutchman."
5The conference of the Incorporated Society of Musicians is being held in Cardiff this week, and will be reported in our next number.
7Mme. Helen Hopekirk, the well-known pianist, leaves England shortly for America, and will arrive in Boston in the month of February. Mme. Hopekirk, during her recent residence in Paris and London, has been devoting her time almost exclusively to composition, and her repertory as pianist will include a recently completed concerto and a concertstück for piano and orchestra, which was produced by Mr. Henschel.
9The Prince of Wales has accepted a copy of Mr. Kuhe's recently published work, My Musical Recollections.
11Mr. W. Adlington has received news from M. Emil Sauret of his enormous success at the concert of the Musical Society in Cologne.
13M. Paderewski has arranged a short provincial tour, through Mr. W. Adlington, during March next, following his appearance at the Crystal Palace and Philharmonic concerts.
15Under Mr. Adlington's direction Mlle. Camille Elandi, the French contralto, will sing at the Gewandhaus concerts, under the direction of Arthur Nikisch, on January 7, afterward visiting other important Continental centres. Mr. Willy Bumester will come to England for a provincial tour, which opens on January 15, for two months. He comes from Russia, where he is having excellent success.
17Mr. Plunket Greene will join Lionel Borwick in giving a series of recitals in St. James' Hall, opening on the 31st inst., near the 100th anniversary of Schubert's birth, which will be devoted to works of this composer.
19Herr Paul Stoeving will give a violin recital in Steinway Hall on the evening of January 20, assisted by Mme. Belle Cole, Mme. Amina Goodwin and Mr. Walter Alison Phillips.
21Mr. Henry Russell, the veteran composer, entered on his eighty-fifth year on December 24. His numerous friends, together with all who know how popular and useful his career has been, will rejoice to learn that he is still in the enjoyment of excellent health.
23The executive committee of the Bristol Musical Festival for 1896 have issued a statement of account showing that, after payment of all expenses in connection with the festival held in October last, there is a surplus of £42 15s. 11d. The sum of £142 10s. 6d. was collected after the morning performance during the festival, on behalf of the Bristol Royal Infirmary and the Bristol General Hospital, and has been divided equally between those institutions.
25Dr. Annie Patterson, of Dublin, gave her lecture on The Harp and Irish Music before the Belfast Young Ireland Society last week. Needless to say, much interest was taken in Dr. Patterson's able paper, and her earnest work in trying to bring the claims of Irish music more prominently before her people.
27There is a possibility that Mr. Mockridge may not go to America until the spring of 1898 instead of next spring, owing to new developments on this side. Speaking of his work at a recent popular concert, the Daily Telegraph said:
29"The American tenor, Mr. Whitney Mockridge, did ample justice to some interesting songs. Mr. Mockridge has made a great advance during the period of his residence in this country, and now that he is about to visit his native land for a while he has the satisfaction of taking with him, for whatever it may be worth, the approval of English amateurs."
31Mascagni has added yet another to his considerable list of operas. It will be brought out shortly by the house of Ricordi. The new opera deals, it is said, with Japan, and if the price paid for it be an indication of its intrinsic value it certainly is a masterpiece. Prices are not always safe criteria, however, and it is as yet premature to offer any remarks on a work which is still in the hands of the composer and librettist. Signor Mascagni, like other geniuses, is reported to dress very peculiarly, but no doubt in harmony with the theme on which he is engaged. He composed the present work at Pesaro, where he was arrayed in a purple robe and an enormous turban.
33PAGANINI'S PUPIL.
35Do any of my readers know of Signor Agostino Robbio? He was a violinist (born in Genoa, September 29, 1821), first tasting the fruits of public success in 1880, and at the zenith of his fame from twenty to thirty years later.
37Paganini was his teacher, and he gave him a violin and a medal, which valuable souvenirs he still has in his possession. Many of the criticisms in that old book speak of him as the only successor to Paganini's art and style, and place him even far above Ole Bull. Signor Robbio, who is living in London, is still hale and hearty. Reverse of fortune experienced after such a successful career, when strength and magnetism are declining, naturally arouse the sympathy of the profession. Nearly all those who have worked with him are dead; he stands almost alone amidst another generation. He still gives lessons, and how many of those who play the violin will be glad to avail themselves of some of his valuable traditional knowledge? If Signor Robbio would write his memoirs he would not only gain materially himself, but his personal experiences and records in his possession would make interesting and instructive reading, which would be eagerly sought by many musicians.
39CONCERTS.
41The Guildhall School of Music offered on the 23d ult. a most enjoyable entertainment in the form of an operatic performance by the students. Mendelssohn's operetta, Son and Stranger, which has, on the whole, outlived its charm, was given by a proficient cast. It would be difficult for even experienced artists to make much of this naive, old-fashioned product of Mendelssohn's youthful days; but it will always be a favorite work for musical institutions. Being originally written for amateurs (the composer's own sisters and brother performed it at the silver wedding festivities of their parents in December, 1829), it is very singable and well within the reach of students. The work on the whole of those who impersonated the different characters was praiseworthy, and indicated that efficient instruction was being given at this institution.
43This was followed by Gilbert and Sullivan's dramatic cantata, Trial by Jury. A more unanimously spirited performance one could hardly ask for. The Judge, Mr. Thesiger, whose histrionic abilities and humorously clever way of using a small voice are really quite remarkable, pleased very much; Mr. Arthur Wade also acted and sang the part of The Usher most amusingly, and shows, though an amateur, the ease and spirit of an experienced actor. The other participants acquitted themselves creditably. Among the audience was the Lord Mayor of London.
45Mr. N. Vert gave a popular concert in Queen's Hall on Boxing Day, with the aid of several well-known artists. His program comprised no less than twenty-three items, and with regard to encores the artists contributed them without stint. Mr. Ben Davies introduced a melodious song by Mr. F. Lewis Thomas, entitled Impress of the Creator, earning for it an encore and for the composer a hearty "call" to the platform. Miss Ella Russell sang Gounod's O Divine Redeemer with all her wonted fervor; Mr. Foli was heard in the same composer's Nazareth; and Miss Oppenheimer displayed good vocalization in the valse from Romeo and Juliette. Mr. Thomas Meux sang the air, Fille des Rois, from Meyerbeer's L'Africaine, and Mme. Belle Cole, Mr. Harry Stubbs and the Meister Glee Singers were on good terms with their audience. Violin pieces by Spohr and Weniawski were contributed by Mr. John Dunn, and the organ solos by Mr. W. Stephenson Hoyte were also popular.
47The scheme of the orchestral (promenade) concert in the evening at the same hall was headed by the overture to Die Meistersinger, which, like the overture to Tannhäuser, heard later, was played with much strength and
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