Scan 33
Musical Courier 1898-01-05: Vol 36 Iss 931, 1898
87 lines. Read by computer on 22 September 2026. Printed page 34. 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.
1Mary Mansfield at Worcester.
3SPOHR'S "Last Judgment" was given in Worcester on Tuesday evening, December 28, 1897, for the first time in that city, with a chorus of 100 voices, under the direction of T. Vernon Butler, organist of Pilgrim Church. A short, miscellaneous program preceded the work in which so much interest was manifested.
5Admirable work was done in the "Judgment" by the chorus, of whom 70 per cent. belong to the annual Worcester Festival chorus, and much credit and congratulation are due Mr. Butler for his careful training and skilled direction of this excellent body. He failed at no time to obtain accurate response, a fully intelligent sympathy being established between him and his singers. Piano and organ accompaniment was used, with Miss Nelson at the piano and Mr. Grout at the organ.
7Special interest was manifested in the appearance of Miss Mary Mansfield, of New York, a singer well-known and esteemed in the metropolis for work always distinguished by superior intelligence, genuine musical taste and remarkable finish. It was Miss Mansfield's first appearance in Worcester, but in this centre of musical taste, trained almost to captiousness, she succeeded in scoring one of the greatest successes made there by any soprano in years. All critical Worcester turned out to hear her, and all critical Worcester, professional and amateur, enthusiastically approved. She at once established herself as an artist of the first order by her musically reading of the music, her pure and brilliant voice and her polished delivery. Miss Mansfield is one of the few singers whose highly trained intelligence can discern and faithfully reproduce the fullest content of any work she may undertake, and to hear her must always prove a thoroughly sympathetic pleasure.
9The other soloists were Mr. Mason, tenor, and Mr. Porter, bass. We append the criticisms of Miss Mansfield which appeared in the leading Worcester papers:
11The star of the evening was Miss Mary H. Mansfield, of New York, who has much the style of Mrs. Carl Alves, and though a soprano, her lower notes have much of the rich contralto quality. Her upper notes are clear and vibrant. Her voice is strong, of excellent carrying power, and capable of effective dramatic expression. Besides and above this, Miss Mansfield sings with the instincts of an artist. She has complete command of herself and of her voice, and she delivers her tones with an assurance that gives the impression of much reserve force. Her recitatives were sung with meaning, and when a melody fell to her lot she sang it with good taste and discretion.—Worcester Daily Spy, December 29, 1897.
13Miss Mary H. Mansfield, of New York, the soprano, appeared perhaps to the best advantage. She is a thorough artist and her interpretation of the solos was delightful.—Worcester Evening Gazette, December 29, 1897.
15The star of the evening was Miss Mary H. Mansfield, soprano soloist at First Presbyterian Church, Fifth avenue, New York. She captivated the vast audience on her initial appearance on the platform by her charming manner, and she established herself as a singer before she had given more than two bars of her first solo work in the oratorio.
17Miss Mansfield's reputation as a soloist in concert and oratorio preceded her to Worcester, and great things were expected of her. The audience was not disappointed. It was only the sweetness and purity of her rich soprano voice which was tested last evening. A touch here and there of the powerful voice she possesses demonstrated to the audience the amount of reserve force she had at her command. * * * In the aria "I Will Extol Thee," from Costa's "Eli," the purity and clearness of Miss Mansfield's voice was demonstrated when she went up to the highest notes, especially when she sang "I will give thanks to thee forever."—Worcester Evening Telegram, December 29, 1897.
19The fact that Spohr's work can hardly be considered an over-grateful, or in the popular sense an attractive work for a soprano, simply makes Miss Mansfield's success the more significant. A distinguished success she has made, and Worcester will doubtless hear more of her.
21Siloti Comes.
23Siloti, the great pupil of Liszt, left Southampton last Saturday, and is expected to arrive about the close of this week. After his début in the Metropolitan Opera House on the 16th of this month, Siloti will give a piano recital in Mendelssohn Hall, and in early February Siloti and Marteau will give two joint recitals. The exact dates will be arranged in the course of a few days. Siloti will also be the soloist of one of the Astoria concerts toward the latter part of this month.
25Kaltenborn-Beyer-Hane Quartet.
27Such a success was the experiment of having a string quartet for the service at the Brick Church on Sunday, December 26, that the Kaltenborn Quartet was re-engaged for Sunday morning, January 2. In the evening this busy quartet played at the private residence of Richard Sterling, where a musicale was given by the host to a number of friends.
29On January 7 the quartet will play at the Mendelssohn Glee Club smoker again, and on April 26 at the third concert of the Glee Club. On January 9 the second of the series of chamber music concerts in Englewood, N. J., will take place at 3:30, when the quartet will be assisted by Frederick Chapman, baritone.
31Franz Kaltenborn.
33On Sunday evening, December 26, Mr. Kaltenborn, being unable to play at Grace Chapel, secured as a most capable substitute Ernst Bauer, violinist, who assisted Mr. Tiehl, organist, and Mr. Beyer-Hané, 'cellist.
35On the evening of December 28 Mrs. Virgil and Mr. Marriner held an informal musicale at the Virgil Clavier School, at which Mr. Kaltenborn played two numbers in his customary artistic style.
37On January 4 he will be the violin soloist at the private musicale to be given by Dr. and Mrs. Wood at their residence, 117 Fifth avenue, and on January 10 and 11 Mr. Kaltenborn will be soloist at the concerts of the Yonkers' Choral Club.
39ROCHESTER.
41ROCHESTER, January 1, 1898.
43OF particular interest to me was the first of the Rochester String Quartet concerts, given December 7. While good audiences appear at these recitals, it is a matter of great surprise to me that so few of our teachers and their pupils are seen there.
45Our opportunities for hearing good chamber music are rare, and if the work done by Mr. Schenck's Quartet was much less excellent, it would still be a golden means of education which ought not to be lost sight of.
47Last year a girl who has studied music from childhood in Rochester, said to me: "Oh, I go to the quartet concerts because it's the proper thing to do."
49She was nearer right than she thought. It is the proper thing to do, for every person in Rochester who is studying music.
51People don't appreciate the chamber music, that's all there is to it, and as this is the fifth season of the quartet, it is about time to wake up. Their concert in December was a good one. They played Beethoven's E dur, op. 18, No. 1, and Schumann's A moll, op. 41, No. 1.
53Heinrich W. Meyn, baritone, sang "Im Harem," by Pabst, "Nachtgang," by von Fielitz, and "Lockruf," by Ruckauf, with considerable ability.
55On the same evening, December 7, at the Lake Avenue Baptist Church, George Fisher, organist, gave an ensemble recital, assisted by Miss Maude Richards, contralto, whose pretty picture appeared in THE MUSICAL COURIER some months ago. I was sorry not to hear this recital, but, as I know the merits of both organist and singer, can with assurance say that it was an enjoyable affair.
57Mrs. John Van Voorhis gave a charming musicale at her home on East avenue some time ago. The program consisted of piano selections played by Miss Louise and Miss Marguerite Van Voorhis and songs by Miss Henrietta Allen. Below is the program:
58March from Tannhäuser………………………………………Wagner-Liszt
59Song, At the Dawn……………………………………………..Otto Cantor
60Hark! Hark! The Lark…………………………………………..Schubert-Liszt
61Norwegian Bridal Procession………………………………….Grieg
62Berceuse, op. 38, No. 1…………………………………………..Grieg
63Song, Lullaby…………………………………………………….Kate Douglas Wiggin
64Polonaise, op. 36, No. 1………………………………………..Chopin
65An den Frühling, op. 43, No. 6……………………………….Grieg
66Song, Madrigal…………………………………………………..Chaminade
67Barcarolle………………………………………………………..Nevin
68Schatzantenz, op. 39…………………………………………..MacDowell
69Serenade………………………………………………………..Pierné
70Song, She is so Fair…………………………………………….Kate Douglas Wiggin
71Rhapsodie Hongroise, No. 2………………………………….Liszt
72The accompanist was Miss Alice Wysard.
74Astoria Concerts.
76The fifth concert of the Astoria season on Thursday night had as soloists Lillian Blauvelt, soprano, and Evan Williams, tenor, both vocal artists of established rank. Seidl and his orchestra performed the orchestral numbers—Wagner, Humperdinck and Liszt. These affairs are merely recorded in these columns, as they belong more strictly to the amiable social function and cannot be classified as aids to musical advancement.
78FIRST AMERICAN APPEARANCE,
79SEASON OF 1898,
80FRANZ RUMMEL.
81Chickering Orchestral Concerts,
82IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
83SEIDL ORCHESTRA,
84CHICKERING HALL, Fifth Ave. and 18th Street, FEB. 1, 1898.
85ON TOUR after February 1, 1898.
86Direction of CHICKERING & SONS, 791 Tremont Street, BOSTON.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.