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Musical Courier 1899-10-11: Vol 39 Iss 1021, 1899
153 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026. Printed page 8. See the scan on archive.org.
1resigned. The truth should be told and it is the truth that Dr. Mackenzie is worse than a country amateur as an orchestra conductor, the only redeeming feature being the actual impossibility of any conductor ever getting any music out of the Philharmonic Society. It is probably the very worst orchestral body in Europe, and its septuagenarian membership makes it an aged man's home for the development of poor music. It is among young people a question how much longer this old, venerable and naturally decrepid body is to parade as an artistic institution before the sober minded musicians of this community. With the advent of the twentieth century it should go out of existence, for it has served its purpose, and there is no further use for it, except to glorify with a false sense of right the names of a few men not even known outside of London.
3Villiers Stanford and Frederic Cowen are mentioned as probable successors to Dr. Mackenzie, but as neither is a conductor in the Continental sense of that word, both should be elected, for the Philharmonic needs no conductor. Mr. Wood, with his exaggerated beat and his lack of judgment in interpretation of masterpieces, which he leads with the nonchalance of a Bülow, would make a good assistant. This is all heresy I suppose, but so was Knox's and Luther's and Huss' and others' a system of heresy, although it looks as if they told the truth. We need a little heterodoxy in London music to get a remedy for this paralyzing orthodoxy that is prevailing here.
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7There is a young man of the name of Elgar—Eduard Elgar—one of our British young composers, who will be heard from. He has done some excellent work already, and he is writing scores that make Stanford's, Sullivan's and Cowen's look rather emaciated. His four-part work is also full of animation and free from our usual Gore Ouseley mathematical physiognomy.
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11At recent concerts at Queen's Hall a youthful 'cellist, a prodigy, has been playing, greatly for the benefit of an interested public. His name is Paul Bazelaire, and he was born in Sedan, France, March 13, 1887. He has technic, tone and temperament, and is a wonderful boy musician.
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15Mme. Blanche Marchesi has returned from Carlsbad and is overwhelmed with pupils, and has a large list of recitals booked, the first two to take place in St. James' Hall.
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19A Sims Reeves Concert Company is giving concerts in the "provinces," but Sims Reeves does not sing with the others as yet, because he is at home taking life easy. The company is misnamed, and should really be called the Sinkins Company, for Farley Sinkins is the advance agent, Charles Sinkins the manager, Rema Sinkins the soprano, Mrs. Charles Sinkins the violinist, and Spencer Lorraine, son-in-law of Mr. Sinkins, accompanist. Sims Reeves is, however, still a great drawing card in our country, for he can remain at home and by merely loaning his name float a concert company. At the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo in 1915 Mr. Reeves will sing the tenor part of a new cantata to be written for the occasion by pupils of the Royal Academy of Music.
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23Your American composer Horatio Parker, of Yale University, scored a triumph at the recent Worcester festival with his "Hora Novissima." It has been accepted here as a standard modern cantata, which is calculated to please the festival audiences whose taste is regulated by the dicta of the conductor. No doubt the "Hora Novissima" will be heard in England regularly henceforth. Professor Parker made so favorable an impression that the chorus presented him with a Worcester vase, each member contributing a sixpence.
25TOSELLI.
27SEPTEMBER 25, 1899.
28The event of the past week was the overwhelming success made at Queen's Hall on Saturday night by the young Italian pianist Enrico Toselli. This youth is, I understand, a pupil of Sgambati and Martucci, and his performance before an audience of 5,000 people resulted in a veritable demonstration. Hats, handkerchiefs and programs were thrown in the air and amid a perfect pandemonium he was recalled after playing the Liszt Hungarian Fantaisie. As an encore he played a Rubinstein waltz. It was a popular concert.
30Toselli seems to be about sixteen years old; handsome, Italian type, graceful and poetic, he plays the piano with repose and yet with a whirlwind of passion as the climaxes are reached. He is the first of the new generation of Italian pianists, and he gives us the flavor of what may be expected from that musical land if it should cultivate the piano. Sgambati and Martucci, his teachers, are both eminent pianists and composers, and this young player is endowed with all the qualities that are necessary for modern pianism. A virile and delicate touch, enormous technic without effort and powerful tone.
32He was hampered by a dreadful tin pan of a French grand piano and yet he achieved an instantaneous triumph. It is hoped that he will appear in more important concerts and in recitals here.
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36Mme. Maie Norcrosse, the American dramatic soprano, who has been singing in opera in Leipsic, Magdeburg, The Hague, Amsterdam and other European centres, is to appear in a half dozen concerts here this season.
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40There is a project on foot for a series of modern operas at the Adelphi, to begin in January. No definite information, however, can yet be secured on the subject.
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44Signor Bevignani, the conductor, is on a visit to Italy, where he will remain for some time.
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48The visit here of William C. Carl, the American organist, has given rise to many favorable comments upon his great project for the advancement of organ culture in the United State upon a legitimate basis, and the manner in which his plan has received the immediate indorsement of our leading organists must have convinced him of the high standing which he enjoys here in England.
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52Mark Hambourg, the piano virtuoso is at Ischl, and will give a series of recitals in Germany before departing for his American tour. Hambourg is considered one of the foremost of the younger generation of pianists, and has a most marvelous memory capacity.
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56The following is a partial list of the approaching musical performances. A complete list cannot be secured, as the managers are not always prepared to make an announcement until within a few weeks of the actual day of the concerts or recitals.
58PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
60October 7.
61Crystal Palace. | Blanche Marchesi.
62St. James' Hall. | Frederick Dawson, pianist.
63Orchestral Concert.
64Heath Mills, conductor.
65Clara Butt,
66Kennerly Rumford,
67Madame Janotha,
68Maud Powell.
70October 14.
71Crystal Palace, Samson and Delila | Brema,
72Ben Davies,
73Daniel Price,
74Charles Knowles,
75Albani,
76Ada Crossley,
77Edward Lloyd,
78Mr. Santley,
79Johannes Wolff,
80Henry Bramsen, 'cello.
82October 21.
83Crystal Palace. | Tilly Koenen, vocalist.
84Sarasate.
86October 23.
87Queen's Hall. | Richter Concert.
88Steinway Hall. | First Eldershott Chamber Concert (with seven to follow on Monday evenings).
90October 25.
91St. James' Hall. | Edward Iles.
92Louis Pecski, violinist.
94October 28.
95Crystal Palace. | Edward Lloyd.
96St. James' Hall. | Fanny Davis, pianist.
97Busoni.
99October 30.
100St. James' Hall. | Henrietta Schmidt (Ysaye pupil), Edith Meadows, Hugo Heinz.
101Queen's Hall. | Richter Concert.
103November 4.
104Crystal Palace. | Busoni.
105Royal Albert Hall. | Blauvelt, Melba, Seppilli and orchestra.
106St. James' Hall. | Dohnanyi.
108November 6.
109Queen's Hall. | Richter Concert.
110St. James' Hall. | Henrietta Schmidt, Edith Meadows, Walter Ford.
112November 9.
113St. James' Hall. | Sarasate, Dr. Otto Neitzel.
114St. James' Hall. | Blanche Marchesi.
116November 11.
117Crystal Palace. | Gerardy, Plunket Greene.
118St. James' Hall. | Dohnanyi.
120November 13.
121St. James' Hall. | Sarasate, Dr. Otto Neitzel.
123November 14.
124St. James' Hall. | Kate Godson, piano.
126November 16.
127St. James' Hall. | Busoni.
128St. James' Hall (evening). | Edward Iles, Louis Pecksi.
130November 17.
131St. James' Hall. | Blanche Marchesi.
133November 27.
134St. James' Hall. | Busoni.
136November 30.
137St. James' Hall. | Sarasate, Dr. Otto Neitzel.
139December 4.
140St. James' Hall. | Dohnanyi.
142December 6.
143St. James' Hall. | Fanny Davis, Kennerly Rumford.
145December 14.
146St. James' Hall. | Sarasate, Dr. Otto Neitzel.
148The Monday Pops begin November 11, St. James' Hall, with twenty-seven afternoon and seven evening concerts. Clifford Harrison gives his first of ten recitals at Steinway Hall on September 30.
150Charles A. Kaiser, the tenor, who has been booked by Charles L. Young for several concerts this season, sang "Be Thou Faithful," from "St. Paul," at the services on the Day of Atonement at Temple Rudolph Shaerem, with the 'cello accompaniment played by Hans Kronold. The congregation was pleased, and a request was made that Mr. Kaiser repeat the selection at the next festival.
152Music lovers of East Orange are anticipating with pleasure a concert to be given there October 18. Among the soloists will be Katherine Bloodgood and Harry Parker Robinson. Mr. Robinson will sing "I Wish to Tune My Quivering Lyre," by G. F. Cobb, a translation from the Greek of Anacreon, by Lord Byron. This is a comparatively unknown composition, but will delight baritones or basses partial to songs of a martial character. Mr. Robinson is now under Charles L. Young's management, and will be heard frequently in concerts this season.
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