Scan 34
Musical Courier 1899-11-29: Vol 39 Iss 1028, 1899
92 lines. Read by computer on 21 September 2026. Printed page 35. See the scan on archive.org.
1MUSIC GOSSIP OF GOTHAM.
3NEW YORK, November 27, 1890.
5ABBIE CLARKSON TOTTEN'S concert at the Twenty-fourth Street M. E. Church, Thursday evening, found a good sized audience present, one manifestly pleased with the doings of the evening and with the fair concert giver herself, who on entering was greeted with admiring "Ahs." She had the assistance of Florence H. Mackwood, reader; Alice McGill, alto; Conrad Wirtz, pianist; Carl Tollefson, violinist; Le Roy Carner, baritone, and F. W. Riesberg, accompanist.
7Madame Totten's brilliant singing of Gilder's waltz song, "Through the Valley," earned her warm applause at he outset, she singing Bartlett's "Dreams" as encore. Her second number was "Elsa's Dream," from "Lohengrin," which she sang well. Her final solo was the "Jewel Song," from "Faust," and in this she fairly outdid herself.
9Her pupil, little Miss McGill, is a credit to her teacher, and earned popular applause with Tunison's "Dear Heart."
11Miss Mackwood recited grave and gay selections with spirit, and Violinist Tollefson showed himself possessed of much talent.
13Conrad Wirtz played a Chopin Polonaise poetically, and in the Liszt transcription of a song by Lassen he showed himself possessed of a beautiful touch. The tone was, indeed, lovely, and this pianist should be oftener heard.
15The baritone wandered from the key to such extent that his naturally sympathetic voice was lost sight of.
17* * *
19A concert of quite another kind, that is, classic chamber music, was that of Friday morning, when a much larger audience than that in attendance at the first listened to Miss Dyas' second morning, with these numbers:
20Sonata, piano and violin, op. 100 (Brahms); Nocturne, for 'cello (Miersch); Trio, op. 50 (Tschaikowsky).
22I purposely arrived in time not to hear the opening Sonata, for somehow it appealeth not to me, and 'Cellist Miersch was just beginning his own composition, in D major, when I entered the Astoria East Room. It begins with a fine melody on the A string, followed by an agitato in B minor, and with harmonics and various difficulties scattered throughout. These flageolet tones did not always come out as the player intended, but the evident musicianly quality of the composition was patent to all.
24Tschaikowsky's great trio was most thoroughly enjoyed, and but for the fidgety mannerisms of the violinist, would well-nigh have reached perfection. If this young man will cultivate repose he will convey a blessing on his listeners, who, in such close environment, cannot help being also observers. Still, sitzen! Of the variations in the trio I particularize the valse and the mazurka movements, and, too, the closing funereal suggestion was most impressively brought out.
26Miss Dyas sustained, supported, and at all times was one of the three, and not solo pianist: she is evidently an earnest and highly intelligent music maker and music lover.
28At the next (the last) morning, Goldmark's 'cello Sonata in F, and Arensky's Trio, op. 32, are to be given, with a brace of solos for piano; the Brahms Intermezzo, op. 117, No. 2, and Frühlingsrauschen, by Sinding.
30* * *
32Carrie Frances Storer, dramatic contralto, a pupil of Mme. Killin-Keough, gave her own recital at the Pouch Gallery, Brooklyn, recently, singing these numbers:
33"Trono e corono," Donizetti; "Creole Lover's Song," Buck; "Ave Maria," Bach-Gounod; "Nymphs and Fauns," valse, Bemberg.
35This is work of the most exacting kind, and in all styles, as may be seen, the range of her songs running from low E flat to high B flat. The lady has the necessary ability and natural temperament to rightly interpret these numbers, and the audience thought this, giving her a double encore after one number, the lady singing in response.
37The Pouch Gallery was crowded to overflowing, and quite a number of critics who were present expressed themselves as highly pleased. Miss Minnie Louise Hermande, soprano, another Keough pupil, also assisted, and won the appreciation of her hearers.
39Niedzielski's violin pupil played trash music, reflecting neither taste on himself nor teacher: indeed, if this is the kind of music he gives his pupils, 'tis a pity.
41Mr. and Mrs. Keough sing at Corona, L. I., December 12, and with the Lyceum Quartet at Orange, N. J., December 11.
43* * *
45Beatrice Eberhard, the violinist, daughter of Dr. Ernst Eberhard, of the Grand Conservatory of Music, appears to have made a hit at her recent appearance at the first concert of the Passaic Symphonic Club, when she played "Legende," Wieniawski; "Fantaisie Caprice," Vieuxtemps.
47While others also appeared as soloists at this concert, it is evident from the tone of the press that Miss Eberhard carried off the honors, and small wonder, for this young girl has pronounced violin talent, and is a great worker besides. She had to play encores after each appearance.
49Last week she played at Arion Hall, on the Heights, and has been engaged to play with orchestra at their concert later.
51* * *
53August Walther is a name well known to all true musicians here, notwithstanding his residence in Brooklyn, and this is chiefly because of his activity as a composer, Seidl having done some of his works, the Kaltenborn Quartet others, and for the immediate future he has quite a little on hand, as follows: Concert of his own compositions, Mendelssohn Hall, December 1; "Scene in Sleepy Hollow," for orchestra, Brooklyn Sangerbund concert (Kommeneich), December 3; Beethoven piano recital, Walther Studio, Carnegie Hall, December 6, 3:30 p. m. All this betokens much activity, and shows that the enterprising Walther is wide awake to the importance of affairs in general.
55* * *
57Mrs. Miltonella Beardsley, once a pupil of Joseffy, now busily engaged as a teacher and pianist in Brooklyn, had a most successful concert at the St. George last week, a letter from a friend speaking especially of that event as being the best ever given at the hotel. This friend further says "there was not a poor number, and that speaks well for any concert." Mrs. Beardsley new studio in the Knapp Mansion is most artistic, ornamented with antiques and unique things, larger than almost any studio in New York, and constantly used by an ever-passing throng of students. Mrs. Beardsley's ten year old daughter, Constance, is the pianist so frequently mentioned nowadays.
59* * *
61Madame Ogden-Crane's studio musicale of last Wednesday afternoon was one of the interesting events of the week, pretty well crowded with music. The following students participated: Misses Bessie Shutliff, Edith Shafer, M. O'Mara, Anna Toohey, G. Burhans, Sadie Grapel, Claire Gibbon, Alice R. Richards and Mrs. L. Fries and Master Newton See, Madame Ogden-Crane also appearing as soloist, singing Mildenberg's "As a Dream" and Newell's "Since Thou Hast Gone." There was also a variety of accompanists, of whom the less said the better. A large number of interested friends of the singers were present, and the occasion must be noted as a most auspicious opening of Madame Ogden-Crane's season.
63* * *
65Sig. A. Carbone, for some years member of the Metropolitan Opera, has now his own studio, at 144 Fifth avenue, fitted with a stage, grand piano, &c., and all especially arranged for coaching for opera, mise-en-scène, stage practice and concert. The signor's vast experience on the stage of the most prominent theatres of the world presupposes that his career as a teacher will be equally successful. He will also accept engagements for singing at concerts, opera and musicales.
67* * *
69Alfred Hunter Clark is becoming widely known as a teacher of superior merit, he having had much previous preparation under Shakespere, Bouhy and others. He sings frequently in public, and four concerts at the Country Club, of Elizabeth, N. J., were important events. He has also recently sung at Newark, Princeton and other places, despite which, however, he will continue making a specialty of teaching. He is a great believer in the value of singing as a health developer, and this seems particularly the case with himself, for he says that before he sang he was troubled with some chest difficulty, whereas this has all now disappeared. He now stands the perfect specimen of physical development.
71* * *
73Florence E. Dame sings Rubinstein's "Since First I Met Thee" with much effect, and Nevin's "The Rosary" even better, if that were possible. Songs of sentiment are her specialty. She should be heard in public, for singers of her intelligence and ability are rare. Miss Dame is the lady whose name appeared as "Davis" two weeks ago in this column.
75* * *
77Misses Florence Mosher and Emily M. Burbank, names associated in their unique field of National Music Lectures, have returned after some months' stay abroad, during which time they met some of the great lights in the world of composers. They were in Hungary, Poland and other little visited spots, and Miss Mosher comes home bearing many flattering letters and photographs from composers, among them Zdenko Fibich, Ladislaw Zelenski and others.
79* * *
81Mr. Packard's pupils, the Misses Clara L. Watrous, soprano; Eleanor Dammann, contralto, and Edna McGowan, soprano, recently sang each two numbers at a recital at the New York Conservatory. Messrs. C. Bruchausen, pianist, and Victor Kuzdo, violinist, assisted. Mr. Packard has had years of experience both as an opera and concert singer, and his pupils get the benefit of this.
83* * *
85Bessie Bonsall, the contralto, after travelling several years, has made New York her home, and expects to make her way here in the course of time. She sang at the last private meeting of the Manuscript Society, and has engagements in view. She toured in England with the Tivadar Nachez Company and in America with both Musin and Sousa. She has sung in oratorio with Santley, Evan Williams and others, and has also filled prominent choir positions. Finally, she sings a large lot of the standard English, Scotch and Irish songs.
87* * *
89The Daily Class Conservatory recital of last Thursday evening was most successful in every way. There was a large and interested audience, which seemed to thoroughly appreciate the efforts of the pupils, both as pianists and singers, and in illustration of the unique method in vogue in this Daily Class system. A special feature was the so-called Table and Clavier work, done on the stage of the Y. M. C. A. Hall, 125th street. Of the many who played the following deserve special mention: Misses Frances Emma Southard, Katherine Roan, Vie Macking and Masters Rudolph Taborsky and Artie Bungert. Prominent musicians who were present united in saying that this method certainly produces wonderful results in a short time.
91F. W. RIESBERG.
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