Scan 7
Musical Courier 1901-12-25: Vol 43 Iss 1135, 1901
28 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026. Printed page 8. See the scan on archive.org.
1AN FRANCISCO is putting on her prettiest behavior for the holidays, and sunshine and balmy weather are our daily portion, for which those who are deep in the mysteries of Christmas shopping are very thankful. Not that it is at all unusual for us to have beautiful weather at holiday time, for I have known it to be so warm that a white lawn house dress was none to cool at New Year's. The weather is in strong contrast, however, to that we had during the grand opera season, when more often than not it was storming so that many of the fine gowns that were not protected by rain coats and had not a friendly carriage to protect them were badly draggled and all but spoiled. The aftermath of the opera season is strongly demonstrated in a decided indisposition on the part of many to part with any more of the money that a week ago was as free as water.
3But so it goes. It is the unfamiliar that attracts and anything foreign will be greeted by a full house and well supported by subscription if need be, while local talent of the highest order often groans over rows of empty seats and the amount of paper necessary to insure even a decent showing which must be had for respectability's sake. Yet the symphony movement goes hopefully on in the face of previous disaster and flat failure. This brings one to the first symphony concert of the season, given by the new Symphony Club under the old name. It was given in the Grand Opera House yesterday (Friday) afternoon, to a fair house, considering the size of the theatre, and the fact that people have not had a fair chance to get over the inroads made by the too recent opera season. There was, however, no lack of enthusiasm, and the program went off very well, though the spark of musical vitality was lacking very noticeably in all the numbers but the Moszkowski "Spanische," which went so well it had to be repeated to satisfy the enthusiasm that greeted its first performance. The beautiful Raff symphony, "Im Wald," went off with good rhythm and correct phrasing, but there was nothing to enthuse one in its performance. The thundering hoofs of the Jagers' horses did not excite one in the least, as it did under Fritz Scheel's baton, and Steindorff impressed one more for the correctness of his time than for his musical energy. Perhaps it is too early to criticise, though I have been given to understand that the fifty musicians who comprise the orchestra have been practicing together for some weeks past, and they are the best we have, but many of them played under Scheel, and the work would naturally take care of itself to some extent. Perhaps another concert will develop new and unexpected resources in the leader, this being his first experience, and there may prove to be a wisdom in the choice of symphony leader not apparent at this stage of the work. Another concert is to be given in January, and that will tell the tale more decidedly than the first. Steindorff is a man who is well liked and has done remarkably well with the Tivoli Grand Opera season, but one feels in his leading the impression of absolute correctness and metronome certainty, without one particle of the fire that transmits itself, not alone to the orchestra, but to the audience as well—the magnetism that goes out to the performers and permits a really great leader to use any number of men as one instrument upon which he himself is performing. However, everything must have a beginning, and another concert may have another tale to tell.
5The Saturday Club of Sacramento gave their 116th recital on December 7 in the Assembly Chamber of the State Capitol, to a large and enthusiastic audience. As it was "Artists' day," the Minetti Sextet had been engaged to give the program and the result was most gratifying, the Record-Union of that place speaking of the entertainment as "the greatest treat enjoyed in Sacramento for a long time." The program was happily chosen and consisted of a String Quintet in G minor by Mozart, a String Quartet by Mendelssohn, one by Bach and the lovely "Souvenir de Florence" of Moszkowski. The members of the quintet are G. Minetti, first violin; S. Savannah, second violin; L. Kowalski, first viola; C. Trainor, second viola; A. Weiss, first violoncello, and Wm. Wertsch, second violoncello, all of San Francisco.
7The second of the Pasmore concerts took place in the Maple Room of the Palace Hotel on Tuesday evening and was attended by so large an audience that a larger hall is contemplated for the next. These concerts are proving very popular, and the programs are of a quality that makes one wish for a repetition of their good things. The Pasmore children acquitted themselves of their numbers, the "Petite Suite" by Mr. Pasmore, and some Hungarian dances by Brahms, arranged by Mr. Pasmore for the trio, in their usual artistic style. The playing of these children gives the listener the most gratifying sense of enjoyment and their improvement is markedly noticeable every time they appear in public. The violin solo of Mary, taken from Godard's "Concerto Romantique," was the best thing she has been heard in so far, and Dorothy, the youngest of the trio, whose 'cello is almost as large as she is, played two Mendelssohn songs with wonderfully warm tone and fine expression. Miss Adelaide Birchler, one of Mr. Pasmore's advanced pupils, sang several numbers in a contralto voice of rare quality and with exceedingly artistic phrasing. I have not heard her before in a year and the improvement she has made in that time is surprising, the voice having rounded out and developed in strength and the interpretation becoming more mature and finished. The quality was always there and I have looked for something unusual from the possessor of so fine an organ. Two of Miss Birchler's numbers were songs from the pen of a local writer, Arthur Fickenscher, whose works have of late attracted not a little attention, and two of whose compositions are to be brought out by Schumann-Heinik in the near future. Liza Lehmann's setting of "In a Persian Garden" was given with fine effect by Mesdames Gardner and Baskford and Messrs. Nowlan and Pasmore, accompanied by Fred Maurer. In the trios Susan Pasmore, the pianist of the three children, accompanied the instruments in a style that any older pianist might have been proud of. Her improvement keeps pace with that of her sisters who play the strings, and the difficulties in the piano parts were overcome with an ease born of constant and intelligent practice. The future of these children will be something to follow with interest, as it will probably be one far out of the ordinary lines.
9Miss Logan Tooley, a pupil of Alyce Gates, the dramatic soprano, not many years ago well known in the musical circles of New York city, sang at the entertainment given in behalf of the Episcopal Old Ladies' Home, at the Maple Room of the Palace Hotel, and made a great impression with her fine contralto voice and her very artistic manner of using it. Miss Tooley is one of our rising vocalists, and is studying with the operatic stage in view. It will probably not be long before she is heard in the musical centres of the East.
11The new managerial firm, Bouvier & Greenbaum, announce for attractions in the early part of the year Mme. Lillian Nordica in song recitals early in February and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra also in February. There will be with the orchestra eminent soloists—the Dutch violinist, Jan van Oordt; Franz Wagner, the 'cellist, and Mme. Ragna Linné, the Scandinavian soprano.
13Emlyn Lewys, late of the Virgil Piano School, of London, where he was principal, gave a lecture on "Scientific Piano Study" in the Knabe parlor of Kohler & Chase on Thursday afternoon, in which he was assisted by Miss Mary Carrington at the piano. A large audience was present, and both lecturer and pianist were cordially received by the audience. After the holidays, which Mr. and Mrs. Lewys (Mme. Abbie Carrington) and Miss Mary Carrington will spend in Pasadena as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Raymond, Mr. and Mrs. Lewys will be at home to their friends as usual on Tuesday, December 31, at 1712 Bush street. It is the intention of Mr. Lewys to give a series of lectures early in the new year, the subject being "Scientific Piano Study," which will be followed by short recitals on the piano by Miss Carrington.
15Hugo Mansfeldt opens his professional work by a piano recital in San José on next Tuesday evening, and in this city on the evening of the 19th. Mr. Mansfeldt will be assisted in the latter by Mrs. Oscar Mansfeldt, who will take the second piano part in the concertos. As Mr. Mansfeldt is very popular here the recital will doubtless draw out some of our best people, and he will play to a large house. It will be Mr. Mansfeldt's first appearance since his return from Berlin, where he has spent the past year, having but recently returned.
17This afternoon saw the dedication of the new Lisser Music Hall at Mills College. A large number of people went from here to attend the exercises, in which Mr. Lisser himself favored the assemblage with a duo for piano and violin, rendered by himself and Minetti, the violinist, the number being a Raff Sonata. Addresses were made by Mrs. Mills, Prof. Thomas Bacon, of the University of California, and the Hon. Horace Davis, former president of the same university. There were songs by Mrs. Edward Schneider, the vocal teacher of Mills College and the choral class.
19Mme. Abbie Carrington is to sing at the Mills Lecture to-morrow night "I Will Extol Thee," from "Eli," and Massenet's "Childhood," which she is said to sing very beautifully. Madame Carrington is a newcomer, but is fast winning her way to public favor, having been enthusiastically received wherever she has appeared. Madame Carrington was not long since identified with the companies of Minnie Hauk and Marie Roze, alternating with them in prima donna parts. She comes to San Francisco with the intention of making this her future home, having retired from operatic life for good.
21Next week Tuesday we are to have the Loring Club in their Christmas program, which promises to be of more than the ordinary interest. "King Olaf's Christmas," which won so great favor at the last concert, is to be repeated by universal request. Mrs. J. E. Birmingham will be the soloist.
23MRS. A. WEDMORE JONES.
25BROAD STREET CONSERVATORY.—A few of the professors of the Broad Street Conservatory of Music gave an interesting recital in the concert hall of the conservatory, 1329 and 1331 South Broad street, Philadelphia, on Wednesday evening, December 18, in the presence of a large and appreciative audience. The program, which was one of marked musical value, opened with Rubinstein's Sonata for piano and violin, which was admirably played by Stanley Addicks and John Witzmann. Mr. Olmsted, one of the vocal teachers of the conservatory, who has a fine baritone voice, was heard in a group of songs rendered in a very pleasing manner. Mr. Addicks, the piano soloist, played his numbers most satisfactorily, as he possesses ample technic and a beautiful touch.
27LECTURE ON THE BAYREUTH FESTIVALS.—Mrs. Charles W. Rhodes will give after the new year her illustrated lecture on "Recollections of the Wagner Festivals at Bayreuth." Adolph Glose, pianist, will assist Mrs. Rhodes at the piano.
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