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Musical Courier 1903-07-01: Vol 47 Iss 1214, 1903
58 lines. Read by computer on 22 September 2026. Printed page 9. See the scan on archive.org.
1cital at St. James' Hall Wednesday afternoon, at which he afforded us a fuller opportunity of judging his powers. During the earlier part of the program Mr. Platt scarcely seemed to be at his ease, and he did not succeed in making the most either of Saint-Saëns' arrangement of one of Bach's overtures or of Mendelssohn's "Variations Serieuses." Though every pianist may in justice be allowed a few wrong notes, Mr. Platt exceeded his due allowance, and there were too many inaccuracies in his performances of these two works. As the recital proceeded, however, there was a marked improvement in his playing. The finale of a not very interesting sonata from his own pen gave him an opportunity of displaying his technic which he put to the best use, making it quite evident that he is certainly very well equipped in this respect. It was not, however, till he reached a group which included three Phantasiestücke of Brahms and the Rhapsody in B minor, a Nocturne of Grieg, and a Presto of Scarlatti, that the musical ability of which he evidently possesses his share really showed itself. His performances of these pieces were, without a doubt, the most successful of the afternoon. He has a peculiarly delicate and sympathetic touch, and he plays with real refinement and taste when the music suits him. It certainly appeared from his playing on Wednesday that he is not without his limitations, but, as he is giving another recital very shortly, it will be possible to form a truer estimate of his powers then.
3Arthur Hinton, a young composer of more than average power, gave a very successful concert at the Bechstein Hall on Thursday afternoon. Mr. Hinton certainly does not suffer from any lack of ideas, and his new Trio in D minor, which headed the program, was full of charming melodies which were admirably treated. It is, perhaps, in his lighter moments that Mr. Hinton is most successful, and the scherzo of his trio is a particularly dainty and effective movement. Some of his songs, too, particularly a group called "Schmetterlinge," which were fairly well sung by Denis O'Sullivan, are very charming and deserve to become popular.
5With Melba as Gilda, a brilliant audience was, of course, assured for "Rigoletto" on Saturday evening. Melba is one of those rare singers who are always at their best, and not even the wild vagaries in which the weather has lately been indulging seem to have upset her equilibrium. Her singing on Saturday was as brilliant as it always is, and once more gave one cause to regret that more vocalists do not cultivate the art of bel canto. A strong quartet was completed by Signor Bonci, Mme. Kirkby Lunn and Signor Scotti.
7Alvarez made his first appearance of the season in "Otello" on Thursday evening. Till this year he has never sung the part in London, and there could be no doubt as to his success on Thursday. He has the stage presence and the robust voice which the part so pre-eminently requires, and had it not been for the fact that he indulged almost too freely in declamation, his performance would have been quite beyond reproach. Occasionally, however, it must be confessed, he was guilty of exaggeration and, though Verdi undoubtedly intended much of the music to be declaimed rather than sung, he can hardly have meant Otello to be quite the ranter that Alvarez made him. But it is a fault on the right side, and we would rather see too strenuous than too tame an Otello. Mlle. Pacquot, the Desdemona, never rose above mediocrity until the last act, when she sang really well. In the earlier part of the evening her voice often sounded thin and worn, but, as she improved so greatly, this may very well have been due to nervousness. The Iago of Signor Scotti was altogether excellent, but the Cassio of M. Fassin was never more than indifferent. Zarathustra.
9LATE LONDON NEWS.
11ADAME PATTI—known as the Baroness Cederstrom—has left her castle Craig-y-nos, Swansea, for the Continent, going to Paris, Mont Dore and Switzerland. She has invited the delegates of the British Medical Association to a garden party on July 31, and will be back at the castle in time for that event.
13Both Willy Burmester, the violinist, and Josef Hofmann, the pianist, have closed their London season and returned to the Continent.
15Leopold Godowsky and family are spending the summer at Cromer by the Sea.
17Miss Rosa Zamels, a pupil of Ysaye and a most gifted violinist, has been engaged as one of the soloists of the forthcoming Patti tour in the United States, and will make her first appearance at the first Patti concert on November 2 at Carnegie Hall. Miss Rosa Zamels is an American by birth, and has been residing at Brussels for some years, as her teacher is a resident of that city.
19The musical season, outside of the opera, has apparently gone to pieces because of the phenomenally bad weather, which has reduced the attendance to such a degree that many or most concerts and recitals have been withdrawn. We refer to those of well known artists.
21Clifford Wiley.
23BARITONE CLIFFORD WILEY leaves for the country this week after the best season he has yet had. August 6 he is soloist at the Mountain Lake Chautauqua, Maryland, his second engagement there. About September 1 he will return to New York, and has already booked some good engagements for next season. Here are a few press notices:
25Mr. Wiley's splendid baritone voice was never heard to better advantage, and his songs were all sung in good style. The Korby songs were especially effective, being sung with great dramatic force.—Washington Post, October 27.
27The Euterpe Musical Club entertained the largest audience Monday evening at its third musicale that ever assembled in the club rooms. The program was especially interesting, the magnificent voice of Clifford Wiley being heard in the famous baritone solo from "Elijah," "It Is Enough."—Times, October 27.
29Mr. Wiley has a superb voice, which is thrilling when he puts on full power.—Washington Capitol, October 27.
31Silesian Music Festival.
33THE fifteenth annual Silesian Music Festival took place this week in Görlitz, Germany. The chief soloist was Madame Schumann-Heink.
35JULIAN WALKER,
36BASSO.
37THE ONLY "LESCHETIZKY"
38SCHOOL OF PIANO PLAYING IN AMERICA.
39Named after PROF. THEO. LESCHETIZKY, of Vienna, by his special permission.
40Mme. DE WIENZKOWSKA, DIRECTRESS AND FOUNDER.
41PROF. LESCHETIZKY'S Sole Principal Assistant in this country, formerly in Vienna; also Concert Pianiste.
42CARNEGIE HALL. Address Communications: 147 W. Eighty-second St., NEW YORK CITY.
43LESCHETIZKY—"Madame Wienzkowska's success as a piano virtuosa and teacher is eminent."
44PADEREWSKI—"Madame Wienzkowska is a missed pianiste and possesses an extraordinary ability of communicating to others a complete knowledge of her art."
45HANS RICHTER—"I consider you an artist of finest esprit and taste, and a representative of a most solid school."
47Mrs. Willard S. Bracken,
48CONTRALTO.
49Mgt. DUNSTAN COLLINS,
5055 Auditorium Bldg., – – CHICAGO.
51MARION GREEN,
52Basso Cantante.
53Management: DUNSTAN COLLINS, 55 Auditorium Bldg.
55FANNIE BLOOMFIELD ZEISLER
56Applications for Terms and Dates should be sent to
57ALINE B. STORY, 5749 Woodlawn Ave., CHICAGO.
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