Scan 9
Musical Courier 1905-08-23: Vol 51 Iss 1326, 1905
47 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 10. See the scan on archive.org.
1my old home and forget past dreams of Paduan gardens and Turin prisons, and of music such as I never hoped to hear again. The very day after my arrival, while listlessly looking over the morning paper at breakfast, my eyes fell on a musical news item from Italy that made my blood course through my veins like quicksilver. I jumped up, packed my portmanteau, and hastily started for the continent. I arrived at Milan, whence the item had come, and inquired concerning the veracity of the report. It was true. A wonderful new violinist had appeared, and all Italy was going mad over his playing. He had just left for Bologna, and thither I followed him as fast as post chaise could carry me, arriving there at 8 o'clock in the evening. Without stopping to dress or even to sup, I inquired whether the great man had come. Yes, he had arrived, and was to play that very night; in fact, his concert was even now taking place at the theatre. I rushed to the theatre. The box office was closed, the house was sold out, and not a seat was to be had. As I stood parleying with the ticket seller I felt the building shake with applause, as with an earthquake. Rushing through the foyer I slipped a gold piece into the hand of the doorkeeper, and elbowed my way through the crowd that stood closely packed on the inside until I had a clear view of the stage and the auditorium packed from pit to dome. The wonderful man stood on the stage and played.
3"And at the close of all the wonderment (Which himself shared), near and more near would come Into the inmost ear and whisper there, Breathing so soft, so low, so full of life, Touched beyond sense and only to be borne By joy which made each less bearable; That out of pure necessity for relief From that heap'd joy, and bliss that laughed for pain, The thunder of the uprolling house came down, And bowed the breathing sorcerer into smiles." How my heart beat! That striking countenance, those raven locks, those piercing, eagle eyes! How indelibly were they impressed upon my mind! And that tone angelic, that execution diabolical, that wild sweep of passion, that soul satisfying music! How well I had carried with me the memory of it all these long, dreary years! My ideal was found, my goal was attained, my longing was stilled. I saw, I heard—Paganini!
5Helen Von Doenhoff, the singer and teacher, and her son, Albert von Doenhoff, pianist, are spending the remainder of the summer in the Catskills.
7MME. WELLINGTON COMING.
9If the Berlin, Paris and London critics are to be believed, Manager Robert E. Johnston has in Josephine Wellington a singer who will create a furore when she makes a tour of the United States under his management next season. The staid, unemotional music critics of the Old World, who are discriminating and just always, and who rarely indulge in hyperbole, even when reviewing the greatest artists, have complimented in the warmest phrases the singing of this dramatic soprano. If their estimate of her ability be accurate, she will prove the capital prize in the coming season's musical lottery.
11When a young girl she disclosed rare talents for music, and before she had ever received a lesson sang like a bird. Scarcely less than phenomenal were her powers, her trills and roulades being done with the ease of pure vocal art. Her vocalization, absolutely natural and therefore untaught, was such as to excite the admiration and amazement of all who heard her sing. With the placing and development of her voice, art only supplemented what nature had done.
13Madame Wellington was placed under the greatest voice builders in Europe and for years studied diligently before she made her professional début as a dramatic soprano. When she made this début in Berlin she faced as critical an audience as the German capital could produce. Her success was so great that the music reviewers for the different Berlin newspapers vied with one another in extolling the new prima donna's powers. The editor of Kleine's Journal said:
15Mme. Wellington's phenomenal singing has earned for her an enduring name in Berlin. With a remarkable dramatic voice of high range and splendid quality, her success is assured.
17The other Berlin newspapers treated the newcomer handsomely, predicting that she would have a brilliant career on the concert stage and ultimately would become a star in grand opera. The first part of this prophesy has been abundantly fulfilled; the second is not likely to come true for the reason that, preferring concert work, Madame Wellington has rejected many flattering offers to sing in opera—devoting herself to her favorite branch of the art.
19Josephine Wellington's repertory includes nearly the entire lists of songs, classic and modern, written for the dramatic soprano voice. She can give a recital every day in the month and present a different program every time. How many singers are there who can do this? She is not a mere song bird, but a well schooled musician, who has studied assiduously various branches of her art.
21However glorious the voice of a singer may be, however unexceptionable her art, if she possess not beauty she will fail to electrify her audiences as potently as she could enthrall them were she endowed with both voice and beauty. Josephine Wellington possesses both. Her type of beauty is as rare and ravishing as her voice is lovely. Nature and art have combined to make her a captivating songstress, and few, it is said, can resist her powers. Many engagements already have been booked, and every day Mr. Johnston receives inquiries for open dates.
23MUSIC IN HOLLAND.
25(no line here) one of two readings
26THE HAGUE, August 6, 1905. one of two readings
28THE only news for the moment is that Van der Linden has once more planned a Dutch opera. The principal artists who were formerly under his direction will again form the company. The only difference will be that the seat of the new opera is to be Rotterdam, where, as Mr. Van der Linden declared, he can find better conditions, a more congenial public, and can more easily reach the south of the country, where he has many friends. Whether he controls the necessary capital or not has not yet been established, but it is said that the chorus is already rehearsing. So we shall have for next season three operas, with three different seats: the Dutch at Rotterdam, the Italian at Amsterdam, the French at The Hague.
30The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra continues its laudable effort to bring novelties before the public here, but these are not always interesting nor of real worth. And the old favorites, the fifth symphony of Tschaikowsky and the "Eroica" of Beethoven, for instance, remain the favorites, as they deserve to be. Of newest works for soloists, a concerto for the violoncello by Julius Klengel, of Leipsic, gained favor and brought deserved plaudits to the work and to the young performer, Mr. Oress, a Russian by birth.
32I will not bore the reader with the enumeration of all that is planned for the next season by our choral and instrumental societies. But for the rarity of the case I must mention that the Toonkunst intends to perform here the prologue of "Los Pireneos," the lyrical drama of Felipe Pedrell, the foremost Spanish composer of these days, residing at Barcelona. As far as can be remembered this is the first time that a work of a Spaniard will be heard in this country.
34Dr. J. de Jong.
36The Belgian cellist, Flavie van den Hende, has returned to New York from her vacation passed at the Atlantic Highlands and Lenox, Mass.
37(no line here) one of two readings
39KUBELIK one of two readings
41Tour, December—April 1905-1906 one of two readings
43Under the Management of HUGO GÖRLITZ and KARL JUNKERMANN one of two readings
45New York Representative: one of two readings
46Mr. JULIUS E. FRANCKE, Steinway Hall, New York one of two readings
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.