Books › Musical Courier 1908-01-15: Vol 56 Iss 3, 1908 › scan 28
Scan 28
Musical Courier 1908-01-15: Vol 56 Iss 3, 1908
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1Leipsic, December 26, 1907.
3The tenth Gewandhaus program had Felix Draeseke's "Tragic" symphony, op. 40, the Bach C major organ toccata, adagio and fugue, played by Enrico Bossi, of Bologna, the vorspiel to Wagner's "Parsifal," also Bossi's A minor concerto for organ and orchestra, played by the composer. This was a most interesting concert, equally as much for the symphony as for Bossi's playing of the Bach and for his own interesting concerto, which he played like a great master. For some unexplainable reason Nikisch is about the only conductor in Europe who produces this symphony, notwithstanding its strength and its considerable beauty. The first movement, much more than any of the others, shows a strong Wagner influence, not through any direct reminiscence, but through episodes which proceed in the idiom of the "Meistersinger." Even if one be entirely correct in that surmise the incident may not be held against this gifted composer, but rather as another evidence of how remarkably the Wagner thought was able to dominate the good music of its day. The Bossi concerto is a plain endeavor to make music the whole time and the composer has succeeded beautifully. Only the first movement has a slightly choppy effect through a good deal of contrast and change of material. The public was very cordial, and at the evening concert the venerable Draeseke, born in 1835, and now a resident of Dresden, was present and was called to the stand many times.
5Arthur Nikisch left Leipsic for Warsaw on Christmas Day. He will conduct a concert of the orchestra there and be in Leipsic again within four days.
7The Bohemian Quartet played the Dvorák C major, op. 61, and the Schumann A minor, op. 41, at the concert of December 22. Susan Dessoir sang three of the Beethoven Scotch and Welsh songs with violin, and also with violin four songs by Robert Kahn, of Berlin. Kahn played the accompaniments to both groups. The songs, on texts from Paul Heyse's "Jungbrunnen," are melodious throughout, but as they show no distinguished taste, no kindliness of judgment could raise either of them above the rank of re-
9spectable commonplace. The Quartet played beautifully, in sharp contrast to their very bad playing of the last concert here. Frau Dessoir is getting a strong hold on the Leipsic public.
11The fifth Philharmonic concert was one of Beethoven compositions. The second symphony, the G major piano concerto, played by Frederic Lamond, the andante favori and a rondo for piano solo, besides the music to Goethe's "Egmont," were given. Paula Ucko, of Weimar, sang the "Clavchen" songs and Carl Grube, of Weimar, recited the texts. Winderstein got very good playing from his men in the symphony, and the whole program was very creditably performed.
13Mrs. Nikisch's Christmas operetta "Prince Adolar and Tausendschönchen," which was first given week runs last year at Hamburg and Leipsic theaters, is running this year for a week each at Elberfeld, Altenburg, Oldenburg, Marburg, Constance and Münster. Mrs. Nikisch has about completed a second Christmas operetta, but too late for presentation anywhere during the current Christmas season. In the new operetta Mrs. Nikisch has made the orchestral numbers much larger in form than in the first.
15The student program at the conservatory on December 13 had original compositions by members of the classes. There were three soprano songs, "Auf meines Kindes Tod," "Strampelchen" and "Trut liedchen," sung by Fraulein Stündner, accompanied by composer Bising, also a sonata for piano and cello by Herr Kögl, the composer playing the piano part. The songs showed a tasteful and most fluent manner of writing for piano. The vocal parts were creditable, and the group indicated very good talent. The songs will be sung in concert in Bremen after being published for commission by F. B. Raunser, of Leipsic. The cello sonata was only creditable as a student work in what concerned the making. There was so little talent shown as to leave the whole work uninteresting.
17The conservatory student program of December 20 was begun an hour earlier, at 5 o'clock, in order to accommodate pupils in a dozen numbers. Two sonatas, parts of three concertos, three solo groups, a song group à capella for fourteen female voices from the classes of Frau Hesmond, and three other pretentious solo numbers were presented in three hours. During the evening student Leschke conducted the girls' chorus, student Groschwitz conducted the orchestra in the accompaniment to a Mozart piano concerto, and student Czerny likewise officiated for the Schumann piano concerto.
19EUGENE E. SIMPSON.
21Gadski's Recital, February 4.
23Madame Gadski will give her only New York recital this season at Carnegie Hall, Tuesday afternoon, February 4. The prima donna will be assisted at the piano by Frank La Forge.
25The local première of "Rheingold" took place recently at Berne, Switzerland. The success was most brilliant.
27Kelley Cole's Continued Success.
29As the following notices will testify, Kelley Cole, the tenor, has been meeting with continued success this season under Loudon Charlton's direction:
31Kelley Cole, tenor, was the soloist, and although a stranger, immediately made good his claim toward recognition from the lovers of song. Mr. Cole, in addition to possessing a fine voice, knows how to employ it to the best advantage. There is always a penchant among song singers for the German composers, which is very well of its kind, but, after all, one likes best the English songs and ballads, which are more thoroughly congenial. In these Mr. Cole excelled, and his success was such that he will always be warmly welcomed when he chooses to come and sing for us again. N. P. S.—Cincinnati Times-Star, December 5, 1907.
33The concert presented a thoroughly enjoyable soloist in the tenor, Kelley Cole. He sang three groups of songs, besides assuming the tenor part in the Dudley Buck composition, and in all demonstrated a dignity of style, a finely schooled voice and an excellent delivery. His ballad singing was most engaging, particularly that of "If Love's a Sweet Passion" and the old Scotch melody, "Mary." His group of German lieder was also well done, especially Weingartner's "Liebesfeier," giving evidence of his musicianship and showing the more serious side of his art. He was cordially received and responded with several encores.—Cincinnati Inquirer, December 5, 1907.
35Mr. Cole sang three groups of songs, showing a voice of wide range, which has been admirably schooled in the matter of phrasing, flexibility and smoothness.—Commercial Tribune, Cincinnati, December 5, 1907.
37George C. Carrie's Success in Opera.
39George C. Carrie, the tenor, sang in the recent performance of "Martha" which the Brooklyn Grand Opera Company gave at Association Hall, Brooklyn. The singer was immediately re-engaged to sing the title role in "Faust" when the same company produces Gounod's opera in the same hall on the night of February 27. Mr. Brewster, the manager of the company, wrote as follows to Mr. Carrie:
41Let me congratulate you upon your marvelous success of Monday night. There are few tenors who sing the part any better than you did. I want you for the title role of Faust, February 27.
43Extracts from two criticisms of "Martha" read:
45Mr. Carrie gave satisfaction throughout—received an ovation after his singing of "Like a Dream."—Brooklyn Eagle.
47George C. Carrie took the audience by storm.—New York Herald.
49Rogers in Chicago and Utica.
51Francis Rogers gave a successful recital in Chicago, January 9, and another January 11, at Utica, N. Y. The baritone's popularity continues to show a marked increase, and his present season is one of unusual activity. In addition to his recital appearances, Mr. Rogers has a number of oratorio engagements in the East and Middle West.
53Lockhart Recital in Virginia.
55Edwin Lockhart, the basso-cantante from New York, gave a song recital at Charlottesville, Va., January 13, presenting a varied and instructive program.
57Dr. Ludwig Wullner appeared in a series of highly successful concerts at Copenhagen and a number of the Danish provincial towns.
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