Scan 5
Musical Courier 1908-04-01: Vol 56 Iss 14, 1908
45 lines. Read by computer on 24 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 6. See the scan on archive.org.
1the very start in the Bach fugue, she played with clearness of technic and phrasing, and she showed to advantage both in this and the Schumann sonata the more serious side of her art, while in the Chopin numbers she proved that she has poetry. She was very much in sympathy with MacDowell. Miss Thal is a pianist well worth watching. She was warmly applauded.
3Last evening there was a great pilgrimage to the Philharmonic. Felix Mottl, who had not been heard in Berlin for thirteen years, conducted a Beethoven-Wagner program. After the death of Hans von Bülow, Mottl was one of the conductors who led a trial concert with a view to a permanent engagement as Bülow's successor; but at that time, although Mottl's artistic success was undisputed, the general public showed no interest in him. Nikisch's appeal was much stronger, and he was engaged. Since then, however, Mottl's reputation, through his activity in Bayreuth, New York and Munich, has grown immensely, and so it came about that his rentrée was a signal for a sold out house. Mottl has the Wagner traditions from Richard Wagner himself, yet in the "Tannhäuser" overture and the "Vorspiel" and "Liebestod" from "Tristan and Isolde" he was less convincing than in Beethoven. He took the "Tannhäuser" overture at much too slow a tempo, and except in the closing parts, he displayed no fire or enthusiasm. The Bacchanale scene, too, lacked color and vitality. How much more Nikisch gets out of this score and out of the orchestra! No other conductor can approach Nikisch in the "Tannhäuser" overture. Pilgrims who marched at the tempo Mottl took would be a long time in getting to Rome. In "Tristan and Isolde" he was more impressive, but here, too, the music dragged, and glow and passion were lacking. I had the same impression after hearing Mottl conduct "Tristan and Isolde" at Bayreuth two years ago. In the "Eroica" symphony, however, the distinguished conductor was magnificent. He did not try to "discover" the "Eroica" for us, but walked the straight and narrow way of real Beethoven righteousness, and gave a reading of the immortal work that in its simple grandeur made a peculiar appealing effect. He subjected his personality to the music and let it speak for itself, and it did so most eloquently. He received an ovation.
5Maria Avani-Carreras, the excellent Italian pianist, who has already repeatedly played in Berlin with much success, made a renewed, and, as my representative informs me, very favorable appeal to the public at a concert given at the Singakademie on Monday evening, in conjunction with her young countryman, Alberto Curci, the violinist. The playing of both artists is familiar to me. Madame Carreras is by far the more important of the two; she has a very pleasing personality, and her pianistic equipment is efficient in every direction. She has certainty and delicacy of technic, a beautiful tone and a warm sympathetic delivery. Her Chopin numbers, consisting of eight preludes, the C minor nocturne and a waltz in F major, were admirably rendered, as I am told. In the César Franck sonata she also proved that she is a good chamber music performer. Alberto Curci has a good technic and a pure tone; he is a sound, legitimate artist, but he is somewhat lacking in temperament and individuality. His solo numbers consisted of work by old masters, as a Locatelli "Sonata da camera," sarabande, double and bourre from Bach's second sonata for violin alone, an aria by Tenaglia, written in 1600, and gavotte by Lulli.
7Dr. S. G. Rumschiysky, a Russian hailing from Irkutsk, made his Berlin debut as pianist at a recital at the Singakademie. Irkutsk, which almost borders on Mongolia, seems a long way off, both geographically and musically; indeed, it is nearly as far removed from Berlin, geographically, as San Francisco is, and artistically much more so; yet there is a good deal of native talent in that part of the country, Dr. Rumschiysky says, and he ought to know, for he has been successfully conducting a conservatory there for a number of years. He himself is a gentleman of culture who speaks several languages fluently, and he is thoroughly up to date in all musical and other topics of the day. At this recital he proved, as my representative informs me, that he is an excellent pianist and musician, catholic in his taste and versatile in his treatment of the different works. His program embraced Beethoven, Mozart, Scarlotti, Gluck and Chopin. A few days later I heard him at a musicale given by Edgar Stillman-Kelly, when he gave a very fine rendering of the Liszt "Mephisto" waltz.
9A good report was sent me of Maximillian Ronis' violin recital, which was given at the Klindworth-Scharwenka-Saal on Tuesday evening. Ronis was the star violin pupil of the Klindworth-Scharwenka Conservatory, where he studied with Barmas; he is unusually gifted youth, who has a specific talent for technic and tone, which is only found in natural born violinists. He is said to have given a very excellent performance of the Mozart concerto and of the Locatelli sonata. There is room for improvement on the interpretation and temperamental side of his art, but the boy is only seventeen years old.
11Hugo Kaun gave a musicale at his house the other day, when fifteen interesting songs of his were sung by Grace Raymond, Maria Heumann and Clara Norton. Of these songs, twelve, entitled "Geh Du nur immer nin," "Zwei Sträusse," "My Native Land," "Mit den Gänseh," "Am Waldbach," "Der eine Reim," "Nächtiges Wandern," "In der Mühle," "Mein Schwesterchen," "Waldzauber," "Am Heimweg," are published by Hugo Kaun's brother. Richard Kaun, of this city; the other four, called "Schifferliedchen," "Am murmelnden Bach," "Es ist ein hold Gewimmel," and "Lenz," were brought out by C. T. Kahnt, of Leipsic. Kaun occupies a prominent position in Germany today; his three new orchestra pieces have been played by some forty concert societies this winter, and his songs are to be found on nearly every recital program, and justly so, for they combine melodiousness with poetic contents and rich modern harmonic treatment. They are always grateful for the singers. Francis Hendricks, one of Kaun's most gifted and advanced composition pupils, played his latest work in the form of variations, or rather improvisations, on an original theme—an interesting piece, revealing good ideas and excellent musicianship. one of two readings
12Hugo Kaun gave a musicale at his house the other day, when fifteen interesting songs of his were sung by Grace Raymond, Maria Heumann and Clara Norton. Of these songs, twelve, entitled "Geh Du nur immer nin," "Zwei Sträusse," "My Native Land," "Mit den Gänzen," "Am Waldbach," "Der eine Reim," "Nächtiges Wandern," "In der Mühle," "Mein Schwesterchen," "Waldzauber," "Am Heimweg," are published by Hugo Kaun's brother. Richard Kaun, of this city; the other four, called "Schifferliedchen," "Am murmelnden Bach," "Es ist ein hold Gewimmel," and "Lenz," were brought out by C. T. Kahnt, of Leipsic. Kaun occupies a prominent position in Germany today; his three new orchestra pieces have been played by some forty concert societies this winter, and his songs are to be found on nearly every recital program, and justly so, for they combine melodiousness with poetic contents and rich modern harmonic treatment. They are always grateful for the singers. Francis Hendricks, one of Kaun's most gifted and advanced composition pupils, played his latest work in the form of variations, or rather improvisations, on an original theme—an interesting piece, revealing good ideas and excellent musicianship. one of two readings
14One of the latest American arrivals in Berlin is Albert J. Elkus, of California, a very gifted young composer; he came to Berlin to hear music and to imbibe some of this Teutonic atmosphere, to look the field over generally and perhaps to brush up his musical knowledge a bit with one of the big composers. Several compositions which he played for me showed that he has something well worth hearing, something of his own to say.
16Joseph Stanko, the Viennese, who keeps a restaurant at the corner of the Neue Winterfeldt Strasse and the Victoria Louisen Platz, of this city, was Richard Wagner's chef de cuisine at Villa Wahnfried during the season of the first Bayreuth Festival, in 1876. He was recommended to Wagner by Franz Liszt. Stanko saw much of Liszt and Wagner during his stay in Villa Wahnfried, and he has many interesting unknown anecdotes to tell of the two men. He says that Wagner was very peculiar with regards to his cooking; he ate every day for his dinner during the summer mutton chops with peas. He often heard Liszt urge Wagner to change certain vocal parts in his music dramas so that they would be more singable. Stanko's restaurant is a resort frequented by musicians, who like to chat with the genial old fellow.
18Elyda Russell has been singing with much success in Bohemia, where she appeared in company with the Viennese pianist, Paul Weingarten. Her several recitals in Berlin were all very successful. She has now gone to Paris and London, but she will return to Berlin next season and will concertize extensively in Germany.
20Mrs. William Eylau will go to America this summer and conduct a summer school at Asbury Park. This is good news for American students and teachers who would like to benefit from the instruction of this successful and experienced European piano pedagogue, but who cannot afford the trip abroad. Mrs. Eylau has very advanced ideas on piano study, and the results she has attained with her pupils, especially in the way of tone and technic, prove that her method is a most excellent one. I heard three of her American pupils playing the other day. Celene Loveland played Schumann's "Warum," a Liszt concerto etude, and MacDowell's "To a Water Lily"; May Patton played the Schumann "Impromptu" in G and MacDowell's "Moto Perpetuo"; while Ellen Babcock ran off an F minor study in triplets and the Chopin A flat ballad. All three young ladies displayed a beautiful singing tone and clear, pearly, reliable technic. They all speak with great enthusiasm of their distinguished teacher.
22Alfred Calzin played in Breslau on March 13, this being his first appearance in that city; he met with flattering success. Mr. Calzin is getting to be quite well known in Germany.
24D'Albert is at work upon a new romantic opera, which will bear the title "Izeil." The text is taken from the mythology of India.
26Siegfried Wagner is also writing a new opera, to be called "Dietrich of Bern." ARTHUR M. ABELL.
28Boito's "Mefistofele," not heard in Brussels for two years, will be revived there this month.
30RICHARD LOWE
31Königlicher Hof-Kapellmeister
32INSTRUCTOR IN SINGING, COACHING AND FULL PREPARATION FOR THE OPERATIC STAGE
33Some of his pupils are: Emmy Destinn, Royal Opera, Berlin; Maria Labia, Comic Opera Berlin; Theodore Bertram, Royal Chamber Singer, Berlin-Bayreuth; Anne Worill, Colonnata Sings, Comic Opera, Berlin; Desider Zador, Baritone, Comic Opera, Berlin, Prinzregenten Theater, Munich; Williard Andelin, Bassist, Royal Court Opera, Hanover; Alfred Barutian, Heroic Tenor, Landes Theater, Prague; Royal Opera, Vienna; Desider Matei, Heroic Tenor, Royal Opera, Karlsruhe, and Bayreuth; Emma Teley, Colonnata Sings, Royal Opera, Dresden and Vienna; Helene Fieser, First Altist, Royal Court Opera, Stuttgart; Wilma Kjaer, First Altist, Theater an der Wien; Leona Ney, Royal Comic Opera, Budapest.
34BERLIN W., GERMANY, KURFÜRSTEN STRASSE 10
36AUGUST SCHARRER
37for past three years conductor Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, is now free for orchestra engagements.
38A limited number of talented pupils in conducting, interpretation and composition will be received.
39BERLIN—Wilmersdorf Rosberitzer Str. I
41PIANO SCHOOL FOR THE LESCHETIZKY METHOD AND SCHOOL OF INTERPRETATION
42Pupils received in the house and practice supervised.
43In charge of MRS. POTTER-FRISSELL, pupil of Stepanoff, Prentner (certificated) and Leschetizky. Highly endorsed by Emil Sauer and leading Dresden musicians. Dunning System of Improved Music Study for beginners also represented. Instructor in Ehrlich's School of Music, Dresden.
44Apply Nurnbergerstr 54, Pt. r. DRESDE
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