Scan 5
Musical Courier 1913-12-10: Vol 67 Iss 24, 1913
43 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1throughout the evening with great fervor and, considering that this was the first time that he had essayed the part, it was a remarkable achievement. Histrionically he was also very satisfactory. Curiously enough the other two principal roles were also sung for the first time by the participants. Mme. Denera proved to be an excellent Isolde, both in her singing and her acting, but Fräulein Leisner was inadequate to the demands of the role of Brangae. Her voice is of itself agreeable, but in her striving for dramatic power she forced it to such a point that it lost most of its natural beauty.
3Sympathetic impressions were made by two Russian pianists, W. Gamaleja and Josef Schwarz. The former was heard at Choralion Hall and the latter at the Royal High School. Gamaleja, who is the husband of Marie Barinowa, is an excellent musician and a technician of a superior order. Beethoven's sonata, op. 109, received a lucid and appropriate exposition at his hands, while he also gave good accounts of compositions by Bach, Kaun, Brahms, Liszt, and two short numbers by himself. Josef Schwarz played a Chopin program. He has a plastic touch that enables him to produce a tone noteworthy for its gradations and color. This is an attribute that is very essential to an adequate interpretation of Chopin. He also has a fluent technic and he is a musician possessing both intelligence and warmth of expression. Among his offerings were the B minor sonata and the scherzo in the same key. This in particular was enthusiastically applauded.
5The distinguished English conductor, Lyell Taylor, of the Brighton Orchestra, made his Berlin debut last evening at Blüthner Hall. The occasion was Isolde Menges' second concert with the Blüthner Orchestra. Besides accompanying the violinist in the Mendelssohn and Glazounow concertos, Taylor presented the Schubert "Unfinished Symphony," a short piece entitled "Shepherd's Hey," for orchestra, by Percy Grainger, the well known Australian pianist, and Liszt's second Hungarian rhapsody. Taylor revealed himself a conductor of the first rank. He took Berlin by surprise, for practically nothing had been heard of him here. His readings were broad and dignified, and yet full of life, vitality and temperament. He is a conductor of individuality and force, and he immediately established a sympathetic contact with the men of the orchestra as well as with the public, with the result that his success was most pronounced. The Grainger piece, a very clever and effective bit of writing, was redemanded. Isolde Menges enhanced the splendid impression she made at her debut here some weeks ago. She is an unusually gifted violinist, whose playing is always interesting and often fascinating. Her accents and her strong sense of rhythm give a virility to her readings that is quite electrifying.
7Other events of importance during the week included a fairly good performance of Haydn's oratorio, "The Seasons," by the Academic Chorus of the city and the Philharmonic Orchestra, with efficient soloists under the direction of John Petersen. Fredy Juel, a Norwegian mezzo-soprano and pupil of King Clark, gave a successful song recital at the Singakademie. She was heard in lieder by Brahms, Pfitzner, Posa and Wolf. She has a sympathetic voice and displays a superior degree of vocal culture. As an interpreter she also has many excellent points. Alexander Neumann, who accompanied her, contributed not a little to the enjoyment of the evening.
9A concert given by Leo Blech and Melanie Kurt at the Philharmonie, with the assistance of the Philharmonic Orchestra, drew out a good sized audience. The Beethoven "Eroica" symphony, the "Oberon" overture and the "Ocean" aria, from "Oberon," and the vorspiel and liedbezet from "Tristan" made up the program. Mme. Kurt sang most effectively and met with a warm reception. Blech, too, was well received, although his tempi in the "Eroica" differed materially from tradition, the first movement in particular being taken at a pace considerably exceeding even Richard Strauss' tempo. one of two readings
10A concert given by Leo Blech and Melanie Kurt at the Philharmonie, with the assistance of the Philharmonic Orchestra, drew out a good sized audience. The Beethoven "Eroica" symphony, the "Oberon" overture and the "Ocean" aria, from "Oberon," and the vorspiel and liedebuch from "Tristan" made up the program. Mme. Kurt sang most effectively and met with a warm reception. Blech, too, was well received, although his tempi in the "Eroica" differed materially from tradition, the first movement in particular being taken at a pace considerably exceeding even Richard Strauss' tempo. one of two readings
12Leo Slezak, after but a few appearances in this city, has already won his public. He was heard in recital in the large hall of the Hochschule, which was filled to the last seat. The public was in a most animated mood and followed the tenor's offerings with great zeal. The program was somewhat mixed, including lieder and arias. The famous singer was in excellent voice and each number was received by his rapt listeners with evident glee.
14St. Petersburg has just had a great sensation. Willy Ferrero, the tiny conducting phenomenon, who has already caused a sensation in Italy, as I reported some weeks ago, made his debut at St. Petersburg in the large Adelsaal. The orchestra, which had only recently played under Nikisch, was even more astonished than the public itself. The boy, who is eight years old, but who looks no more than six, conducted from memory the Beethoven first symphony, Berlioz's "Rakoczy March," a number from Grieg's "Peer Gynt" suite, and the "Meistersinger" overture. What can one say to this? As to the St. Petersburg public, some applauded and yelled like mad, others stood up on their chairs and waved their handkerchiefs, and still others wept copiously. Since the days of Mozart there have been extraordinary cases of precocious development in practically every other branch of musical activity, but there never before has been a great conductor at this age.
16Mr. and Mrs. Theodor Spiering gave a brilliant reception for Mrs. H. H. A. Beach, which was attended by the American Ambassador and a large number of notabilities from the world of music and art. The musical program consisted of Mrs. Beach's sonata for violin and piano, played in a masterly manner by herself and Mr. Spiering, and a group of songs, admirably sung by Eleanor Paine-Schmidt, of the Charlottenburg Opera, with Mrs. Beach at the piano. Both as composer and pianist our celebrated countrywoman made a lasting impression.
18A new opera, entitled "Das Nothemd," by Woikowsky-Biedau, was brought out at the Charlottenburg Opera. The composer is a well known personality in social circles in Berlin, and although he is, strictly speaking, not a professional musician, he has a flow of inspiration and a technical equipment that place him far above the plane of the amateur. There is much of interest in his opera. He handles both the orchestra and the vocal apparatus with great skill. Originality of thematic invention is not one of his strong points, however: he leans heavily on Wagner, and not only the musical ideas, but the scenes themselves that transpire on the stage, often suggest scenes from "Tristan," "Meistersinger," the "Ring" and other Wagnerian music dramas. His harmonic scheme, too, is taken from the Bayreuth master. Nevertheless the novelty met with a friendly reception. The opera contains some very charming ballet music. The performance under Möricke was very creditable particularly the work of the orchestra.
20A musicale was given Friday evening by Mrs. Anna McElwee at her residence, which was attended by some one hundred and twenty-five people, including the American Ambassador and Mrs. Gerard, and many other prominent members of the American colony in Berlin. The music consisted of a program of German lieder, volkslieder and American songs, which were admirably sung by Arthur van Eweyk, who was well supported at the piano by Dr. Laurischkus.
22Frieda Hempel has won her suit for slander against the proprietor of the Berlin "Kleines Journal." Some time ago, that paper, in attempting to explain how it came about that the Leopold order was conferred by the late King of Belgium upon the diva, made assertions that were entirely without foundation, as the court proceedings have proven. The proprietor was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment.
24A much more severe sentence has been pronounced in the case of the editor of the Berlin "Montagzeitung," who slandered Count von Huelsen, the intendant of the Berlin Royal Opera. This editor has been sentenced to one year's imprisonment.
26Successful Noren evenings were recently given in Hamburg, Leipsic, Bremen and Duesseldorf. The program in each city consisted entirely of compositions by Gottlieb Noren. The assisting artists were Ella Jonas, Mme. Noren and Messrs. van Laar and Loewensohn.
28ARTHUR M. ABELL.
30The Main Purpose.
32The young actress' breach of promise suit against an Albany legislator caused Judge Ellery A. Borthwick to say at a dinner in Denver:
34"Sometimes suits of this sort are brought for advertising purposes.
36"In my younger days a chorus girl came and asked me to bring a $250,000 breach of promise suit for her against a banker.
38"'How much,' I asked the chorus girl, 'is this banker worth?'
40"'Oh,' she said, 'I think he's worth at least fifty columns and two dozen photographs!'"—Detroit Free Press.
42A great pianist is a great artist; and it is no light fame which he holds, with relation to poetry, the supremacy awarded to Liszt or Schumann by the refined musicians of our time.—Stedman: "Victorian Poets."
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