The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-09-11 00:00:00

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MADAME GODDARDE RECITAL

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It was fortunate for the lovers and students of really i
high claw pianoforte music that Me. R. Rooke was SUCCOIIII-
- in arranging with !ilailain: Goddard for that Queen of i
pianists to give a grand piato-torte recit il at the Royal !
hotel Assembly Itoonis, Mr. Hooke is duly and properly '
impressed with the truth that entertainments of a high
artistic claw we much needed in Weymouth, and it
showed considerable faith ant confidence in our musical
connoisseurs, when he ventured upon such a step as the
engagement of • lady stand ng so high in the world of
music as Madame. A splendid piano from Broadwiaell's
WS* an indispensable neceseiry, and this was procured
specially for the purpose. And Mr. Itooke's efforts were
acknowledged by a most distinguished gathering, for the
ladies and gentlemen who filled the seats consisted almost
entirely of thoroughly good musicians, who were fully
alive to the fact that to I sten to Madame Arabella
Croddard was in itself a music lesson of very great value.
It is almost superfluous to say that there were deeply
attentive throughout, and in the after parts a whisper
would have been heard hail such been uttered. Those
who are aware how popular a singing as compared with
instrumeutal mimic, and how many singers we required
to furnish an acceptable entertainment, will appreciate the
greatness of the task which Madame Goddard undertook,
in proposing to occupy the whole of the ea ening unaided;
but this task she not only accomplished most successfully,
but turned it into a triumph. The programme was
artistically, we might say artfully, arranged, so as to give
that variety which is so charming. and we need only, in
proof of thin statement, instance the first three selections,
which included : Prelude and fugue—No. 7 in E. flat.
J. S. Bach; Rondo—No. 1, :ri F. Mozart; Sonata—No.
3, or. Be, in E. flat, Bert/towr,. Musicians will recognise
the pleasing nature of this arrangement, so agreeably
contrasting the various styles and moods of these three
great masters. It is quite 'medical t, say that Madame
Goddard was excellent in every most and every style,
nor will it much concern the public that, an a matter of
taste, we preferred, if there were any preference in the
matter, the softer and more delicate parts, for the lady is
entirely above criticism, even were there any desire to
apply such ; her talents, her taste, and her surpassing
nereterity, have been abundantly acknowledged by
the highest judges. But it may give an idea
of the enjoyment, if we add that the
second part included four gongs without words, by
Mendelssohn, the two laid being the "Spring Song" and
the "Bee's Wedding." Franz fichaberVii work were
drawn on for the Impromptu, Op. le2 (allegretto), and
Chopin's works for the study in A flat, and the Watz, Op.
42, which were, of course, exquisitely rendered. After a
short interval, the lady proceeded to play the grand
'eta, composed expressly for and dedicated to, her, by
14n.S. Bennett, viz., "The Maid of Orleans," in which she '
mod ably expressed in music the peaceful ideas of '
La Bucolic's pastoral life, then the stirring sounds of her
martial experiences, softening down into tbe adagio pate ico
when poor Joan is confined in prison, an:l dying away
the motto di passe,nsc as the end came. The audience,
susceptible of musical influence, were thus moved to the
very depths of their hearts. After this we had a plea.sing
variety, in the " Kintenicenen" of Schumann being
selected—" The Old Goblin," "Rustic Song," "The little
Wanderer," and "The Sailor's Song." Rubinstein's valse
, " Allemagne,'' and Jules de Sivrai a new grand fantasia
" Era Diavolo" closed the programme. The feeling wax
' that Madame Goddard deserves all that has ben said
I ' about her, and that she will add to her fame. At every
, pause in the performances, there were genuine bursts of
applause.