Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-09-30
Correspondence of the Free Press
MUSICAL CHIT.CHAT FROM NEW
YORK.

! No. 10.
NEW YORK, Sept. II, 1883.
MtSsrs. Editors ofthe Free Press;
| As an apology for my long silence, perhaps I
ought to say thai have been some time max ing
up my mind what to write about since tn re have
been many topics of musical interest here late
ly, that choice is anything but "Robson's."
Mrs. Anna Bishops deLut, and the opening ofthe
Italian Opera however have been the two events
of the most general interest outside of the limit
ed circle Of ddetanffi, who place far more impor
tance upon, and feel much more excited about
event, such the turn to this city of the unriv
allied pianist Gustav Satter.
Madame BisEop, nee her former visit to
America, has been great traveller, as you have
doubtless heard, and her Cosmopolitan reputi tion
is probably second to that of Il wing Artist, ex-
eeptng perhaps Jenny Lind, or possibly List.
But she has borne her journeyings wonderfully
well; the sparkle of her bright eye, and the
gr' ceful vivacity OF manner have not diminished
and her appearance is distinguished of old by
en6onpout and attractiveness which many Ar
lists, and her juniors, ght justifably sigh for
but in vain.
As to her voice, ah how ever forget
when we fr-t heard her. In the dear old town Of
Burlington, when unfedged musical
starveIing, and at which time her enchanting
strains came not ''like lovers sigh but
lik c something far less poetical, namely ioafof
5read wherewith to satisfy, at least in measure,
our sharp appetite for the concord of sweet
sounds" which never yet has been fully appeased
On account of our youth at that time, and the
uncritica state of faculties it is of course i'm
possible for US to compare her present abilities
with those she possessed at that time, but we can
only say that she is a charming vocalist
Her finish, pathos, and exaggerated pOrtameHto
are irepr, achable; the of her voice is clear
and rir ging, while as to her trill, we have not
heard any SO perfect since the time of the illustr
Gus Jenny herself. Her four concerts
great success shebeing ed or called out after
every song. 1t is expected that she will ere long
appear in OPERA for which event musical expecta-
ton is on tip-toe.
Gustav Satter returnei to this city within the
past mon th and intends to spend the winter here.
ace Garden Concerts, gave thousands an opportun-
ity to witness greater executive ability combined
with more poetic mu steal renderings than have
been heard in this city since last spring year ago,
or in other words since the same artist played
here before. Mr.. sat, er's great concert pieces
are his paraphrases on classic Orchestral works.
Witness his William Tell, "Merry wives of Wind
sor." "Tannhause,' and Martha overtures,
These are all marves of mechanism and knuckle
cracking difficulties, but unfortunately fail in
measure TO please the common herd of concert-go-
e-s.
There has also arisen much eOntrariety concern
ing the proprety Of his playing suc pieces at all,
when considered as Conscientious artist Some
cronkers have exclaimed: 81 Hhy does he not play
Piano-music alone, AMI let Orchestral works be
PLAYED ony By ,he Orchestra? We reply, for two
reasons: cI.y O. g. Sow how great an instrument
the Piano i~ and the other is to show how great
IN arti-t gir Satter is. Any good Pianist ought
be able to play Pianomuse, 50 considered per Sc
but it is NJ, every good Pianist who can play
Orctesfra,-aus,c on the Piano Obviously, then,
is not he the greatest artist who raises the Piano
to an Orchestra
But rrodi-iOus as Mr.. Satter is in the Concert
Salon. we prefer to hear him in his own room. He
is the quetest player we have had here, by all odds
We mean by this, that be makes the least fuss or
movement with his body. His crescendO passages
are spiendidIy worked up, but one only hears-he
sees nothing to justify such increase Of sound
Those little magical fingers move no higher than
in the most piauissimo touches, but the immense
concentration of power in each individual muscle,
obviates the necessity Of so much wrist and FORE
arm motion we have seen in many other players
Our readers will better understand what command
he has over his person, when we tell them that
when playing the most intricate digltal passages
Of Cbopiu and Schumann, his motion is not sutt-
cieut TO cause the ashes to fall from the End Of h's
se2arl
The variety of his repertoire is not the least re-
markabe thing in connection with this admirable
yirtuoso. The difficulties Of Chopin, Schumann,
List Henselt Thalberg, Bach, Rubenstein, Beeth-
oven or Schubert. become mere trifes under his
masterly hand and what is hardly less astonishing
he never becomes fatigued. He is always at the
Piano. but Is always Icsh, Always lA'aiiH 'AN
one never hears from under has hand weak note
| Itis to be hoped that he will give some Concerts
ere long, and that they will be managed IN suen
wise that all the admirers (Or rather DorshPPer')
of certain other panists we have had, may be ena-
bled to pay the proper degree of homage to one
whom we certainly consider the prince of Piano
players not only such, but in all the other de-
partments of his art which should characterize
true and thoroughly trained Artist.
| The Italian Opera, under Maretzek, has entered
upon its second week, but the weather has been 60
unpropitious, that the success has been very poor
Cortesi, the great hagedienne however, has proven
| the greatest card. She is truly sublime uhen she
tries TO b. Her voice is quite equal to her acting,
by the way, which is great rarity in these times,
Gazzaniga and Piccolomini having proved them
selves far inferior as singers, although me
actresses.
But think my budget is pretty near full oy
.bis time. therefore, until my next, must bid
! vcu a reluctant farewell.
TIMOTHY TRILL.
We clip the following from the Benning-
ton Banners account of the State Fair
The Mechanics Hall was well filled with
| -, snbstan.ial manufactures of our NermOn6