The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-10-26

The MUSICAL CRITIcs.-Some of our city
contemporaries have severely though good
naturally criticised the manager of the late
concerts of Mad'lle Urso in this place, for
placing piano solo upon the programme for
the concluding piece, and our people have
been accused OF ill-breedng for leaving the
hall before the final piece commenced or dur
ing its execution. We apprehend such criti-
cisms are based upon misapprehension of
facts. We are informed that no star performer
like Mad'lle Urso, or distinguished prma dom
ma will consent willingly to close a concert,
and for this reason they know the anxiety of
many people in all audiences, to hasten for
the door in season to avoid the crowd, and,
anticipating interruption during the closing
part, they do not like to subject themselves to
the annoyance necessarily resulting from it.
For this reason the managers put on the pro-
gramme, as the finale, something that will be
the least disturbed by the kind of interruption
alluded to. More than this: while the mana
gers aud performers would be pleased and
consider it marked compliment, to have the
entire audience remain as though rivetcd to
their seats, till the last strain dies away, they
do not look upon the general movement
towards the door during the closing piece as
evidence OF disrespcet, but simply as the evil
dence Of an interest in the performance, inferior
in degree to the anxiety to make an early and
unjostled exit from the crowd. We may also
state another fact which goes to show that
our people are not peculiarly deficient in good
breeding, or different from other people in re-
lation to the matter under notice. The fact
is this: that in Boston one of Mad'lle Urso's
recent concerts was closed with one of most
popular compositions of one Of the most re-
nowned composers, by an orchestra OF forty
pieces in the hands Of men all eminent as mu
sicians, and yet large proportion of the au-
dience left the hall either before the piece
opened or during its execution. This fact we
have from Mr.. Gilmore himself, and 1t shows
not only that Boston audiences are made up
OF very much the same materials as those of
this city, but alio that when an audience have
listened with rapture to the attraction which
has drawn them together, no other attraction
however meritorious, can keep them quietly
in their seats. Hundreds 60 to hear the violin,
under the magic touches of Urso's bow, who
would not darken the doors of the concert
room to hear the other performers; and when
they have listened to and been delighted by
what drew them there, they win exercise the
right to withdraw, and all the scolding and
carping under heaven cannot make them do
otherwise.
One word in justice to Mr.. Hamann, the plan
for Mile Uurso. Some writer has shown his
lack OF appreciation of fine talents by repre-
senting Mr.. Ii. as an inferior musician. II is
perhaps not uD iversally known that superior
soloist and ar, accomplished accompanied are
seldom found combined In the same indiyidu-
al. Gottschalk, the prince of soloists, seldom
II ever plays an accompaniment. When he
gave his last great concert in this city, we dis
tinctly remember that he had another man to
accompany the vocalists who made up his
troupe. Such masters of the piano do not
willingly occupy second or subordinate POSI-
ton. Mr.. Hamann does not claim to excel as
q soIoist. 1t is as an accompanist that he
shows to the greatest advantage, and in this
line he has few equals-probably no superiors
He is man of cultivated taste, one of the
best musicians in Gimore's celebrated band, is
perfect in time, delicate in touch, and with a
piece of music the most difficult Of execution
he will play perfect accompaniment, though
his eye has never rested upon it before. In
this line he excels. In this he is master,
and precisely for such delicate service is he
selected to preside at the piano at Mile Ca
mila Urso's matchess concerts; and those
wonderful critics who have sneei ed at his per-
formances in this city, while like ourself
scarcely competent to distinguish between
Yankee Doodle and Old Hundred, or the Or
atorio Of the Creation and Old Dan Tucker,
have only betrayed their ignorance Of some OF
the finest qualities which 90 to make up 4
truly artistic performer.