New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-02-07
MUSIC.
Pixies OPERA HOUSE.

Pixies OPERA HOUSE.
The appearance last night OF La Grange,
Brignol and Miss Phillips In the opera wherein they
won II their earliest trumphs at least their first
really afeconate appreciation from the public OF New
York, was one OF the most agreeable events OF Mr.
strakoschs agreeable The best LeOnOru, the
best Monrico the best Azucena have had these
three artists are the standards by which, for the last
twelve years. we have measured every new singer who
has attempted the Interpretation of Verds most pop
ular characters and to hear them once moro singing
together the songs they sung in those bright days when
the uckless TrOubadour fresh and Non scordor az
me was turning young brains crazy was like carrying US
back the pamy days of the old Academy III IL ever had
any pamy days, where opera season dd not always
entail disaster and there sometimes balance In the
managers treasury It's seldom that three such excel
lent singers be heard together in parts which they
have so thoroughly identified with their fame. Madame
La Grange sang in the TOrdtore only little while ago,
and we remarked then how little OF her former power
and sweetness time had taken away, and how brilliantly
she displayed that marvellous culture and That exquisite
taste which we remember in this opera more perhaps
than any other in which she has ever sung. We nave
nothing TO add to what we have already said OF her Leo
nora except that with each repeated performance herl
excelences seem to be more generally appreciated
BrgnoH last night, in resuming role with which
he is so closely identified that 1t almost seems
as If he was born for the express purpose OF
twanglng a guitar and being shut up IN tower and
broed in fiery furnace, was received with exuDeraht
manifestations delight which he acknowledged with his
usual grace and justified tie utmost by singing superby
We doubt whether he did Mrco better I'D his me-
and parts he certainly surpassed his earlier per-
formances His showed all It's original sweetness,
and his style displayed occasional evidences Of improve
mcnt OF the other characters we need only say that IN
the hands OF Miss Phillips and orlandini they
tftr. nd
The house was full to overowinr all the available stand
insroorn was occupied and the receipts informed
even exceeded those of the opening night. Tonight
Rigoetto" will be repeated, and on Saturday al the
principal artists, including La Grange and BrgRS4 wv
VIII be sung in Brooklyn on Monday. -
mis-: T6rrs flsfoRIdAt so1REE.
No other lady pianist, and few artists, in
deed of either sex, with whom 1--WE are familiar, would
have venturod the dangerous experiment which Miss
Topp tried last night Of entertaining an audience Tor an
entire evening without assistance Of any kind and with
a selection of music fitted only for persons OF somewhat
refined cultivated taste The popularity, however,
which this young artist has well in New-York, just
fed her in the venture, and we were glad
TO see that good audience was her reward
she called her entertainment Historical Soiree of Cas
steal and Modern Piano Music" and In certain sense
IL was historical inasuc it presented cnmpnstons
from several of the principal masters of the art during
the last hundred or hundred and fifty years; but the title
would have been appropriate If the programme had
been arranged in historical order and tho change Oh
STYLES from Bach to List had been clearly pre-
scented. The opening piece was Beeth0vens SC"df@ AP-
passonao op 81 composition belonging to that masters
second and perhaps the most pleasing, though not his
greatest perod and this followed by Aria with
variations in ID minor by Handel and Saraband and
PosseDikd by Johann Sebastian Bach-the great Bach
Schumann's Carnival Fantasia Lebesgespr0ch by Claus
SEN Cradle Song OF Chopins and two pieces OF Lists
La CarpansHa and the Mephis'- Waltz completed the
list Of selections The IA the generally appre-
ciatiye spirit with which Miss Topp interpreted these
varied compositions surprise even to many Whe
were keenly sensible OF her extraordinary ability
The majestic beauty Of Handels simple Aria was
given perfectly and the elaborate variations were execu
ted by hand, which. with all its brilliant technique,
never lost the thread OF the theme In the two dances
OF Bachs the ceaness Of the Interpretation was
very noticeable, and tho execution was particularly
bright and delicate Caussens little love song Is very
short and tender piece but IL produced no effect The
superb Carnival piece OF schumanns however, called
out a profound enthusiasm, which was wei deserved
This, and the Handel aria, were, perhaps, Miss
Topp's best efforts. The romantic tenderness
and melancholy OF Chapins BerceuSe were given with
degree OF sentiment for which were quite unprepared
In the Beethoven sonata less pleased. The an
dante was played WELL with good taste and impressive
ness The auegros brilliant, were in fact too
brilliant. They executed with precision aud neat
ness but the spirit Of Beethoven was not there
Miss Topp dazzles with her performances; but the
artist who would represent Beethoven must not be
content to use gay colors and gliding
There delicate pathos, an indescrbabe and ethereal
beauty In the works OF that wonderful master which il is
no dsparagement Miss Topp to say that sire has failed
10 grasp She Is magnificent player in her own lne
but she play Beethoven. When she reached llsz
AT the end the programme. she seemed to launch forth
into her native element The public Is already SO well
acquainted with her in tho character of interpreter o
the eccentric Able that we may spare ourselves any
only adding that she acquitted herself with her
toned power and brillancy and enthusiastically
applauded
MRS. REEDS COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT.
The New England Church in South Ninth
ST., wiliamburgh, damned witha fashionable audi
once evening. the occasion being the citizens test
monal concert to Mrs Elneline Reed Among the vocal
lists present were Miss C. " Hutchings and Messrs
Stems and c. c. Lockwood Mr. f. Mollenhauer and son,
yolints also assisted in the entertainment Mrs Reed
sang Haydn's oavatna with vcrdure Clad" and Doni-
zettis 90 Lucia di Quest Apima.7 with true artistic
feeling Her upper tones are. OF remarkable purity and
sweetness, and her voice throughout is marked by
singular clearness Of enuncatlon and peculiar correct
ness of meditation. Her passages are rich and
inexpressbly plaintive. Her voice shows careful
training and cultivation, and, though quite
powerful, is more remarkable for sweetness than
strength Her musical compass is good. and she
tans every variation OF key with eyenness and
smoothness worthy OF comment. Occasionally evan
mellowness peculiarly charming shaded her rs
and dscernble in her lower registers She was
very neatly and becomngly dressed and received
with unbounded enthusiasm, being repeatedly eneored