The Portland daily press., 1870-05-25

IbE fsossiSk OttB C0NcERT.~~NeW YorI
has her SorosIs, Boston her Woman's Club
and Portland her Rossni Association, the tH,
first having political and literary ends in view
the latter striving only after musical improve
ment. During the past year the piano forte
wareroOms of Mr.. S. II. Stevens have been thu
scene of many pleasant gatherings of lade.
well known in this city as the possessors o
voices of a greater or less degree of culture
who had taken "excelsior'' for their motto, and
had determined to make themselves worthy o.
it. There were others also who had attained
great proficiency as instrumentalists, and yet
felt that there was always something to be
learned even by the most accomplished. These
ladies selected for their President Mrs. w. II.
bennett, lady in whom were united the
graces of a most aimable and lovable DISPOSE
ton, aud fine contralto voice of rare sympa.
thetic quality, who has presided over the meet
ings Of the club, which numbers some forty
members, with universal satisfaction. Mrs.
Dennetts long soiourn in Italy, where she en-
joyed the instruction of the best masters, de-
veloped her voice in most remarkable man
ner.
A<"Sp CNCulu, Guc LucHlUCIS VI Inc AsSOCist-
tion gave private concert at their rooms, (as
they were to lose several of their number who
sail shortly for Europe,) to which each of the
members were permitted to invite few of their
friends, so that at the time for the commence
ment of the entertainment about one hundred
ladies and gentlemen were in attendance, in
Guiding many OF our thoroughly educated mu-
sicans. 1t would of course be impossible at
the late hour at which we write to 60 over the
entire programme and speak of the merits of
each individual performer. We can only say
that the programme included the best compo-
sitIons of the Italian, German and French
school. That Weber's Invitation a Ia Danse,
arranged for eight hands, was executed in a
most thoroughly artistic manner by Mrs. AL
len, Misses Dyer, Nichols and Libby that Mrs.
Wether bees staccato run in the solo from
Simon BOccanegra, was wonderful, that. the
duett composed by Marston and sung by Mrs.
Wetherbee and bennett, was admirably suited
to their voices, displaying their flexibility and
their fiorid execution to perfection, that Miss
Boyd's courage in attempting the Shadow
Song, from La Parden de Ploermel, fairly de-
served the merited applause she received after
her execution of that most difficult compost
ti0n; that more exquisite musical gem than
the trio from Nabucco, as rendered by Mrs.
Farley, Mrs. bennett and Miss Farley, is rare
ly heard in a concert room, SO sympathetic
were their voices and so perfectly blended to-
gether. What display of memory was made
by Mrs. Emery, when she played that long com
position of Webli's without notes, and how ac-
curately it was performed; how charming
sounded that pure, sweet voice of MS Water
house, which goes at once to the heart, in All
Afflitto, from Robert le Diable, and how deep
and rich the flute-like notes of Mrs. Ellison's
in Mendelssohn's charming song The trio
from Bach was evidently remarkably well exc
cuted by Mrs. Allen and Misses Dyer and Mil
lett, but We; must confess that we are not vet
educated up to a proper appreciation of the
great tone master, and we are willing to hand
him over to John X. Paine until our musical
ear is educated to the proper standard.
Itseemed strange in the concluding piece, a
trio solo and chorus, from Spontini's La Yes
tale-good name for the opera in this connec-
ton by the by-to see lady handling the bston
as leader, but Mrs. Dennett acquitted herself
admirably, and what is more, far more grace
fully than many male conductors. We think
that Portland has reason to be proud of her
Rossini Club, and as we look upon the differ
ent musical associations now in a most -four
ishing condition in this city-the Haydn Asso-
citation, Arons and the new glee club-and re.
member that three years ago there was not a
single musical organization, except the bands,
in existence here, we feel that rapid strides
have been made in the hight direction, and that
ere long we shall have Musical Convention OF
our own.