Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-24
THE WILHELM CONCERT.

August Wilhelmj, the celebrated German
violinist, gave his first concert here at the
Congregational Church last evening. to a
large and discriminating audience He was
supported by Max Vogrich. Hungarian pian-
ist and composer, and Marie Salvotti, So
prano. The lady has strong and cultured
voice, marked by fexibility and a rotund and
enduring quality. Her method was noticea-
BILE for the almost total absence of effort and
for the (almost) perfection of her enuncia-
ton, which is of such a high character as to
serve as model for all. That she sang
slightly out of tone in an early number was
probably attributable to the change in the
accompanying instrument, as two were on
the platform, and thereafter the accompanist
adhered to the grand piano alone. She sang
with taste and good expression an aria from
Nabucco; the German song by Abt
Guide Nacht, Mein Kind" and 'L'estassi,"
by Arditi, and in response TO exceedingly
complimentary and spontaneous encores
gave g We Met by Chance and
1.-The Star Spangled Banner Vog-
| rich proved an admirable accompanist, and,
besides, played Concerto" by Henselt !;
Fantasia" from Sonnambula, and in re-
Spouse to an earnest and appreciative encore,
gave Etude," by Henselt. Vogrich INDUCES
but little in the fanciful in his playing. His
method is that which marks the artist who is
devoted to his art for its sake alone. His ex-
ecution is finished, positive and full of power.
While he is less brilliant than Ketten, his
playing is of the kind to satisfy the ex-
acting taste in style, and the severe
Judgment of technique. For closeness of
sympathy with themes of lofty sentiment
rtarn hn L
neither over-rehnes nor exaggerates, but is
rigidly faithful, as an Interpreter. The star
OF the combination, Wilhelmj, gave the allie
gro OF Paganini's grand concerto in d, adj
mlttedly one of the most exacting of COM
positions for the violin, and in response to
the storm of applause which recalled him,
he played the Nocturne, in "Esmoll," by
Chopin. Next, he gave ''The Love-Seren-
ade,' by Vogrich, and being again recalled
by the audience-which he had completely
won by his trst number-he gave an arrange
ment from his own pen of one of Bach's airs,
playing it upon the G string alone. His third
regular number was the mastery one of the
programme, that most trying to the per-
former, being Ernsts arrangement of "Airs
Hongrois." Unwilling that this should be
the last seen of him for the evening, his
auditors made unmistakable complimentary
and positive demands, to which he replied
with the simple air, "The Old Folks at
Home, which, under the inspiration of his
bow, became a new revelation. Wilhelm
played upon violin remarkable as power
full instrument, and for the resonance and
clearness of its tones. PROFESSIONALLY Will
helmi is a great artist, before whom such as
Remenvi, skillful as they may be, must re-
tire. His information is the nearest APP
proach to perfection ever heard here,
while the breadth and depth of his
quality is not rivaled, probably. save by
Joachim and Ole Bull. What the attentive
listener notices in Wilhelm, as one of his
greatest merits, is the absence of striving for
effect. He does not indulge in what are vul-
carly called musical PROCEEDINGS and
Instrumental gymnastics" His playing is
classic, without loss of sympathetic power
1t IS chlseled work the sculpturing of mu-
steal themes, which, in all their marble
beauty, and the graces of their rounded pro-
portions, are warmed to life by the masters
touch and made to breathe and commune
with the auditor. There is no memory of a
vioinist who has played in California and
received such tributes of approval as were
showered upon Wilhelmj last evening-and
it WAS as deserved by the artist as it was
credtable to the judgment of the audience,
for his playing, to sum up in brief words, is
cast In the finest mould of the imagination
1t is the approach to perfection in its spirit
ualty, and shows not only the most delicate
instincts, but the broadcast intelligence in the
music art. The second concert takes place
Wednesday evening. A request has been
preferred that the troupe shall give matinee
concert before leaving the city. Tonight the
Bric-a-Brac Club entertain Wilhelm and his
associates in an informal manner at SO
Eighth street