Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-17
An Object Lesson in Indiscreet and Full
some Puffery.
THE LOCAL MUSICAL NEWS OF A WEEK

good management would have properly cared
for. may be noted the remarkable spelling
SHOWN In the programme, which was as follows;
Piano oSolo-Crescendo. .Grost
Signor Ferrari.
Arioso, 'u Monaco, .Meyerbeer
Cavatina, 80 Mic Fernando. .DonizetH
Miss Russell.
Cavatina, ''Salve Dimora'' (Faust) .Gounod
Signor Campanini
Aria, "Ostrahiammante" lFlouto Magico). Mozart
Signorina DE Vere.
First appearance of the celebrated prima donna.
Duetto, fla Fsvorita, Donizetti
signor Bologna and MISS Russell;
Grand FeroZetto, Roberto, ii Diavolo,''
signorrina De We're, signors Bologna and Gsmps-
mini,
PART SECOND.
Piano solo-Polacca ......................Ferr Ferrari
Signor Ferrari.
Duetto. s'Solo Prohfgo,'' (Marta) .Flowtow
Signors Bologna and Campanint.
Walter, '7Cimbra Leggiera, - (Dinorah)
signorina De We're.
Grand Aria, ''Simon.'' (Boccanegra). .......Verdi
Sgnor Bologna.
Romanza, "Forpa Ideal Curissima''. Verdi
Signor Campanini.
Arioso 40 Mic Figlio. y Profeta). ..heyerbeer
Miss Russell. -
Signors Campanini, Bologna Miss Russell and
Signorina DE We're.
Ample time was given for everyone to count
the house and make mental inventory Of all
the women's dresses before the piano began to
awake the echoes through the big, empty hall.
With the long programme commencing at $40,
and the encore fiend very soon settling down
to steady work, the concert threatened for
awhile to be dismally drawn out. But the
singers courageously refused to respond after
each had sung one encore; so the hend was
baked and honest folk let out at respectable
| how
Sign ,rina De We're had no difficulty in carry
| ins III the artistic honors of the evening. Her
| voice proved to be soprano Of exceptionally
gat aga 9gss7 sRd 9 ns ths 4Edeh 4Eeh
the lower and medium registers
were deficient in power and sympathetic
quality, as is so frequently the case with sing
ers of her school. a highly developed vocal
| correct execution of the brilliant ornamental
| passages that abound in both Of her programme
| numbers and also in her encore piece, the
'Indian Bell Song" from "Lakme." The great
| Mozart aria was furthermore delivered with a
| dramatic force and breadth bey ond the power
| of a mere coLordtur singer.
Signor Campaninis voice has reached a
point where, out OF respect for his well-earn ed
| fame, he should retire from the concert room.
In lyric opera, stage experience and dramatic
| attainment can do more to Offset the waning
| voice; in concert singing there Is greater temp
tation to cover defects by mere tricks of style
| and by resorting to exaggerated, sensational
| effects. Campanini yielded to this temptation
often enough to outweigh the really artistic
| points that his singing now and then pre-
| sented.
Miss Russell displayed mezzo-soprano voice
| of pleasant quality throughout and of unusual
b )wer in. its higher tones, but which was seri-
,usly marred By an injudicious use Of the
| vibrato. Her style throughout was engaging.
| if not masrerful; and she sang the familiar
| prophet" piece with sufficient feeling and
| force to win some Of the heartiest applause of
| the evening.
Signor Boiogna's rather harsh but resonant
| baritone was used with considerable discretion
| and some dramatic strength in the aria from
| Verdis early opera; his former renditions were
| rather commonplace. The concerted numbers
| were, in general, very well given, though the
| Robert" trio was sung without enough regard
| ''Sforzanda" in double caps should have re-
placed "Crescendo" as the title of Signor Fer
rari's opening attack upon the defenseless pi-
| ano. Both Of the piano solos were mere trash
| and the Accomplishments were mostly played
with more energy than discretion. though oc-
casionally the player proved that he possessed
both delicacy and skill, if he thought 1t worth
while to dislay them.
A fair sample of the indiscreet puffery that
often does harm to really deserving artists while
it betrays the writer to sneers Of the knowing,
was sent to this office the other day. with the
usual request for publication. 1t is here
| printed with change OF names) as an object
lesson in supported the intimation. made in this
column some weeks since, that the personal
| opinions of well-meaning friends do not consti-
| tute criticism that is reliable and proper for
publication. The article purports to comprise
| town, as follows: "Among the many pleasant
| and enjoyable events of the Squashtown
| season. none will linger longer in the memory
of our people than series Of entertainments
| and concerts given during February. The
honors of the former were laVishly bestowed
upon Miss K. of Pittsburg. Pa.
"Miss K. in previous visits succeeded In win
| ming the tastes and admiration of the Squash
town public, and a warm welcome always
awaits her coming. Upon these occasions
however She deepened the feeling already
i .s1Iru-v swxl 81
vast improvement IN her method of singing
since her last visit. Miss ks rich, sympa-
thetic voice, characterized by hrilliancy, pas
sion and soulfulness, wins its way at once to
the hearts of her hearers. Her conception
portrays intelligence, her style is graceful and
refined. The purity, incubation and develop
ment of her tones, her phrasing and
articulation makes her execution artistic in
the highest sense of the term. One of the de-
lightful features of Miss ks singing is the
presence of that peculiar and indescribable
something called music often conspicuous
for its absence in artists of wide reputation
A word of praise should be said OF the stand
ard Miss x. maintains in the selection OF choice
compositions of quality and musical value.
We predict still greater things for Miss x, to
which her ambition will doubtless lead her to
aspire. Squashtown makes its best bow to
Pittsburg, and returns the fair loan with many
thanks and congratulations"
xsx
How seldom do we meet with a proper
amount of sympathy and knowledge, honesty
and courage in a eritic-four qualities which
thew ought to possess 1t is therefore, very
sad for the realm of music that criticism, in SO
many respects so useful, should often be the
occupation of hearts by no means GIFTED with
these uualities."-C. p. e. Bach.
Crotchets and Qunvers.
Mr.. THOMAS F. KIRK, the energetic and
efficient band leader, is confined to his bed by
nervous prostration.
MISS HARDING, of Liberty street, gave a
charming musicale on. Friday evening, with
Miss Mamie Reuck and Mr.. Carl Retter among
the performers.
THE special music of this evenings Lenten
service at St Andrews P. E. Church, Ninth
street, deserves to be borne IN mind; part Of
Sir John Stainer's "Crucifxion" is to be given
1t is to be hoped that the illness from which
Mr.. =. 8. Anderson, the bass signer OF the
quartet has been suffering during the week,
will not prevent his taking part tonight.
THE new two-manual organ GA speaking
stops) built by the Wirsching Organ Company
for the Christian Church of Hazelwood, Will
be opened next Thursday evening BY MI:
Charles G. Mellor. The programme VIII also
enlist the aid Of Mrs. Birdie Lucas-Tener, MIS-.
j. Howard Speer, Messrs, Harry Bickel, y; N.
Bullock and J. n. Bebout and Drs c. c. Kline
hart and ]. W. Robson.
SIGNoR GILL; is out betimes with announce
meats of 1.-TWO grand operatic concerts in full
costume and full dress,' to be given April %
and 30. at the Pittsburg Club Theater, by him
self and pupils. Scenes from 'STrovatore," I"
Norma" and Lucia" compose the first pro-
gramme; the second is miscelaneous-butn not
as much so as might be, for all but two OF the
composers names end with the letter I.
Is there any likelihood that either Papier or
Materna can at this late day be enticed from
Vienna to sing at Pittsburgs May Festival? It
looks very dubious-unless Locke intends to