The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-05-24
MUSICAL GOSSIP.
Messing

Peter Illitsch Tschaikowsky, the great Rus
sian composer, was in the city ON Saturday
and Sunday of last week, being guest at the
Russian Legation Saturday evening there
was reception In his honor at the Legation.
Music was, of course, the chief topic of con-
versation, and during the evening Tschai-
kowsky's trio Op so was played by Messrs.
Rakeman, Mersch, and Hausen, and also the
Brehms quar- tette in B-fat major, Mr.. Anton
Fischer playing the viola part. The trio is
dedicated to Nicholas Rubinstein, the brother
of the great pianist. Tschaikowsky studied
with Anton and at the conclusion of his
studies went to the conservatory at Moscow,
which Nicholas had in charge. Tschaikowsky
is evidently about fifty-fve, of good height,
spare. and with gray hair and short beard. He
was much pleased with his reception in this
country, but did not think he could be in
duced to join the large number of prominent
musicians who are coming to make their
home in America. On Sunday evening he
went to the Bernays Violin School on Twelfth
street, where Mr.. Hausen played the Mendels-
sohn concerto in G-mnor and the Beethoven
concerto in C-minor, with full orchestral ac-
compartment, Mr.. Bernays directing. Tschai-
kowsky left on Monday for Philadelphia,
where he directed several of his own compost
tions at the concert of the Boston Festival
Orchestra. He returns shortly to Europe.
Mr.. Hausen, the late Secretary of the Rus
sian Legation left on Friday for his new post
of duty in Mexico. His departure is great
Ato musical circles. An accomplished
pianist, he was in love with all forms of music
and was always to be seen at the best con-
certs. For the last two seasons he has given
musicales every week, or every other week, at
the Legation, always taking part himself. He
has enjoyed Washington very much and will
be satisfied if he can have as much good
music in his new scene of labor.
Xxx
Music forms a part of the education of all
Russians of good BIRTH The present Minister,
Baron de Struve, was in his youth skillful
performer on the piano and is familiar with
all the great compositions, and the new Secre.
tary Of the Legation, M. de Potkin, is 'cellist
of no little ability.
The Choral Society benefit next Wednesday
evening will give an opportunity to hear all
the principal organizations of the city In one
concert The Choral Society is deeply graft
fed by the generous action of the other soci-
eties and will doubtless be materially bene-
HCeQ by Inc results OF tne concert.
y ~
The local Musical Assembly, it is rumored,
has notified the Georgetown Amateur Or
chestra that amateurs must not play at church
festivals and like affairs to the exclusion of
professionals, and that If the practice is per-
sisted in the professionals VIII decline to play
with the orchestra another season.
\ 4 y
Whap ha assAnhlu laornad tbot Mopt,ao1
musician was expecting to come here next
season to take charge of the orchestra at the
Academy of Music there was much indigna-
tion, which resulted in series of strenuous
objections, which were laid before the man
agement. There are number OF our local
musicians entirely competent to take charge
of q theatre orchestra, and the present pros
pect is that one of these will secure the posi-
tion.
A young violinist of this city, whose heart is
set on conducting, gives certain amount of
time each day to score reading, and has fixed
upon a novel scheme to make the work more
interesting. A caller the other day was sur
prised to find the chairs arranged in a semi
circle, and on each the photograph of
some eminent musician. Wagner, Beethoven
Mendelssohn, Schubert, and others as great
were in their places, and with such an orches-
ira the young conductor was making divine
melody, only marred by the seeming inatten-
tion of Sarasate, who was playing second
violin.
X X \
Mr. Miersch sails from New York on We'd
nesday His many friends wish him speedy
voyage and quick return.
X X X
The Juch Opera Company was stranded in
st. Louis last week. Miss Juch is not loser,
but every one else in the company is. Miss
Juch has numerous festival engagements to
fill, and under the name of the metropolitan
Opera Company" performances will be con-
tinued with new management
\ 4
The Columbia Amateur Orchestra has made
rapid progress under the leadership of Pro-
fessor j. d. Rhodes, Jr. 1t still has vacancies