Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-24

its first year under the new charter by an
especially brilliant series of receptions and
by hearty welcome to large number o
new members. The exclusive policy oi
nearly a score of years has been replaced by
frankly admitted desire to extend the
privileges and pleasures of membership
through the cultured classes and by the
chartered purpose to foster the fine arts in
all possible ways for the benefit of the en-
tire community.
With the cooperation of the right people
at present and the splendid opportunities Of
the Carnegie Library, Art Gallery, Music
Hall-museum endowment for the future,
there is no limit to the good that can be &C
complished under the Art Society's organi-
zation for art in Pittsburg.
The first of the three lecture recitals on
Wagner's "Die Meistersinger," by Mrs
Constance Howard, announced last Sunday,
was given at the society's rooms on Friday
afternoon. While the semi-private nature
of these receptions precludes critical
review, they are sufficiently in
the public gaze to make it proper
to state that Mrs Howard made
profound impression upon her cultured
audience. Her method is wholly unique;
so clear, that anyone may follow intelligent
ly; SO artistic, that all can realize much of
glowing, humorous oomedy-opera- Mrs.
Howard will take up the second act on
Monday afternoon, and the last act, musi-
cally the most brilliant, on Thursday even
ing.
Following these three receptions, which
are numbers 175, 176 and 1T, will come the
society's 178tL reception, Monday, May 16,
at which Mr.. and Mrs. Georg Hensehel
will be the guests of the evening. This is
the true inwardness of the hints already
thrown out that Pittsburg might soon hear
one of Mr.. and Mrs Henschel's peculiarly
delightful song recitals. From an artistic
standpoint, and social one rs we'll, this
will be one of the most notable receptions
A final reception will be held toward
the end of May, when the brief programme
will be followed by the annual business
meeting, giving the society a chance to
take stock, as it will, of its present rapid
growth and to prepare the way for yet
more brilliant future.
".
Lillian Russell as an Artist.
Lillian Russell is, perhaps, the only light
opera star who, after her beauty and natural
talent had brought the world to her feet,
still had the artistic sincerity and ambition
to pursue zealously an arduous course of
vocal study, working hard to improve the
purely musical quality of her performance.
What contrast to Adelina Patti, who no
sooner found her world at her feet, than she
devoted all her energies to the process OF
herself in precisely the same
condition and with precisely the same limi-
tations.
1t is fact that Miss Russell never sang
as we'll as she does to-day. Her voice has,
if nything. gained in volume and range,
and it has certainly become more
pure and pliable. And she sings with
very considerable amount of technical skill
and musical feeling, all of which mean
pesolrrte stemming of the tide, as 1t usually
runs in the Casino, and entities the fair
Lillian to commendation of most respect
Ful kind.
While Miss Russell was practically the
whole show, the general features of the
La Cigale" production at the Bijou last
week were praiseworthy. The chorus
should be singled out for an especial word
If acknowledgement. The opera, as given,
IS such pot-pourri of Edmund Audran,
ivan Caryl1, Gustav Kerker ct al, that it is
work.
~
Two Important Musical Events.
Mr.. William Fl. Sherwoods pianoforte
.ecital, to occur at Curry University Hall,
IN Tuesday evening, is one Of the more i'm
oortant events of the waning season.
= The programme begins where Beethoven
eft of-with the great last Sonata, Op. III
and comes down among the best of the
noderns in most liberal fashion. 1t is
great virtuoso's programme, but not desti-
ute of the music that reaches the heart.
MI. Sherwood's great abilities and his
foremost rank among our native pianists
nave long been known in Pittsburg. That
he has not deteriorated, to say the least of
It, may be gathered from this note of his re-
cent appearance at one of the Boston SYM
ohony concerts by the critic of the Beacon:
1.-THE soloist was Mr.. ". H. Sherwood,
whose playing had even more of the ardent
orce Of mind and hand. the perfect intel
ectual grasp, the absolutely responsive
echnique and the emotional enthusiasm
which have always characterized him.
The other leading local event this week
will be the first appearance of the East End
Musical Club, lately organized by Mr..
Joseph c. BreiL Romberg's cantata.
The Lay of the Bell" forms
he piece de resistance, preceded by
brief miscellany that has been already |
outlined in these columns The concert will |
,e held in Masonic Hall, Collins avenue, on