The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-05-20

use Of mezZo-Voce. me second part was taken up with @ cycle of songs by Hamish MacCunn, called Romance of the East" MT. Rieger deserves credit for his zeal in learning and introducing the works of this young Scotchman, but he could make a wiser selecJon. The cycle did not seem to contain much that was original or spontaneous The parts that were most pleasing seemed so be- cause they were reminiscent of some thing better by somebody else. Many times the music was charmingly writ ten, but the effect was lost on account of the badness and triteness of the text, which was written by Joseph Ben nett There were couplets like this:
 And still ye say she's dead!
 And my heart is heavy as lead!"
 And again.
 ''Wintry too, is my heart
 And I would fain depart"
 MT. Rieger was not in good voice yes terday but he is a pleasing song-singer and he has not been heard here in this sort of work for some time. Miss Ger trude Sanford played the accompani- ments in her usual admirable manner.
 At o'clock there was a concert of chamber music, made especially nota- ble by splendid performance of the celebrated Septet, opus 20, by Beetho- ven, beautiful and grateful work, but seldom heard. We believe it was never given in this city before, certainly nev- CT as 1t was done yesterday. MT. Charles S. Elliott, formerly of this city, and man well known to musicians, said that he had never in all his expe rience heard so perfect performance of the septet as that of yesterday. The parts were distributed as follows: Ko- ert violin; Altschuler, viola; Miersch, violoncello; Manoly, bass; Fritzsche, clarinet: Knupfal, bassoon; J. Reiter, horn There were certain discrepancies natural to the rendition of a seldom played work by men who, although competent ensemble artists, do not play together as an organization like the Kneisel quartet but it was a delightful treat and an event of some little in1- portance for New Haven. A quartet consisting of Messrs. Koert, Names, Aitschuler and Miersch played the we'll known Theme and Variations from the Kaiser Quartet of Joseph Haydn. The same four, with Miss Sanford at the piano, played the famous Schumann Quintet, opus A. It was in many ways a brilliant performance Miss Sanford never played so we'll. She has made vast improvement under Professor Samuel s. Sanford's instruction Her style is broadening and the quality of tone is vastly improved. Miss Sanford is the third Of Professor Sanford's pu- pills who have appeared this year with great success and with great credit to their instructor. They all seem to catch something of Professor sanford's own breadth of style.
 Mrs. Wardwell of Danbury sang be- tween the Instrumental numbers. She sang Liszt's "Lorelei" with indifferent success, but later made better in- pression in a group made up of a. sere- made from Godard's "Jocelyn," Am prose Thomas Evening" Strelekis "Wooing and Hauser's Bird Song." The last was the best of all.
 In the evening there was a symphony concert by an orchestra made up of musicians from the New York Sym phony orchestra, under the direction of
 
 opened with Goldmarks lovely sym phony in F fiat, called the Rustic Symphony" It was played in a man ner to excite admiration and enthusi- asm. There were a few slips in the clarinet part but considering that the men had had only one rehearsal the performance was remarkably good. The last movement was taken at a rapid tempo, but MT. Damrosch succeeded in building up splendid climax. Mrs. Francis Smith of Hartford was the soloist of the occasion. She sang With Verdure Clad" from the Creation" and the great dramatic aria from Massenet's "Herodiade." Mrs. Smith was more successful in the sec- ond of these. She sang the first part charmingly with a very lovely quan- tity of voice. She was hardly equal to the climax, but she made an effective ending and won considerable applause The other numbers were Mendelssohn's Midsummer Nights Dream overture, taken at so speedy a tempo that it lost all form and rythm, but served to show certain amount of technique on the orchestras part. The strings played two little morceauX-a Norwegian mel ody by Grieg and a "Serenade Fran case' by Burgmein. The closing num- bers were the "Wa1dweben' from "Sieg- fried" and the "Valkyries' Ride"
 It was a really first class orchestral concert and reflects great credit on the management.
 No one interested in chorus work should miss the Messiah" tonight MT. Damrosch's society gave really remarkable performance in Bridgeport. Moreover it will be an opportunity to hear the beautiful Franz orchestration, which will be used tonight.
 IVOPETNfr GTRIS, CIrR