The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-13
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The Kotzsohmar Lecturo-Recitals.


evening. The house was filled by an
audience that included most of our well
known musical people their number en-
braeing men and women eminent in the
official, social and literary life OF the
town. The entertainments given by Mr.
and Mrs. Kotzsohmar last season proved
SO attractive that they were encouraged
to give series the present fall.
The first of the series was upon the
Great italian Musicians from 1900 to
1895. Commencing with the quotation
from Collins ode to The Passions,
"when Music, heavenly maid was
young" Mrs. Kotzschmar said she
evidently made hel home in Italy. Music
is the handmade of Religion, and 1t is
not strange that in country where
religion has been suoh dominating
power, as in Italy. that music should
have made great progress. Italy is not
land of song alone. 1t is there that in
struments were first invented TO support
the voice. The first pianos were made
there. and 1t was at Cremona the cele-
brated violin makers Amati and Stradi
varius made their homes. Corelii wa
the earliest of Italian violinists, playing
with breadth that had never been
known before his day. Tartini was the
originator of the sonata and the origin of
the DEVILS sonata, composed by him,
was given. 1t is narrated that Tartini
went to sleep and dreamed Of the most
beautiful melodies which, when he
awoke, he endeavored to recall, and wove
them into this DEVILS sonata. Italy also
produced the greatest players on the
organ. harpsichord and clavichord. Italy
for two hundred and fifty years has bsen
the land Of opera and Mrs. Kotzschmar
gave most compact and interesting
sketch of the more prominent in turn.
And right here we wish to mention one
statement made by the lecturer that it
of singers generally. especially those who
think they have become artists. She said
In the olden time people with phenome-
nal voices were expected TO spend seven
or eight years in training them before
they could consider themselves finished
al blStSs Duu ~ ID W ~ HUI
at length into the subject matter of the
teacher. 1t is enough to say that it in
cluded comment on Monteverdi, Coreli,
Carissimi, d. Scarlatti, Paesiello,
Tartini, Oherubini. Galuppi. Mercadante,
Boccherini, Pacini, Donizettf, Rossini.
Bellini, Verdi. Sgambati, Boita, Gomez
and Mascogni, and that the audience at
its close, applauded heartily.
The various musical numbers used to
ilIustrnts the lecture, were most happily
selected. Miss Knight was particularly
happy in her tender and impressive
rendering of Paesiello's at milo ben,' to
which great effect was given by MIR.
Kotzschmar's accompaniment Her
''Qui La vocen was a great delight to the
audience, and they attempted an encore,
but the programme was too long to per-
init repetitions. The quality of Miss
Minnie Plum mer's rich oontralto was
never heard to better advantage than in
Meroadantis "Or la Suil onda.' Mr..
Merrill gave Carissimi's Vittoris"
with spirit and the excellence of his
method and his thorough understanding
of the requirements of Verdi's aria from
Don Carlos" were exemplitied by the
manner iD which he rendered it. Miss
Florence Leach was heard in several
numbers, playing with a breadth and
an expression that ELECTED warm praise.
Mr. Days agreeable tenor pleased ex-
tremely In ''Spirito Gentil, and in the
concerted hunters. Miss Philbrook
played two gavottss one by Soarlatti,
and another by sgambati with much
grace and delicacy, and was especially
pleasing in the two movements from
Galuppi's sonata in D. Mr.. Kotzsch-
mars accomplishments were admirable.
The stage presented most attractive
appearance set with largo bouquet lamps,
potted plants, and vases of cut bowers.
Hi Henry's Ministries.
Portland theatre contained very
large and very well pleased audience last
night on the occasion of tine appearance
of Hi Henry's Ministries. The first part
was beautifully mounted, the costumes
looked bright and new, the draperies
were above the average and the vocalists
thoroughly schooled. Old "chestnut"
gags were made conspicuous by their
absence, and both the first and second
edition of lend men" were clever enter
tainers. 'tAround tine World in ten
Minutes" was pleasing innovation. The
olio portion of the programme was high
ly entertaining, the specialties of Deming
and McNish being exceptionally we'll re-
oei,ed, and the cornet solos by Mr..
Henry, with his full military band,
were far better than is usually heard
The entire performances was highly pleas
Ing and e aressglad to know the COM
pany will play return engagement next
week.
At the French Ball.
Saturday matinee and evening Fanny
Kioe will appear at Portland theatre in
Nancy or at the French Ball.
Nancy is the pretty young wife of
an industrious. frugal, German shoe
maker. Poverty has deprived her of edu-
cation and pleasures from, childhood, and
through the unhealthy Influences Of a
designing woman acquaintsnce,s she has
become dissatisfied with her humble,
L.