The herald., 1897-11-07
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make their first and only appearance
here in song recital in Simpson auditor
ium Thur-day and Saturday evening
of this week. They are artists who hav
no supericrs and few equals before TIL
public today in their line of work.
Their art is exquisite; they are musi
clans in the highest and best sense o
the word, and yet the deliciously simple
ballads and the dramatic solo and duo
work with which their programs are
made up appeal irresistibly to unculti'
waited lovers of music. That their ap'
pearance here will be considered anc
grasped by musicians and the music
loving laity as an opportunity OF the
choicest and most rarely delightful goes
without saying.
For those who have had the misfor-
tune hitherto to know nothing of Mr. and
Mrs. Henschel, few particulars as to
their personality will not be amiss: Mr.
Henschel is of Polish parents. native
of Breslau, but now, to all intents and
purposes, an Englishman. Mrs. Henschel
(nee Bailey was a well-known singer
before her marriage, sixteen years ago.
AS teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Henschel are
considered equal to Shakespeare and
Lamperti, and as performers they have
q great reputation on both continents.
They have a beautiful home at Kensing-
ton, England. Mr.. Henschel was the first
conductor of the Boston Symphony Or
chestra.
OF their first concert in San Francisco
last week the Chronicle says, in long
and highly commendatory critique:
"They are two artists of very rare quail
ity. Both are magnetic; both are gifted
with fine musical temperament, and both
have exceptional voices, which they use
with a skill we have not heard surpassed
in song or duet on the concert stage.
Mrs Henschel simply magnetized
the audience. Her dainty art, her ire
sistible charm of execution and her mag
netic and delightful voice left no dis
senting opinion. Her gay expression of
the musical comedy in some of the num-
bers, with an equally finished and ef-
fective rendering of the serious and dra-
matte, has rarely been found combined
in any other woman we have heard here.
"Mr. Henschel is as artistic and ver-
satile in his own line. He taught us how
some numbers we are quite familiar with
should be sung, and he introduced us
InOSI uellSHlluliy W SoliiS OiiltiHiiiai
compositions. His own compositions,
too, were most attractive. The duets
showed how well two voices and temper
aments work together"
Mr.. and Mrs. Henschel will give the
following program at their initial ap-
pearance Thursday evening: Duett,
iPaisiello, Mr.. and Mrs. Henschel; a.
Aria from "Semele," Handel; b. "Polie
Willis" DR.. Arne; c. "The Glen of Ken
mare" Old Irish, Mrs. Henschel. a. Aria
from "Orfeo," Haydn; b. Song of the Ha
rem Keeper from 'Seraglio," Mozart; C.
Crugantino's Song from "Claudine van
Villa" Beethoven, Mr.. Henschel; a.
Kennst Du das Land List; b. Berceuse,
Bizet; c. Serenade du passant from
"Zanetto," Massenet, Mrs. Henschel; a.
Der Doppelgaenger, Schubert; b. Der
Asra, Rubenstein; C. Couplets de Vul-
cain from Philemon" Gounod, Mr.. Hen
schel; duet, "Gondoliera," Henschel, Mr..
and Mrs. Henschel; a. Malgre reclat,
Henschel; i. Sandmaennchen, Brahms
c. The Gardener, Kahn, Mrs. Henschel;
a. The Erlking, Loewe; b. The Grena
diers, Schumann, Mr.. Henschel; Duetto
l3uffo from Don Pasquale, Donizetti
Mr.. and Mrs. Henschel.
r
The foundation for the success of the |
italian Opera company in San Fran
cisco has already been laid, although |
La Gioconda, the opera chosen for the |
first night, by no means shows their |
best work The enthusiastic endorse
ment of local judges, besides the just |
criticisms that The Herald advanced |
are fnlly endorsed by the following no.
tics from Tuesdays San Francisco |
papers:
The usual sign of success was notice
able last night when people went out |
between the acts and bought seats for |
coming performances. The orchestra |
is in this case, one of the best, if not |
the best, we have had, with Italian |
opera.
There is a tenor there. Giuseppe |
Agostini, a young man with clear, |
ringing voice which he uses so easily |
one feels the exuberance of youth in it.
He is lavish of his voice, and sings with |
out much consideration of the future |
but he is going some night to set the |
audience wild, as he came very near |
doing several times last night.
Senorita Adelina Fanton made her |
success from the beginning. Her voice |
is robust, clear and full of dramatic |
quality, and it has a freshness that is
pleasant to listen to.
The italian company gave the best of |
its three performances last night in the !
double bill of "Cavallera Rusticana"
and II Pagliacci." Both of the
operas last night were given with clear
and direct expression and meaning, and |
we recognized the Italian atmosphere
which we have not really had before. |
This company is always in serious earn
est; it gives the spirit of the music,
with fair show of, some
quently recurring enthusiastic sym
pathy on the part of the audience.-San
Francisco Chronicle
The Italian Opera season has opened
at the California Theater, and no busi-
ness boom, no bare necks-or few. if
any-no jam of carriages, no crowd
on itself about the door, no
ppers-nothing but music
and singing.
why is this?" asked newcomer. ell
bowling out.
"Pooh!" sneered the initiated one, dig
ging his hat out of lady's back "You
don't suppose society can take up opera
at a dollar and half? Why didn't they
charge five-or three, anyhow"
"Ah, but re musique."