San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

12 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW November nth, 1899 LOCAL NOTES. HOTHER WISMER S CONCERT. Hother Wismer's Concert at Sherman Clay hall on Tuesday evening of last week attracted an attentive and fair-sized audience. The popularity of the young violinist in the profession was evidenced by the number of musicians present, among them, John Harraden Pratt, Mr. Pasmore, Madame Lada, Chas. Mayer and many others. The program was well selected for those of musical appreciation, but to a mixed audience the long movements in the violin selections were apt to grow tedious to those who were unable to fully realize their value. Mr. Wismer's renditions were sympathetic and were executed with great feeling and care. He was accompanied by a young favorite with the public, Fred Maurer, who seems to be in constant demand of late, for his work is most thorough, and he has the faculty of keeping in touch with the work of the singer or player. Sometimes I think a good accompanist ought to be allowed to come out at the end and have a wee bit of the glory of the evening and a posy or two for his trouble. The accompanist is not valued enough usually and this reminds me of the story of an old Scotchman who heard a father praise his daughter for her good cooking. The lean, rawboned fellow straightened up and said : "Aye, ye praisn her — my bairns hear from me when they do no weel !" If pur accompanists did not do well we would all show the Scotchman's spirit, I fancy. The numbers were: Grieg's Sonato op. 45 (C minor) for violin and piano; Allegro molto ed appasionato; Allegretto expressivo alia Romanza, Allegro animato, Messrs. Hother Wismer and Fred Maurer; Violin Concerto No. 8 (Gesangscene) — Spohr; Allegro molto Recitative; Adagio andante (Recit ); Allegro moderato; Violin Solo, (Brahms-Joachim); Duo op. 153 in C Major, three movements (Spohr) by Messrs. Wismer and Armand Solomon, a number that called forth much appreciation. Mrs. Matilde Wismer rendered song Beethoven's "Adelaide" and for an encore "I Love You" by Grieg, receiving much applause. Mrs. Alfred Abbey was an attraction of the evening and was in excellent voice, her numbers, to which an encore was demanded, being Lyrics from "Told in the Gate" by Arlo Bates, set to music by G. W. Chadwick; "Sweetheart, Thy lips are touched with Flame," "Dear Love, When in Thine Arms I Lie." The latter especially was sung with most passionate tenderness, and winning a storm of applause. Mr. Wismer's success was richly deserved. ALFRED WII.KIE'S BENEFIT. Alfred Wilkie was tendered a benefit concert by his many friends who sought to show their sympathy for the popular singer, for the long and dangerous illness he has lately suffered, the concert taking place on Tuesday at the First Methodist Church, Oakland. A large and influential committee had the matter in charge, and no pains spared to make it a success financially as well as artistically. The artists who tendered their services for this interesiing event were Miss Millie Flynn soprano, Mrs. J. K. Birmingham contralto, Mr. Clement Rowlands baritone, Mr. Putman Griswold bass, Miss Bessie Lewall pianist, Mr. Llewelyn Hughes, the Temple Quartet—Messrs. Ben. Clarke, A. Wilkie, N. A. Melvin, G. Carlton— Mr. R. Fletcher Tilton, organist, Mrs. Margaret Cameron Smith, Mrs. Willard Bachelder and Miss Elizabeth Westgate, accompanists. CLARA BUTT'S SUCCESS. My New York correspondent writes that Clara Butt scored a brilliant success in her first long recital in that city Oct. 26, and sends a clipping from The Journal, and by the way he tells me that every one who has seen the Dramatic Review is very much enthused with it: "The first recital in this country by Miss Clara Butt, the English contralto, given in Mendelssohn Hall last night, was an undoubted success. Her voice was beautifully placed and of splendid compass and very rare power. She sang with great dramatic effect, and even in the forte passages there seemed to be no lack of richness and delicious clearness. Gluck's air from "Alceste" was received with the most enthusiasm, and perhaps was a better medium than the other numbers rendered for the particularly dramatic power of Miss Butt's voice — and if there was any preferable part of the evening's entertainment, the songs in French and German seemed to have been done with a little more finish than the English songs, which was perhaps the result only of more careful study in those numbers. The assistance of Miss Mill and Mr. Stern, while not artistically equal to Miss Butt's share of the evening's music, was very pleasing, and seemed a fitting musical background to what must be considered a very artistic and certainly a superbly dramatic vocalist." THE MUSICIANS' CLUB. A charming evening was enjoyed at the Musicians' Club Friday of last week, when Sig. Abramoff and Roscoe Warren Lucy contributed to the enjoyment of the guests. Dr. E. G. Eisen entertained them with stereopticon views of Manila. Mr. Lucy played Chopin's Scherzo in B minor, and Sig Abramoff rendered Invocation, Robert and Devil [Meyerbeer], Storm Winds [Rubenstein], Serenade from Faust [Gounod]. SANTISTEBAN'S CONCERT. G. C. Santisteban and pupils, assisted by Miss Ella McCloskey, Mr. J. H. Desmond, Master Vincent Arrillaga, Mr. William Wertsch and Mr. Emilio Creuells, gave a successful concert in Y. M. C. A. Auditorium Thursday evening of last week. Mr. Santisteban is one of the leading mandolin and guitar masters of the city, and his orchestra did praiseworthy work. The enjoyable and varied program included: Overture, "If I Were King," by the orchestra; Mandolins — Misses Lillian Horner, Helene Brunner, A. Tracey, Irma Livingston, Maud Lesgynsky, Alpha Sussmann, George Levy and Arthur Ellert; Guitars — -Misses Grace Horner, Lucy M. Wade, Mrs. L. R. Ellert, and Mr. Santisteban; Cello, W. Wertsch, Jr. ; Song, "The Sun Shines Brightly" [F. Abt.], by Miss McCloskey; Cello obligato by Mr. Wertsch, which was a most charming number; Piano Solo, "Rigoletto," by Master Vincent Arrillaga; Mandolin Solo, "L'Addio a Napoli," by Lillian Horner, guitar accompaniment by Miss Grace Horner; Song, Manuelita [Trotere], Mr. J. H. Desmond; Cello Solos, Ave Maria and Romance, by Mr. W. Wertsch. Misses Jeane Levy and Emilia Tracey with Mr. Santisteban rendered Canto de Armor and Ondina, a composition by Santisteban. The concert closed with Dances Espagnoles [Moreno] by the orchestra. HENRY HOLMES CHOSEN. Henry Holmes is the recipient of congratulations everywhere for his appointment as leader of the Symphony Concerts. He is the right man in the right place, and will have an opportunity of coming liefore the public in a sphere to which he is admirably adapted. Mr. Holmes is a thorough artist, enthusiastic and earnest, and possessed of unusual ability experience and magnetism. Mrs. Hearst has come forward most generously as a patron as she always does for any worthy undertaking, and her example will doubtless be followed by other patrons of true art. We have needed just such a spirit as Mr. Holmes in musical circles, and he ought to have every encouragement in his unselfish devotion to the progress of art in California. — Mary Frances Frances. STUDIO PERSONALS Mr. Howard Malcolm Ticknor gave the fourth of his lecture readings before the Channing Auxiliary on Thursday, his subject being "How to Judge Plays and Players" with illustrative readings. Madame Crawford writes that the date of the appearance of the California Ladies' Quartet in San Francisco will soon be decided. The Southern tour is highly satisfactory so far. MUSIC IN GENERAL. Mark Hambourg, a protege of the great Paderevvski and a pupil of Lesehetizky, was a saloon passenger on the Teutonic. Hambourg, who is said to be the most wonderful pianist of his age in the world, is twenty years old. He is a Russian, and appeared with the Boston Symphony Orchestra Nov. 2d and 3d, and later in Carnegie Hall, New York. It is stated on good authority that a New York florist has orders for a $20 bouquet to be sent to Lillian Russell daily by an admirer. These dainty tributes are received by the fair Lillian whether she is in the city or en route.