San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

12 C \ MLJS I LOCAL NOTES IMPRESSIVE SERVICES At the Temple Beth Israel last Sunday an excellent choir was in attendance, including, Misses Grace Davis, Alma Burgland, Lillie Roeder, Edith Hanks, Mrs. Friedberg, J. F. Veaco, D. Lawrence, J. C. Hughes and S. J. Sandy. Franklin Palmer was the organist. CORONA CLUB At the last meeting of the Corona Club the hours were pleasantly passed with an interesting program. Miss Claire Cole, the pianist of the club, accompanied the singers and rendered solo, Smith's Tarantelle. A recitation was given by Gertrude Brown. A piano solo was rendered by Miss Dorr. Mrs. W. C. Graves, a pupil of Alfred Kelleher, sang the lovely song Bobolink with violin obligato by Marie Abelle, her encore being Whispering, I Shall Hear. A charming lecture on Venice was given by Rev. Rader. GREVEN SOCIETY Joseph Greven's Choral Society will give the Beggar Student soon. It ought to be a success from the interest that is being shown by Mr. Greven and the young people, for the first opera, with all the charm of costume and stage effects, is to be an event. Miss Kittie Burns and Louise Hester will take the leading soprano roles, Mr. Greven and Hugh Callender tenor parts and Ermi Happ contralto. There will be a chorus of at least 70 voices. Next Monday the society will have an evening at Union Square Hall with a minstrel performance followed with a dance. Three social evenings will be given each month. A TREAT IN STORE Next November the music loving people of San Francisco will be on the tiptoe of excitement with the arrival of the brilliant array of artists under Maurice Grau's management who will give twenty-five performances of grand opera at Morosco's theatre. The company comprises 275 people, all the principals being singers of world-wide reputation. The company will come direct from a brilliant season at Covent Garden Theatre, London, the press there declaring it to be one of the finest operatic companies Europe has seen. There will be two distinct companies, for German and Italian opera. Gadski, Nordica, Melba, Suzanne Adams and Fritzi Scheff will be the prima donna sopranos. Schumann Heink, Louise Homer, Carrie Bridewell and Alitzka, contraltos; Alberto Saleza celebrated in French and Italian roles, Van Dyck, the Wagnerian artist, Irabert de la Tour, Dippel de Luccia, Bounard and Bars, the tenors; Scotti, the great Italian opera singer, Campanari, Bertram, Muhlmann. Pini Corsi, Du Fricke and Gillibert, the baritones. The bassos will be the celebrated Edouard de Reszke, Pol Plancon, Journets, Robert Blass and Pringle. MABEL RICHARDSON COMPLIMENTED Miss Mabel Richardson, the young reader of Vallejo, was chosen to read at the unveiling of the first Berkeley fountain, which was dedicated on Saturday last with fitting ceremonies. The fountain is named in honor of Mrs. Phoebe Hearst, whose generosity in every good cause has made her the idol of the Berkeley people, the residents'turning out in full force to enjoy the pleasant occasion. Miss Mabel Richardson made a bright picture reading the Town Pump, her rendition meeting with applause. She is a magnetic little lad} and very popular throughout the interior, and as she is a strong advocate of temperance, the selection of her as the reader was a fitting compliment. Rev. Geo. Swan of St. Mark's Episcopal church opened the ceremonies with a prayer and President Benjamin Ide Wheeler delivered a short address. Two little girls, Miriam Pond and Grace Edgar, representing water nymphs unveiled the fountain when the pure crystal stream was turned on by John E. Boyd. The audience sang America at the close of the exercises. Harry C. Barrow was one of the designers of the fountain. MUSICAL ECHOES A children's night was given in Mission Masonic Hall by Mission Chapter Order of Eastern Star, last Saturday that was a very well attended and enjoyable affair; an attrac tive program of literary and musical numbers being given by the little folks. Paloma Schramm, the little pianist, will render her latest composition, Impromptu de Yosemite, at her farewell concert today. Assisted by her sister Karla she also gave a performance on Wednesday. Miss Marion Barrington of this city gave a farewell concert at the First Unitarian Church, Oakland, Tuesday evening, before her departure for New York, where she will study for a year. She has a wonderfully effective contralto voice. She expects to be heard in grand opera next season. Mr. Oscar Franck, well known in musical and society circles, will make his professional debut, as Toddles, in Ship Ahoy at the Alhambra next week. Mr. Franck's musical baritone has been heard frequently at concerts and entertainments, and was cultivated by Lottie Seigel, considered one of our leading vocal instructors. The popularity of Mr. Franck will doubtless draw many of his admirers to witness his success. Miss Alice Dippel, the dramatic reader and sister of Claire Dippel, the young pianist, who studied with Otto Bendix, has been visiting the city for a few days from her home in the interior. Miss Alice Dippel is desirous of devoting her talents to the dramatic stage, and her ability, fine physique and zeal should entitle her to success, should she secure a proper opening. She has frequently been heard at entertainments here and in other towns and is always well received. Miss Agnes Freed created a splendid impression at the meeting of the First Mental Science Temple at Golden Gate Hall last Sunday, her solos meeting with such appreciation that she generously consented to appear again. Bach-Gounod's Ave Maria, was a gem, Miss Freed's voice being clear and smooth and very sympathetic. Other numbers were Believe [Rosey], The Sweetest Flower That Blows [Hawley], with Mr. Heinrich Arnold as her accompanist. The thousands who for years have thronged the picturesque spot at Golden Gate Park near the old music stand will have a new centre of attraction in the beautiful structure erected at great expense as a gift to the people by Claus Spreckels. Seats for 20,000 people have been provided, and the orchestra platform will accommodate one hundred musicians. It is said to be the finest music stand in the world, and will be an ornament to the park and can be seen by visitors to the park from every point. The Von Meyerinck School of Music has issued some very dainty circulars for the new term, each year having marked rapid strides towards the success of Madame Von Meyerinck's Conservatory. Franklin Palmer is teacher of the organ, and Miss May Cullen will be a new assistant in the vocal work. Arthur Fickenscher's piano department is doing well, and Mrs. Mary Fairweather has built up a fine class in dramatic work, and the lectures are attractive features of the school. The department of Physical Culture is in charge of Miss Corlett, a pupil of Hattie Jeannette Elliott, one of the finest teachers in the State. — Mary Frances Francis. Hoyt's Plays Charles H. Hoyt commenced his dramatic work with Gifford's Luck and Gozelia, neither of which amounted to much. After that he always made use of the article "A" in his titles, and it is believed that he speedily became superstitious in regard to the importance of such usage. A Bunch of Keys was his first 'A" play; the others were A Parlor Match, A Rag Baby, A Tin Soldier, A Hole in the Ground, A Midnight Bell, A Brass Monkey, A Texas Steer, A Temperance Town, A Black Sheep, A Trip to Chinatown, A Milk White Flag, A Contented Woman, A Stranger in New York, A Day and a Night in New York, and A Dog in the Manger, the last of which was his only complete failure. He started a vogue for farcecomedy of a new order that has had a great career of prosperity. Willie Collier's new play, On the Quiet, written by Augustus Thomas, calls for twenty-two character parts.