San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

12 February 10, 1900 LOCAL NOTES HOPKINS.' INSTITUTE CONCERT. Mr. Henry Heyman directed a charming concert at the Mark Hopkins Institute Thursday of last week, which was enjoyed by the usual refined audience. Mr. Heyman's pupil, Miss Ethel Grant, made a very favorable impression with her violin solos, Romance [Hansen] Simple Aveu [Thorme] and Mazurka [Wieniauski]. It was her first appearance and she showed musical taste and skill especially for so young a girl, and is certainly promising, playing with good tone and style. Miss Belle Livingston, who was taught by Mrs. MarrinerCampbell, sang Das Zanl)erlied and Old German Rhyme [Meyer-Helmund] her numbers being well received. She was a little nervous but sang very gracefully, showing musical feeling, her voice gaining in her second selection. Mr. Emil Cruells rendered Prelude et Corteggio Nuziale [Gounod], Old English Air, with variations [Hoist], Royal March [Keller], upon the organ in most impressive style, the sweet-toned instrument filling the beautiful edifice under his sympathetic touch. H. Callender contributed vocal numbers. Mrs. Edith Norman Klock, lately from the East and who is now studying with Mrs. Marriner-Campbell, made a success in her songs, The Flowers are all Aglow, May Morning [Denza], Sigh No More, Sweetheart [Lynes]. Her voice is a mezzosoprano of much sweetness and power and of fresh ringing quality, and her appearance and manner wholly natural and pleasing, and she will doubtless l>ecome a favorite here, as she was in Chicago. Mr. Cruells accompanied the singers. Mr. Heyman has been most faithful to the interests of the Mark Hopkins' Institute, and the concerts under his direction are always enjoyable. POSTGKADl'A TE RECITAL. Mrs. Nellie Averill Armstrong, postgraduate of the California School of Elocution and Oratory, under the direction of Miss Emily Curtis, gave an interesting recital Monday evening of last week in the Y. M. C. A. Building, her program, in which she displayed much ability and finish, including The Minister's Black Nance [Phelps], My Ships [Wilcox], Jakey and Old Jacob, Afterwhiles [Riley], The Honor of the Words [Murray], Just Commonplace [Phelps], Telephone Conversation and Why Miss Anna Maria Simmons Never Married, her numbers being greeted with wellmerited applause. San Francisco Conservatory Mandolin Club, Eleanor C. Drew, pianist, and Mrs. Alice Eckman Cramer, vocalist, assisted in the reader's interesting program. KNICKKRHOCKKR CONCKKT The Knickerbocker Concert Company gave an enjoyable program in V. M. C. A. Building Friday of last week, the large audience demanding encores galore. The quartet— Douglas Crane, Herbert Williams, L. A. Larsen — sang When Day Fades, The City Choir, and Kentucky Babe, Mr. Larsen also singing a bass solo, Let All Obey. Mr. Elliott was in better voice than I have heard him, singing with sweetness and sympathy, There's a Woman Like a Dew-drop, and the encore, Apple Blossoms, with pretty effect. Roscoe Warren Lucy was the accompanist of the evening, and also rendered some Chopin numbers to much applause. I have been very proud of Mr. Lucy's work and expect it to be at the top notch of excellence, and he and I will quarrel if he neglects his practice at the next concert. Cyrus Brownlee Newton was as ever a favorite in his readings, That Old Sweetheart of Mine, Drama of Three, and encores, his best number being The Death Bridge of the Tay, in which voice and action were very good; but he has not conquered the Scotch idiom yet. And, by the way, you are neglecting your make-up, and the Knickerbockers' have not the "rose-leal" complexions you gave them after I called them "Modocs" one evening, for they played havoc with the rouge pot when your back was turned. How Douglas Crane laughed — don't tell any one, boys, but once when you were made up properly a lady near me spoke of Herbert Williams' "fine healthy skin." Bernhard Walther, violinist, was an especial favorite, and was not released until he had given double encores. His numbers were the Sarasate Romanza, a Serenade, and Last Rose of Summer, the latter being a gem in its pathetic tenderness, and the house was very attentive. He was down for Wieniawski's Polonaise in B, but owing to an accident to his instrument, rendered instead Love Song [Sampton], gaining in the already favorable impression. Mr. Walther should be further complimented upon his charming manner upon the stage. Wm. J. Hynes made a hit with his humorous songs and stories, keeping the audience in a peal of laughter whenever he appeared and they certainly imposed upon his good nature in the number of encores. He is full of life and fun, and knows how to manage his audience. Drop into the Dramatic REVIEW office Mr. Hynes, I like to meet bright, sunshiny people. AN INTERESTING HOUR Sig. Abramoff' s Concert promises to be a success if I can judge by a recent rehearsal of some of the participants. Miss Sandolin, the contralto, has broadened very much in style and sang some oratorio music with the finish of a professional. In contrast to the serious little Russian is Miss Wing, vivacious and bright, who sang in charming style, brilliant, flowing effects. Miss Holzhausen's studies have been interrupted lately, and she was nervous at first, but gained in the second song and has a promising voice. Mr. Nichols, a high tenor, was very interesting to me. His voice is of rather unusual tone and quality, and he excels in delicate lyric work. By request several additional songs were rendered, these young students being under admirable control and so earnest that they reflected great credit upon Abramoff who is one of our finest local masters. A trio from Faust by Sig. Abramoff, Beatrice Epperly, dramatic soprano, and Norden Epperly, a tenor of power and sweetness, was so good that it almost took me off my feet. Mr. Epstein accompanied with much taste. SYMPHONY CONCERT Taken as a whole, the Symphony Concert last week at the Grand Opera House was better than the previous one, there being better attention among the musicians and greater warmth in the audience; but frankly speaking, the Symphony concerts are not what might be expected by any means, and seventy musicians ought to be able to produce very much better music if each man were determined to throw his heart into his work. Wholesale roasting by the press won't remedy the matter— the men should determine to do more effective work. Mr. Holmes should be more firm as a leader, and they ought to be encouraged to improve at each performance. The program was — Overture, Les Abencerrages [Cherubim], followed by the Beethoven Symphony, Eroica, op. 55, but while there were many beautiful passages, it lacked character and was somewhat disappointing, but they gave a delightful rendering of the trio movements in B minor of Schubert's unfinished Symphony, musicians and leader seeming to gain renewed strength and style, and the sentiment was best displayed in this. The OvertureFantasia Romeo and Juliet, [Tschaikowsky], closed the concert. The audience enthused most in the Beethoven Symphony, but in my opinion the best work was done in Schubert's. STUDIO ECHOES. Miss Millie Flynn, who went to New York recently, has had excellent opportunities there, but intends returning home, as her health has not been good since she has been awav. Mrs. Alfred Abbey, who was a favorite in concert work here and a very attractive woman, has gone to New York to continue her vocal studies. True appreciation of a teacher's skill and interest are not common, unfortunately, but some time ago I read a very graceful letter from Mrs. Abbey to Mons. Louis Crepaux, in which she thanked him warmly for all he had done in training her voice and said that she owed any success she had made to hi 111. * * Miss Jessie Foster will give the first of a series of recitals to occur monthly on Tuesday evening of next week, when Mrs. Arthur Lewis will be the pianist, assisting Miss Foster. Mary Fra?ues Francis. At the People's Theatre, Seattle, among those making good this week are Lulu Darrell, Lulaine and Darrell, Chandler and McPherson, Boyle and Lewis, Mae Tresscot, Eva Lester and Flora Franks.