San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

March 3, 1900 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 13 LOCAL NOTES IN THE CHURCHES The French Church of Notre Dame celebrated the important service of the forty hours adoration and "exposition of the blessed sacrament" beginning Sunday morning. A specially augmented choir sang the mass of exposition, Sig. Martinez presiding at the new organ. In St. Ignatius Church similar services were solemnized, the Pange Lingua being sung by the regular male choir, alternating with the Ladies' Sodality Choir. An entertainment for the benefit of the Cadet Corps of the Third Congregational Church was given in Mission Parlor Hall last week, Mr. and Mrs. Don Pardee Kiggs, J. F. Vaeco, Mr. Hammersmith, Hattie Corlett, Rev. All red Bay ley, Robert Lloyd, Esther C. Macomber, Fred Shaw and others participating in a program that was enjoyed by a large audience. RECITAL OF OLGA BLOCK Miss Olga Block, who was educated abroad and holds a prominent place among local musicians, gave a recital in Sherman-Clay Hall Friday afternoon of last week, assisted by Miss Reine Harden Hickey, contralto, a pupil of Edward Xavier Rolker and Sig. Martinez, accompanist. The program was vSonate op. 90 [Beethoven], Chopin's Preludes No. 3 and 4, and Scherzo op. 20 No. I, Lehn deine Wang, an meine Wang [Jensen], I Love Thee [Greig], Liebestraum [Liszt], Freischutz Studies, op. 127, [St. Heller], Arioso [Delibes], Humoreske, Intermezzo, Intermezzo Sherzoso, Fledermaus Waltzer [Paraphrase], by E. Schutt and Prelude of John Haraden Pratt, a local composer. NEW MUSICAL SOCIETY The first rehearsal of the new musical society known as the Harmonic Society was held in the Old Supreme Court Building Friday evening of last week to which the various church choirs and all musical people were invited. W. A. Murrison is temporary president and Hermann Genss musical director, and as he is a thorough musician and a man full of euthusiasm and energy, the organization of the new society under Mr. Genss' leadership is a musical event that ought to be fruitful of good results. BOER BENEFIT Metropolitan Temple was crowded Saturday night with an audience that enjoyed a fine program for the benefit of the Boers. The numbers included Organ Solo, E. Werner; address by ex-Judge Cooney; violin solo, Bernhard Mollenhauer, accompanied by Mrs. Bachelder; selections by the Orion Singing Society, conducted by Prof. Holzhauer; Transvaal Hymn, MissSannie Kruger; War Song Huguenots, Sig. Abramoff; Thy Voice Doth Thrill My Heart, Emilie Neubert, aria Nebuka, Sig. Abramoff; War March of the Priests from Athalia, Prof. Werner. FORUM CLUB Gentlemen's night was pleasantly celebrated at the Forum Club on the evening of Washington's Birthday, a varied program being enjoyed, comprising selection from Pagliacci, rendered by Sig. Guiseppi Cadanasso, accompanied by Fred Maurer; Drifted Apart was given by Miss Mae Sullivan and George Dennison; vocal solo, Skylark, Madame de Seminario; Mr. Geo. Hammersmith made a hit in his musical specialties and imitations, and Mr. Raymond Dean read Glimpses of Shakespeare from Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, beautiful tableaux being introduced, the program closing with The Star-Spangled Banner by Robert Lloyd and the Birth of the American Flag. FACULTY RECITAL Arthur Fickenscher gave a special piano recital at the Von Meyerinck vSchool of Music on Friday evening, assisted by Sam. Savannah, violin, and Miss Cecelia Decker, alto, several of Mr. Fickenscher's compositions being rendered. JESSIE DEAN MOORE'S RECITAL Park Congregational Church was filled Friday evening of last week with an audience interested in the work of Mrs. Jessie Dean Moore, who gave a recital of her vocal pupils that was a credit to her tuition. They were rather late in starting, and a childish voice in the audience cried "Ready !" when two or three feminine noses appeared, followed by the entrance of the choral of seventeen young ladies. They sang in taste and time and were very attentive to their director, Mrs. Jessie Dean Moore, and the fact that they were particular regarding the pianissimo passages is a pleasure to note. The chorus sang Those Evening Bells, Welcome Pretty Primrose, Serenade [Neidlinger], solo part by Anna Alderson and Down in the Dewey Dell, to much applause, some of the numbers winning encores. Miss Klemm sang If All the Skies Were Sunshine, but nervousness retarded her best efforts. Open Now Thy Blue Eyes, was rendered by Mrs. J. A. Brodie, soprano, who also sang with Miss Ruby Moore, Rubinstein's Song of the Birds. Mrs. Brodie must cultivate more animation; she spoils her work by her lifeless style in her best effort to be sympathetic. It is a fault of many beginners and can be conquered. Anna Alderson sang the Woods [Franz] and Who Told [Eichberg]. Her voice is a pure soprano that will develop in power and style with more cultivation. Mrs. Edward Caine sang Love's Proving very pleasingly, and showed more warmth and vigor than the rest, and her stage appearance was good, giving an encore. Miss Ruby Moore's voice was clear and musical and should have been heard in solo. Miss E. Lawrie was a most satisfactory accompanist. MUSICAL ECHOES Henry Bettman, violinist, who teaches in King's Conservatory, San Jose, and has classes in the city, visited us the other day with Miss Mary Webster, and expressed a kind interest in The Dramatic Review. Why cannot we hear Mr. Bettman in concert here before the season closes? Thursday evening of next week, Sig. Abramoff will give a fine concert at Sherman-Clay Hall, which will doubtless be a treat of the season. He will sing Canzone, Piff Piff, Huguenots and other solos, and also in a trio from Faust. Assisting will be Ferdinand Stark, Sig. Meany, Paraskova Sandelin, Wm. Norden, Mrs. Warshauer, Mme. Tromborn-Busse, James Nichols, Mile. Carma, Erma Wing, Mrs. David Craelins. Madame Generva Bishop has been appointed teacher in the Walker Conservatory at Florence, Italy, in which the noted Cav. Francisco Cortesi is the head vocal master. Madame Bishop will leave about May 1 with a party of ten young Los Angeles ladies, and after visiting Paris will go to Italy. Jos* Greven s Concert The first concert and hop given by Joseph Greven's Choral Society, Tuesday evening at Sherman-Clay Hall was a pleasant and successful affair and well attended, the management being under the direction of Frank Healy. The chorus rendered Greeting to Spring [Schumann], Madrigal from Mikado and Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever, and received much applause and encores. The Madrigal was the best number, but there was gocd attack and strict attention to the baton which gave hope of more artistic work as the society progresses. Chas. Betts sang bass solo, Deep in the Mine. He has a fairly good voice and seems to be in earnest, but he has not much power of interpretation or expression. Let him forget himself and live the story of his songs and he will have more sentiment and easier bearing upon the stage. C. W. Pyne, pianist, rendered ballad in A6 [Reiuecke], responding to a very hearty encore. I mean to drop into Mr. Pyne's studio to hear him play, for I was conscious that nervousness detracted from his best efforts, for there was a certain excitement in his style that could only arise from nervousness. He pleased his audience and was more composed in his second number. H. N. Callender, tenor, sang Tale from Lohengrin. Miss Saidee Walsh, who was down for a number from Carmen, disappointed 011 account of illness. Male Quartet, J. Braiton, F. Healy, F. Germain, J. Hanson, gave In the Gloaming and encores. Another quartet, Kitty McShane, Miss Hansen. H. Callender and C. Betts sang Good Night from Martha. The quartets require a lot of drilling and much better balance and expression and I want to see better work by and by. The star of the evening was Miss Lilly Roeder, soprano, who has made splendid pro gress with Mr. Greven and he is justly proud of her. Miss Roeder sang Agathe's Aria [Freischutz], and was twice recalled, giving as encores When 'tis Moonlight and Still as the Night. In the first two numbers she was particularly devoted to the technical side and did well, her voice being firm and reliable, but in the last she let her heart speak, and threw warmth and fervor into the music.strengthening the excellent impression, and every word was clearly uttered and her style brilliant. Mr. Greven accompanied the soloists and Rosner's Orchestra added to the pleasure of the evening.