George W. Colby Annual Concert: 1st

“Colby, one of the best accompanists in New York, had a benefit concert at Steinway Hall last night, at which Miss Minnie Hauck, soprano; Madame Natali Testa, contralto; Bellini, baritone; Severini, tenor; Hill, tenor; Mark Smith, basso, the brothers Hall, cornet soloists; Mills and Pease, pianists, and Morgan, the celebrated organist, assisted. It was, in programme and musical ability, one of the most successful concerts of the season. There was little to carp at in any of the selections, and each of the artists was encored deservedly, prolonging the concert to a late hour.”

“…Mr. George Colby’s late first annual concert was such a success, artistically, as the distinguished number of the performers could scarcely fail to make it. In other respects it must have been flattering to the beneficiary, who, without putting forward any pretentious claim to rank as a leading pianist, is well recognized as a capable and industrious musician. He was assisted by Miss Minnie Hauck, Madame Testa, and Signori Bellini and Severini, whose operatic selections were, of course, well received; by Mr. W. J. Hill, the popular tenor, and Mr. Rhodolph Hall, the cornet soloist; and the crowning performance of the evening was the Tannhauser overture, arranged for piano and organ, and played by such experienced hands as those of Mills, Pease, Morgan and Colby.”