Eugenie Merrifield Debut Concert

Event Information

Venue(s):
Irving Hall

Price: $1; $.50 reserved

Performance Forces:
Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
27 January 2016

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

16 May 1867, 8:00 PM

Program Details

Miss Merrifield was a pupil of Signor Manzocchi. See also Sun., 05/12 for concert featuring other pupils of Manzocchi.

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
aka Ecstasy; Extase
Composer(s): Arditi
3)
Composer(s): Verdi
4)
Composer(s): Pease
Participants:  Alfred Humphries Pease
5)
Composer(s): Alard
Participants:  Mathilde Toedt
7)
Composer(s): Bellini
Participants:  A. Randolfi
8)
Composer(s): Pease

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 12 May 1867, 12.
2)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 12 May 1867, 7.
3)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 17 May 1867, 4.

“Miss Lizzie Merrifield, announced on the bills as a pupil of Signor Manzocchi, made an interesting debut last evening in concert with a liberal number of associate performers.  Signor Randolfi attained a principal success in a passage from Puritani (‘Ah; per sempre,’ &c.) which was a pleasant and variable test for his susceptible high baritone, and helped us to one of the best performances we have ever heard from him.  Messrs. Colby and Pease appeared popularly in a piano duo, one of Mr. Pease’s sprightly Polkas—a composition as piquant as anything we should expect from this nervous player.  It was much more acceptable than Mr. Pease’s piano washing of Godfrey’s Mabel Waltz, which these two indefatigable performers splashed away at last night, the hundredth—no, we beg pardon, the thousandth time for are not the hand-organists busy?  Miss Toedt’s smooth phrased giving of Alard’s adagio was a finer success in one than her tolerable bowing of Mr. Pease’s rather high strung Berceuse, which, as we have said hitherto, is nevertheless a piece of delicate fancy.  The debutante appeared with Signor Severini in a duet from Verdi’s Attila, affording no special interest except as an operatic exercise, but exhibiting clearly the vocal range of the soprano.  Miss Merrifield’s medium tones, as in most debutants, are at times feeble and unassured, but she had an agreeable depth and a freshness and freedom in her upper register which ought to make her voice not unwelcome to our concerts.  She was efficiently assisted by Signor Severini.  In the choice of Arditi’s Ecstacy Waltz—a specimen of flashiness not to be considered vocal or musical in the highest sense—the debutante showed [poor?] taste, and needlessly tasked her voice.  She was complemented with a full house and in all things tangible her success must have been very flattering.”   

4)
Review: New-York Times, 18 May 1867, 5.

“A concert of many pleasing but unimportant selections was given at Irving Hall on Thursday.  The audience was excessive for this advanced period of the season.  The debut of Miss LIZZIE MERRIFIELD led the interest of the evening.  This lady, who had previously been heard at Mr. MANZOCCHI’S recent entertainment has evidently studied attentively.  The power of her voice is extremely limited, and it endures but little effort; nevertheless Miss MERRIFIELD is an entirely careful singer.  There is music, however, that would suit her better than VERDI, from whose Atilla [sic] she gave two pieces.  ARDITTI’S [sic] florid and empty estasi waltz was not a much happier selection.  Miss MERRIFIELD sings as if she was in earnest, though, and that is always half the victory for a debutante.  There is material in her for an interesting member of the concert-room, and perhaps something more, and we see no reason that she need feel discouraged on account of the several outbursts of injudicious ‘enthusiasm’ the other night.  Gold is not the less gold that it is mixed with quartz.  True gold there is, undoubtedly in the new voice, although some processes must yet be gone through before it is fit for the mintage and the stamp that will make it current.  Miss MATHILDA TOEDT, Sig. RANDOLFI, Mr. A. H. PEASE and Sig. SEVERINI assisted in duties congenial to their various talents.”

5)
Review: New-Yorker Musik-Zeitung, 25 May 1867, 665.

Miss Merrifield did not impress. Her voice and training are not notable. Randolphi was among the two performers who delighted. Also the violinist Miss Toedt played several solos with skill and taste.