Harrison Sunday Concert: 2nd

“Seldom has an assemblage of talent been brought before an American audience as the three great artists who appeared last night at the Sunday concert at Steinway Hall. Madame Rosa’s rendering of ‘Let the bright Seraphim,’ with Dietz’s trumpet obligato, was admirable. Carl Rosa played an Adagio by Spohr with a breadth of expression, purity of tone and sympathetic feeling that eclipsed even his former triumphs, and Leopold de Meyer gave some of his characteristic pieces. There is something attractive in the very appearance and unassuming demeanor of this old favorite when seated at the piano that wins the sympathy and friendship of the audience before he touches a key. Then as his fingers weave passage after passage into beautiful garlands of harmony and melody, which never tire and present at each moment new ideas, the eye of the pianist kindles with true sympathy for the subject and his very action, seems to accompany his playing as gesture does an acomplished elocutionist. Thomas’ orchestra played the overtures to Oberon and the Magic Flute and a very clever sparkling tarantella with flute and clarionet obligato.” 

“The second of Mr. HARRISON’S Sunday Concerts, given last evening, brought together in splendid combination the hearty piano playing of M. LEOPOLD DE MEYER and the elaborate and perfect vocalism of Madame PAREPA-ROSA. The result was that Steinway Hall was scarcely large enough to contain all the people who came to enjoy this remarkable fraternization of talent. The programme contained nothing which had not already been heard, and although the performance suggests many complimentary allusions, still it may not be absolutely necessary to repeat what the public are already familiar with, namely, that HULLAH’S descriptive song, ‘The Storm,’ and Handel’s ‘Let the Bright Seraphim,’ with ‘Sing, Birdie, Sing,’ for an encore, could not be more feelingly or impressively sung than they were by Madame ROSA—that DE MEYER’S ‘Revoir de New-York,’ the ‘Fantasie on Norma’ and their encores created the furore of the night,--that CARL ROSA’S ‘Fantasie on the Russian Patriotic Hymn,’ his performance of SPHOR’S [sic] trying ‘Adagio,’ as well as the familiar overtures from MOZART and WEBER, and LISTZ’S [sic] last ‘March,’ by the orchestra, were thoroughly well done under Mr. THEODORE THOMAS’S graceful leadership.

It is only necessary to name over such a programme for those who were not present to imagine what a pleasant evening, with the best music, was afforded; those who enjoyed it don’t need to be reminded of an enjoyment; it is not possible for them to forget.”

The concert was completely filled. The review mentions Signor Randolfi and alto Mme. Lumbye as performers, both quite successful.