Venue(s):
Steinway Hall
Price: $1
Event Type:
Chamber (includes Solo)
Performance Forces:
Instrumental, Vocal
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
6 April 2016
“One of the largest audiences we have seen at a piano matinee attended Mr. Robert Goldbeck’s first concert yesterday afternoon. The great feature of attraction was a new concerto for the piano composed by Mr. Goldbeck. Mr. Mills played the orchestral part on a second piano. It is a work of considerable merit, and we are happy to be able to place the author’s name among the foremost of American composers. The finale which we heard shows much talent and skill in working up the themes in an effective manner. At its second performance we shall speak of it more in detail.”
"Mr. Robert Goldbeck gave his first matinee at Steinway’s Hall on Saturday afternoon. He was assisted by Miss Nettie Sterling, Mr. George Simpson, and Mr. S. B. Mills by permission of Mr. H. L. Bateman.
The principal feature of the programme was a new piano concerto, composed by Mr. Goldbeck and played by him with the assistance of Mr. S. B. Mills, who represented the orchestral score on a second piano. It is utterly impossible to give a definite judgment upon a single hearing of so ambitious a work, more especially as the orchestral score, transferred to the piano, loses all its character and its importance, and yields scarcely an atom of coloring to the piano solo. Still so far as our impressions are concerned, the concerto seemed to be well made, the themes of the movements sufficiently broad and marked to impart a tone and to gain importance by careful working, and its treatment, in connection with the orchestra, proves that he has studied the power and effect of such a composition very carefully. We hope at some future time to hear it with the orchestra, when the composer's intention will be thoroughly interpreted, and its secrets revealed.
Miss Nettie Sterling has made great improvement since we last heard her. She is more matured, both in voice and style. Many of the defects then discernible have been remedied, and Miss Sterling has made quite a stride toward an assured artistic position. Her voice is very beautiful in quality and very rich in sonority, and the blending tones in the registers are firmer and smoother. Her Italian aria was given in excellent style, although she has yet to learn more and to feel more before she can make such compositions impressive. She rendered Goldbeck's fine song, 'Invocation,' in a chaste and impressive manner, giving it so intelligent a reading that she won a very cordial encore, to which she responded by singing Goldbeck's Serenade Slumber Song, which is a deliciously dreamy composition, in a sweet and unaffected manner. It would have been more effective, however, if she had increased the tempo a little at the agitato phrase; as it was, the figure in the accompaniment was so retarded that the intended point was lost. Still, Miss Sterling acquitted herself admirably, and made a strong favorable impression upon all present.
Mr. George Simpson sang a selection from Goldbeck's Love Songs—'O doubt me not' chastely and with much warmth. He has a sweet and sympathetic voice and uses it very skillfully [sic]. He also sang Beethoven's 'Adelaide' chastely and expressively. A little more abandon would have made it more impressive.
Mr. Goldbeck's piano solos were played more brilliantly and effectively than usual. His manner in public has much improved. He has restrained his too great impetuosity, and now gives out his subjects in a clear and defined manner. Still his playing to a great extent lacks individuality, without which no player can strongly impress a public. His reading of Chopin's Mazourka [sic] was poetical and just, and only failed of being admirable from the want of a tenderness of touch."