Liederkranz Musical Soiree: 1st

The German Liederkranz Society will perform its first musical soiree at the Liederkranz Hall on November, the 3rd. The amateur orchestra that numbers more than 40 fine musicians will participate.

…Oscar Pfeiffer, another well-known pianist has recently arrived in New York. He will probably perform at Irving Hall. Mrs. Alide Topp, a recommended pianist from Berlin, will soon perform as well. Her views about the circumstances in New York are quite naïve at this point, and we suggest that she get acquainted more and accepts advice before she performs. The New York audience is a characteristically confident audience, which has no belief in authority. Even if an artist is advertised widely and he/she comes with fine recommendations and a good reputation, the audience demands a modest attitude. 

The venue was too small to comfortably fit the entire audience…Alide Topp’s performance was very successful. The student of Liszt and von Bülow impressed not only with her excellent technical skill, but also with, for a woman, unusual strength. Her performance, especially of the difficult Liszt piece, showed elegance and good taste. She certainly can be counted among the best, maybe is even better than the best of the pianists currently residing in NY.

The amateur orchestra’s performance has clearly gained in accuracy and confidence in playing together. It seems as if the number of musicians has increased since last spring. Paur’s arrangement of the Mendelssohn “Lied ohne Worte” was pleasing.

The men’s chorus sang their prize song by Frey very accurately and precisely; however, not as energetically as they did in Philadelphia. The rather long finale of the concert, “Rose Pilgerfahrt”, was performed decently well altogether. Among the soloists, Mme. Rotter-Dieffenbach, Mr. Groschel and Mr. Steins were noticeable. The female singers Ziegler, Treuer, Klein and Mr. Voltz also gave their parts justice. Very beautiful and splendidly nuanced was the “Trauerchor” and the men’s choral piece “Bist Du im Wald gewandelt” [Schumann].

For this concert, a new Steinway grand piano was used, which impressed with a strong, yet round and beautiful sound.

The concert of the Liederkranz was very long. Schumann’s “Rose Pilgerfahrt” was only half of the program. Miss Alide Topp’s debut attracted much attention. As expected she celebrated a big triumph. She indeed overshadows all other female piano players we have heard before. Without a doubt she belongs to the greatest female piano players of the world. Her playing has something masculine: a strength, confidence and assertiveness as only experienced in Bülow, Tausig and Rubinstein. Nothing seems difficult for her; she performs with an incredible lightness and ease. The chorus sang Schumann’s piece beautifully. Paur conducted.

The amateur orchestra of the Liederkranz performed a Haydn symphony and Mendelssohn’s “Lied ohne Worte” arranged by Paur with unexpected precision and confidence. The orchestra gained several new musicians.