Liederkranz Concert: 3rd

Event Information

Venue(s):
Irving Hall

Conductor(s):
Agricol Paur

Price: $.75

Event Type:
Choral, Orchestral

Performance Forces:
Instrumental, Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
23 October 2021

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

24 Feb 1863, Evening

Program Details



This was the only year the Liederkranz offered a series of public concerts.

Liederkranz Society Third Grand Subscription Concert.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Deutscher Liederkranz;  Orchestra, unidentified;  Johanna Rotter;  Sebastian Bach Mills;  Frederich [bass-baritone] Steins;  Matilda [soprano] Paulitsch;  William Steinway [tenor]
2)
Fidelio, (1806), overture
aka Leonore overture, no. 3; Leonora overture, no. 3
Composer(s): Beethoven
3)
"Ständchen," D. 920
aka Staendchen ; Serenade, op. 135
Composer(s): Schubert
Participants:  Deutscher Liederkranz, female chorus
4)
Fantasia on Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia
Composer(s): Meyer
5)
Schöne Müllerin, Die, "Trockne Blumen"
aka Trockene Blumen ; Faded flowers; Dry flowers; Schone Mullerin, Die, Trockne Blumen
Composer(s): Schubert
Participants:  Frederich [bass-baritone] Steins (role: solo)
6)
Romanzen und Balladen, op. 49. Beiden Grenadiere, Die
aka Two grenadiers
Composer(s): Schumann
Text Author: Heine
Participants:  Frederich [bass-baritone] Steins (role: solo)
7)
"Kriegerchor"
aka Warriors’ chorus
Composer(s): Panny
Participants:  Orchestra, unidentified;  Deutscher Liederkranz, male chorus
8)
INTERMISSION
9)
Lobgesang
aka Hymn of praise; Symphony, no. 2, op. 52, cantata; Symphony, no. 2, op. 52. Lobgesang
Composer(s): Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Participants:  Deutscher Liederkranz;  Orchestra, unidentified;  Matilda [soprano] Paulitsch;  William Steinway [tenor]

Citations

1)
Announcement: Dwight's Journal of Music, 01 November 1862, 247.
“Then there is the ‘Liederkranz,’ under the direction of Mr. Paur, announcing four concerts made up of some rare selections; such as . . . the Symphony-Cantata by Mendelssohn. Truly a tempting feast in these dry times!”
2)
Announcement: New York Post, 23 January 1863, 2.
3)
Announcement: Courrier des États-Unis, 23 February 1863, 2.
4)
Announcement: New-York Times, 23 February 1863, 5.
“[P]erformed by a full chorus of ladies and gentlemen and a grand orchestra.”
5)
Announcement: Courrier des États-Unis, 24 February 1863.
6)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 24 February 1863, 7.
Time, price, etc.
7)
Announcement: New-York Times, 24 February 1863, 4.
8)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 24 February 1863, 7.

9)
: Steinway, William. New-York Historical Society. The Diaries of William Steinway., 24 February 1863.
R: Wm Steinway, diary 02/24/63 – “I am indisposed and in very poor voice. Consequently sing very weak.”
10)
Review: Musical Review and World, 28 February 1863, 51.

     "There was but a poor attendance at this concert, which, we think, is entirely owing to the want of arrangement, displayed not only on this but on similar occasions by this society. It can hardly be expected, that the public will go to a concert, if it does not know that it takes place. Besides most members of the Press did not even receive their usual tickets, which will by no means add to the publicity of the concert. The Programme offered all kinds of music from Panny and Leopold de Meyer to Beethoven. This may please a good many tastes, but it is decidedly not tasteful.--The most interesting feature of the Programme was a Serenade by Schubert for Soprano Solo and female Chorus and Orchestra, a charming composition, which with a little more light and shade in the performance might have produced a still better impression. The Leonore Overture No.3 went off well, especially in the Allegro part. The Introduction was rather muddy. But why playing this overture, which has been heard lately over and over again, while No.1 in C is scarcely known?

      Mr. Mills performed de Meyer's difficult fantasia with his usual bravura. The Steinway Grand sounded splendidly, in fact, more body of tone would hardly be produced.

     Mr. Steins, a member of the society and an amateur, sang his songs (Faded Flowers and The two Grenadiers) with a voice, which is decidedly the best baritone, we have heard for a good many years. Every tone is telling, the pure metal worth, according to the judgment of a so-called smart manager, a good many thousand dollars, but in our opinion worth the highest culture a man can give to such a jewel. One hour's judicious practice everyday would produce with this material in a couple of years a voice which would astonish the world. For the present it is but a rough diamond without any setting.

      Last, but not least, came Mendelssohn's ˜Hymn of Praise," an imitation of Beethoven's Ninth, equally formless, but we need hardly add, by far not equally grand. The work is neither symphony nor cantata, and for this very reason will never make the impression which its interesting details partially warrant. Besides the endless repetitions in the music make even those traits of real inspiration monotonous, which distinguish this work."

COMMENT: "Two grenadiers" is not listed in the program given at the top of this article.