Harrison Sunday Concert: 22nd

“Steinway Hall.—The twenty-second Sunday concert at this hall last night was not as fully attended as the great attraction of the brilliant pianist, Miss Alide Topp, deserved. She played Liszt’s ‘Rhapsodie Hongroise,’ No. 2, in an unrivalled manner. There is one quality about Miss Topp’s piano playing which deserves special mention. It is the exquisite delicacy and true poetry with which she renders every passage. Mere correctness of technique is a quality that most public players acquire, but few have the true, sympathetic tough and interpretation of a composer’s ideas that this gifted lady displays. Miss Jenny Landsman, an excellent contralto, sang a cavatina from ‘Il Barbiere’ and one of Benedict’s songs. The orchestra played selections from Mozart, Meyerbeer, Weber, Beethoven and Auber in splendid style.”

“The Sunday Evening Concerts at Steinway Hall are very good just now. Theo. Thomas and his orchestra are an established feature, and the soloists are usually the best to be procured. Miss Alide Topp was the especial attraction at the 22nd of the series, which took place on Sunday evening, March 1st, with this programme: [lists program] . . . The Symphony was of course the one with the famous Minuet, which is so universally known, and which has been arranged for piano in so many different ways by so many different people. 

Miss Landsman resurrected Benedict’s ‘Sad Sea Waves’ from the oblivion to which it was long ago consigned, and sang it and the cavatina acceptably to many; at least so it would appear from the fact that she was twice encored, though why, it would be difficult to say. She sang for her second encore that fresh and unworn ballad ‘Comin’ thro’ the rye.’

Miss Topp played finely, but it would be agreeable to hear her in something else besides Liszt’s compositions.”