New Hibernicon

“Several distinguished musicians and vocalists have been engaged for the musical portion of the program.”

“The great success which attended Prof. Macevoy’s Panorama of Ireland—‘The Hibernicon’—during the last ten years in the United States and Canada induced him to get up a work of similar character, but on a more extensive scale and of greater artistic merit in execution and scenic effects than its predecessor. This great work of art, entitled the ‘New Hibernicon,’ illustrates the scenery and song of Ireland in a series of splendid paintings, representing the principal cities, public buildings, natural curiosities, magnificent lake, mountain, and river scenery, illuminated churches, ruins, etc. . ., accompanied by vocal and instrumental music, composed expressly for the New Hibernicon. Selections from the works of the great Irish poets and composers will also be given by the following artists:  Miss Teresa McKenna, Miss Maria Dalton, Miss Julia Esmonde, Mme. Clara Lavine, Charles Macevoy, the favorite comic Irish vocalist as Barney the Guide, John T. Rowland and an efficient orchestra and chorus.”

“The New Hibernicon illustrates a tour throughout Ireland by means of fine paintings, a lecture, and appropriate vocal and instrumental music. The entertaiment is divided into four parts. Mr. John T. Rowland is the lecturer, and Mr. Charles MacEvoy, Mme. Clara Lavine and Misses McKenna Dalton, and Esmonde will supply the comic and musical elements.”

“The pictorial portion of the entertainment illustrates all the beautiful scenery and principal cities of Ireland. Selections from the works of the great Irish poets and composers will be given by the following artists: Miss Teresa McKenna, Miss Maria Dalton, Miss Julia Esmonde, Mme. Clara Lavine, Chas. McEvoy as Barney the Guide, J. T. Rowland, Lecturer, and a full chorus and orchestra.”

“McEvoy’s ‘Hibernicon,’ or Tour in Ireland, will be exhibited for the first time this evening at Pike’s Music Hall.”

“Mr. McEvoy’s [sic] ‘Hibernicon’ is the entertainment with which Mr. Pike has thought fit to inaugurate the new Music Hall connected with his handsome theatre in Eighth-avenue. The opening occurred on Monday evening. The paint is barely dry about the place yet, and the galleries are still closed to the public. In size the new saloon resembles Irving Hall, but the decorations are of a much quieter character, gold and white being the predominating mixture. The floor is covered with movable camp chairs arranged in aisles, and a portable staging, with footlights, screens, &c., now occupy the western end of the hall. It is here that the Hibernicon devours time and canvass. The Hibernicon is not a new entertainment in New-York, but it is better than many that are newer. Those who saw it when Mr. McEvoy previously unfurled it here, need no reminder of its character; the unfamiliar are recommended to try it once. As this, like most exhibitions, lives by the curiosity of the public, we shall not be unjust enough to attempt any description. It is barely necessary to state that the scenery and songs of Ireland are pretty thoroughly illustrated in the course of the exhibition. All that skillful painting and fair singing can do toward bringing the Green Isle home to its children in this country, is done. For the former, those who enjoy the Hibernicon have to thank Mr. McEvoy; for the latter, if any thanks are due, they are to be divided between Miss Teresa McKenna, Miss Marie Dalton, Miss Julia Desmond, Mme. Lavine and Mr. Charls McEvoy. But the paintings, we fancy, are more enjoyable than the vocalism, at least, the greatest bursts of applause seem to follow the recognition of familiar views in panoramas. A series of illuminated scenes and ingenuously dissolving transparencies, illustrative of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, and of the life of St. Patrick, really merited the innocent enthusiasm they called forth. The descriptive introductory is delivered by Mr. John T. Rowland. Mr. McEvoy announces the Hibernicon for exhibition every evening and at a Saturday maintée. It is calculated to arouse the admiration and secure the attendance of every wearer of the green and hater of the red in New-York. N.B.—No English need apply.”

“The panorama of Ireland now on exhibition at Pike’s Music Hall is decidedly equal to the best efforts in the same line witnessed in the metropolis for years, and certainly is superior to the hackneyed attempts which have palled on the public taste of late to present with artistic effect and convey to a stranger a just idea of some of the most sublime works of Nature. Tis those who have witnessed the natural beauties of the Emerald Isle it is not necessary to dilate on the unrivalled scenery and splendid architecture to be seen in every quarter of that favored land. Mr. Rowland, the lecturer on this occasion, conveys this and presents in comprehensive yet not tiresome review the history of the different localities pointed out. We have, too, in Miss McKenna a vocalist of more than ordinary ability, who rendered several of Moore’s melodies in such a manner as to call forth rounds of applause. The traditional Celtic John also steps out, cracks his whip, invites the traveller to a seat on the jaunting car and during the intervals while the tourist revels in the beauties of this scene, treats us to a sample of that sweet blarney, said to be indigenous to the soil. On the whole this exhibition is unquestionably an improvement on the stale articles dignified with the name of panorama and the accompaniments, which render it more interesting still, are carried out with excellent taste and judgment.”“The panorama of Ireland now on exhibition at Pike’s Music Hall is decidedly equal to the best efforts in the same line witnessed in the metropolis for years, and certainly is superior to the hackneyed attempts which have palled on the public taste of late to present with artistic effect and convey to a stranger a just idea of some of the most sublime works of Nature. Tis those who have witnessed the natural beauties of the Emerald Isle it is not necessary to dilate on the unrivalled scenery and splendid architecture to be seen in every quarter of that favored land. Mr. Rowland, the lecturer on this occasion, conveys this and presents in comprehensive yet not tiresome review the history of the different localities pointed out. We have, too, in Miss McKenna a vocalist of more than ordinary ability, who rendered several of Moore’s melodies in such a manner as to call forth rounds of applause. The traditional Celtic John also steps out, cracks his whip, invites the traveller to a seat on the jaunting car and during the intervals while the tourist revels in the beauties of this scene, treats us to a sample of that sweet blarney, said to be indigenous to the soil. On the whole this exhibition is unquestionably an improvement on the stale articles dignified with the name of panorama and the accompaniments, which render it more interesting still, are carried out with excellent taste and judgment.”

“The Hibernicon, which was enrolled at Pike’s Music Hall on the 7th, and continued throught the week to a good run of business, remains on exhibition there for the present. It is a panorama representing a tour in Ireland. The first section is a tour of Dublin, closing with illuminated scenes in the life of St. Patrick. The second is a tour of Wicklow, interspersed with songs, by Teresa McKenna and Charles McEvoy, the latter appearing as Barney, the Guide.  The third section represents a variety of scenes in Kilkenny and noted cities in Ireland. The last section takes the auditor on a tour of Cork and Kilarney. As a panorama it is a success, the paintings being the best of the kind we have ever seen. John T. Rowland is the lecturer, but we could not understand one half he said, which is the fault of the hall, for it is very bad for acoustics. The seats are very uncomfortable, consisting of low camp stools.”