Cesar Alard Concert: 1st

For 10 June at the Academy of Music in La Favorita.

For 10 June at the Academy of Music in La Favorita.

“Cesar Alard, cellist “from the Italian Operas of Paris and London, assisted by an array of eminent artists”

“The first concert of the violoncellist, Mr. Cesar Alard, took place last evening in Dodworth Hall. The room was well filled, but not inconveniently—the latter condition of the hall being that which, doubtless, would most please the eye and the pocket of the manager. The artists who on this occasion sustained Mr. Alard were Madame Gueretti Alard, Madame Bageard, Mlle. Damainville, Mr. Poznoski [sic], the violinist, Mr. B. Massimiliani and Mr. Rosa, the composer and pianist [sic]. If approbation be the test of merit; if applause, expressed by clapping of hands and by repeated encores, be taken as the surest guide to the ability of artists, then the artists who appeared with Mr. Alard last night must, according to this standard, be set down as having musical accomplishments of no mean order. This standard is not always a correct one; but in the present instance the audience applauded so heartily and seemed to be so well pleased with the music that it may fairly be concluded the concert was a good one. Madame Gueretti Alard acquitted herself with much credit, the tone of her voice is sympathetic and tender. Singers who possess this quality of voice will always be successful with audiences who care something for nature and something for art at the same time. Art is always successful when it harmonizes with what is perfectly natural and a natural note, and not an effort at effect, rendered with an expression of softness and sweetness, will always fall gratefully, as it ought to do, on the ear of the cultivated listeners. The ‘Duo on Martha,’ for piano and violoncello, performed by Miss Damainville and Mr. C. Alard won an enthusiastic encore, while the ‘Air de la Juive,’ sung by Madame Bageard, was equally well received. We hope the concert was financially a success. It certainly was good in a musical point of view, and if repeated it may be more fully attended than it was last night.”

“Mr. Cesar Alard, violoncellist, gave a concert at Dodworth Hall on Friday evening, to a small, but very enthusiastic, not to say noisy, audience. He is an accomplished artist who has thoroughly mastered the technique of his instrument, plays with remarkable correctness, and will undoubtedly become one of our most popular resident performers. The principal characteristics of his style are neatness of touch and purity of intonation. He shows none of the inequality which is so often perceptible in performances on instruments of the violin class. There is no harshness or rasping on the C string, but every tone,—rapid notes of the bass as well as the sustained vibrations of the upper cords, is smooth and musical. His trills and tremolos are excellent, and his runs, which we are glad to say are not offensively frequent, are very neat. He plays with a good deal of fire, but it may be objected that his hand is too heavy and he lacks heart. In the first piece—Servais’s variations on Schubert’s ‘La Désir’—there was an unpleasant tendency to accelerate the time, but this was probably owing in great measure to the nervousness incidental to a first appearance before a strange audience. In the latter part of the evening the fault was less conspicuous. Three other artists made their New York debut at the same entertainment. Madame Gueretti-Alard is a tolerable vocalist, with a light, but pleasant voice and faulty style. Madame Bageard has a voice of considerable power, best in the lower register, rather reedy in the middle notes, but clear again in the upper. She would probably make a better impression on the operatic stage than in a small room like Dodworth’s. Her selections moreover on Friday night did not enable the audience to judge fairly of her abilities. Mlle. Dumainville’s piano-playing was very cordially applauded, but there was too little of it to warrant us in venturing a critical opinion. She merely took part with Mr. Alard in a duo. Mr. Poznanski added a great deal to the entertainment by his violin-playing. His performance of ‘The Last Rose of Summer,’ in three-part harmony, was especially good.”