Historical Recital of Vocal and Pianoforte Music: 3rd

Event Information

Venue(s):
Steinway Hall

Event Type:
Chamber (includes Solo)

Performance Forces:
Instrumental, Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
10 August 2019

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

17 Apr 1869, 2:30 PM

Program Details

All selections on this programe are “wholly from the modern German school,” as per Dwight’s Journal of Music. Selections from Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, op. 12, included “Des Abends,” “Traumeswirren,” and “Ende vom Lied.” Selections from Schubert’s Moments musicaux included nos. 1 and 2

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
aka Air and variations
Composer(s): Beethoven
3)
aka Joy in sorrow; Blissful pain; Delight in melancholy
Composer(s): Beethoven
4)
aka Appassionata
Composer(s): Beethoven
5)
aka Ave Maria; Ellens dritter Gesang; Hymne an die Jungfrau; Serenade
Composer(s): Schubert
Text Author: Scott
6)
Composer(s): Schubert
7)
aka Fantasiestucke, op. 12
Composer(s): Schumann
8)
aka Journey
Composer(s): Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Text Author: Heine
9)
Composer(s): Ritter
10)
Composer(s): Schubert
11)
aka Du Armste kannst wohl nie ermessen; Elsas Ermahnung an Ortrud
Composer(s): Wagner
12)
aka Little blond-haired angel; Petit ange aux cheveux blonds
Composer(s): Liszt
13)
Composer(s): Chopin
15)
aka Gesange, op. 4; Lo! He has come
Composer(s): Franz
16)
Composer(s): Tausig

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Post, 15 April 1869.

“The last of the series of Historical Recitals of vocal and pianoforte music, by Madame Ryamond Ritter and Mr. S. B. Mills, will take place at Steinway Hall on Saturday afternoon. These unique concerts have attracted attention even in Germany. In a recent number of the Leipzig Musical Gazette, the leading journal in European musical matters, the learned editor, Dr. Chrysander (author of the life of Handel, &c.,) alludes to them in a long and flattering article, from which we extract the following: ‘We have read these programmes and the remarks attached to them with real enjoyment. They display tact, insight and knowledge of the rich material employed; they are not put together without critical taste, as are those of the London recitals, and some others. We recommend their plan as an example to all our conductors and concert-givers in Germany.” Dr. Chrysander then alludes to the concert recently given by Mr. F. L. Ritter [sic], in which that gentleman’s compositions were performed (‘Othello Overture,’ ‘First Symphony,’ ‘Forty-sixth Psalm,’ ‘Hafis Songs,’ &c.), and concludes in these terms: ‘It appears to us that Mr. Ritter must be possessed of extraordinary talent, and that this, as well as his knowledge and happy union of diverse capabilities, will assure to him a highly distinguished future career.’”

2)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 17 April 1869, 9.
3)
Advertisement: New-York Daily Tribune, 17 April 1869, 9.
4)
Review: New York Sun, 19 April 1869, 2.

"The series of three matinees given in illustration of the progress of musical arts by Mr. Mills and Mrs. Ritter was brought to a close on Saturday. The idea was an excellent one, and the enterprise was doubtless undertaken for the sake of art and without much hope or expectation that it would be profitable.  Such enterprises seldom are popularly successful. They address themselves to that mere handful of persons who have a deep devoted love, and not a simple superficial liking for music. Of course, the idea was only imperfectly carried out. Three short matinees could not go very far toward the end proposed, and many favorite composers were of necessity neglected altogether; but the selections, so far as they went, were admirably made, and these, and the very just and well-considered explanatory remarks that accompanied each programme, must have served to point out to many those treasure-houses, too little known to which they could go and draw at pleasure inexhaustible"

5)
Review: Dwight's Journal of Music, 24 April 1869, 23.

“New York. The third and last of the ‘Historical Recitals,’ by Mme. Raymond Ritter and Mr. S. B. Mills, took place at Steinway Hall last Saturday afternoon. The selections were wholly from the Modern German School: [lists program in full].

“Prefixed to the above programme were some instructive remarks upon the German Lied and the Sonata, for which we regret we have not room here.

[Goes on to provide programs for previous concert, and some such notes attached to them.]

“These unique concerts have attracted attention even in Germany. In a recent number of the Leipzig Musical Gazette, a leading journal in European musical matters, a learned editor, Dr. Chyrsander (author of the life of Handel, &c.,) alludes to them in a long and flattering article, from which we extract the following:

‘We have read these programme and the remarks attached to them with real enjoyment.  They display tact, insight and knowledge of the rich material employed; thye are not put together without critical taste, as are those of the London recitals and some others. We recommend their plan as an example to all our conductors and concert-givers in Germany’. Dr. Chrysander then alludes to the concert recently given by Mr. F.L. Ritter, in which that gentleman’s compositions were performed (‘Othello Overture,’ ‘First Symphony,’ Forty-sixth Psalm,’ ‘Hafis Songs,’ &c.) and concludes in these terms: ‘It appears to us that Mr. Ritter must be possessed of extraordinary talent, and that this, as well as his knowledge and happy union of diverse capabilities will assure to him a highly distinguished future career.’”