YMCA Saturday Popular Concert: 2nd

Event Information

Venue(s):
Young Men’s Christian Association Hall

Price: $.25

Performance Forces:
Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
17 May 2020

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

11 Dec 1869, 3:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Composer(s): Verdi
Participants:  John Rogers Thomas
3)
Composer(s): Clapisson
Participants:  John Rogers Thomas
4)
Composer(s): Unknown composer
Participants:  John Rogers Thomas
5)
aka From the depths; Preghiera
Composer(s): Campana
Participants:  Antoinette Sterling

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 09 December 1869, 12.
2)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 09 December 1869, 7.
3)
Advertisement: New-York Daily Tribune, 09 December 1869, 7.
4)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 11 December 1869, 7.
5)
Review: New-York Times, 12 December 1869, 5.

“The series of popular concerts which the Young Men Christian Association are giving to the public every Saturday afternoon supply a want long felt. The one yesterday was well attended, and the pecuniary success of what might be considered an experiment seems assured. Mr. Warren, the organist of Grace Church, presided at the organ, and most acceptably. While not so much of a pedal-player as Morgan, his execution is much more accurate. Mr. J. R. Thomas either had a severe cold or was indisposed—to do himself justice. This was more noticeable in his rendering of the Infelice from ‘Ernani,’ than in his subsequent efforts. Miss Sterling was in capital voice and her rich contralto was never more welcome. She is evidently a favorite, and her lively yet substantial selections and admirable rendering of them won the hearty applause of the audience. The two other performers were Miss Joanna and Master Willie Hess, who, on the piano and violin respectively, showed what patient practice can accomplish. Master Willie is apparently about 13 years of age, and has attained such executive skill on the violin as to almost entitle him to be regarded as a musical prodigy. Before dismissing the subject of these concerts we may suggest that were they to commence earlier and to be less delayed by encores and protracted intermissions, they would be more thoroughly enjoyable.”

6)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 13 December 1869, 4.

“`The second of the weekly afternoon concerts at the Hall of the Young Men’s Christian Association took place on Saturday, and was so well attended that we may now call the experiment of these popular entertainments an assured success. Mr. S. P. Warren exhibited the organ more thoroughly perhaps than the builders altogether desired; for he showed not only the delicacy and clearness of some of the solo stops, and the effectiveness of the swell, but also the hoarse quality of certain of the louder registers in the bass, and the generally [illeg.] effect of the grand manual. The two interesting Hess children gave several of their clever performances—Master Willie with his violin, while Miss Joanna, [illeg…] presided at the piano. Mr. J. R. Thomas sang the Infelice from ‘Ernani,’ Clapisson’s favorite romance “My Soul to God, my Heart to Thee,” and an English ballad; Miss Nettie Sterling gave a prayer of Campanna’s, Del Profundo del’Oblio and several other pieces. She has gained a great deal in culture [?] since she went abroad; the sweetness and power of her voice are unimpaired; her style is natural and pleasing, and she now wants nothing but a little more life to become one of the best American contraltos. We could not help thinking on Saturday that if somebody would stick a pin into her she might be roused into a wholesome vivacity. The encore [illeg.] was carried to a marvelous extreme, and twice at least a recall was enforced, against the wishes of the majority, by the zealous effects of the ushers and others in authority about the door.”