Anna Bishop Concert

Long article recounting Bishop’s tour of the far East, India. and Australia.

“Perhaps no single human voice has been heard at so many different and distant points on the globe and has delighted so many auditors as that of the famous cantatrice who was last evening cordially welcomed at Steinway Hall, after her four years’ absence from New York. The HERALD has already presented an interesting narrative of the adventures of Madame Anna Bishop during her tour in the remote East. The entire history of her extraordinary musical career is familiar to our readers and forms one of the brightest pages in the annals of music. It would therefore be superfluous to repeat the eulogies which have been bestowed on her in almost every language or to do more than allude to the honors which she has won from royalty and from the public. She has sung in English, Italian, French, German, Danish, Russian, Tartar and we know not how many other languages. Originally an accomplished pianist, she afterwards devoted herself to singing, and evinced the flexibility and power of her pure soprano voice first in the classical music of Handel, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, and then in opera of the Italian school. But her greatest triumphs have been in the ballads and national airs which have enshrined her memory in a million hearts. She retains the scepter of Queen of Song in this domain of concert music. The silvery sweetness which still rings in certain tones proves what rich promises must have blossomed in the early freshness of her voice and how gloriously the promises must have ripened to fulfillment in its prime. Yesterday evening Madame Anna Bishop sang ‘Ah, come Rapids,’ by Meyerbeer, ‘Eva’s Lamentation’ by King, and, when encored, ‘Home, Sweet Home;’ ‘Sunset,’ by Stephen Massett, words by Spencer W. Cone, and ‘Quanto Amore,’ from the opera ‘Elisir d’Amore,’ in which grand duet buffo she was assisted by Signor Ronconi. This inimitable buffo singer, Signor Ronconi, in whom the musical world in New York possesses a priceless treasure, sang also ‘Miei Rampolli Femanini’ [sic] and another grand aria from Rossini’s ‘Cenerentola,’ amid rapturous applause. M. Henri Kowalski justified his Parisian reputation as a pianist by the skill and great power with which he played a ‘Polonaise’ in E flat by Chopin; ‘Les Oiseaux dans les Bois,’ a ‘Marche Hongroise’ and a ‘galop,’ composed by himself. The ‘Marche Hongroise’ was encored. Mtr. George W. Morgan played in his best style on the organ the overture to the first part, from ‘Der Freischutz,’ by Weber; the overture to the second part, from ‘Zampa,’ which was enthusiastically encored, the Grand March from Wagner’s ‘Tannhauser.’ He also accompanied Madame Anna Bishop when she sang ‘Eve’s Lamentation.’”

“Mme. ANNA BISHOP reappeared at Steinway Hall last evening, and sang in the presence of a numerous audience, some elements of which were suggestive, as were he artists themselves, of the middle ages. The four years that have elapsed since Mme. BISHOP was last heard here have wrought no great change in her voice or her appearance; and that space of time being insignificant in comparison with the scope of her career, her performances then were as satisfactory and as singular as they are now. The faultless method of Mme. BISHOP is still hers; the voice is clear and sweet, but without volume or richness, and endowed with little flexibility. She sang yesterday MEYERBEER’S cavatina, ‘Ah! Come Rapida!’ with the prefatory recitative given with thorough art; ‘Eve’s Lamentation,’ by King; ‘My Bud in Heaven,’ a ballad, by STEPHEN MASSETT, and the duet ‘Quanto Amore,’ from ‘L’Elisire [sic].’ The execution of the ballads naturally elicited most applause, and each was followed by an encore, while the rendering of the duet gave no particular pleasure but such as was derived from the evident skill of the artist, shown in struggling toward an end with insufficient means. The performers appearing with Mme. BISHOP were Signor RONCONI, whose talent, good will, vocal wealth and repertory have been themes for comment here at such a recent date as to need no calling up at present; Mr. STEPHEN MASSETT, Mr. GEORGE W. MORGAN (at the organ) and M. HENRI KOWALSKI. Mr. KOWALSKI is a new comer, whose début in this country was effected last evening. No fair estimate of his rank can be arrived at after a single hearing, but the favor he undoubtedly won seemed fully deserved. His interpretation of the Polonaise in E flat, by CHOPIN, was his first effort, and gave no decided indication of his merits; but his reading of a composition of his own—the second part of which, a Hungarian march, was loudly applauded for its rendering as well as for its character as a composition—made an excellent impression. Mr. KOWALSKI’S touch is clean, and vigorous rather than delicate; it seems that of a brilliant and popular player, rather than of a thoughtful and finished artist. We believe Mme. ANNA BISHOP, whose welcome was very cordial, will sing in company with the same persons on Monday next.”

“. . . Mme. ANNA BISHOP’S late concert was so well received that she announces another for tomorrow night, when she will be assisted by Signor Ronconi, Mr. George Simpson, the tenor, M. Henry Kowalski, (the new pianist, of whose fine powers we have previously spoken,) Mr. George Morgan, Mr. Frank Gilder and Signor Carlo E. Bosom. That Mme. BISHOP should have retained her admirable method through all the vicissitudes of time and travel, need excite no surprise; but that her vocal powers in other respects should be so totally unimpaired is indeed remarkable, so much so as to be the theme of animated discussion with all who have heard her. Mme. BISHOP’S voice was always restricted in range. It is now neither more or less so than it ever was. But its purity, ringing quality, delicacy and facility, and, above all, its thoroughly artistic development were never one whit more finished than we have hitherto heard it. She is certainly an extraordinary artist, and without doubt cannot only teach, but surpass in her mastery of sheer vocal difficulties many of the most noted sopranos of the day. It is pleasant to see that this gifted lady’s old friends have flocked to her standard with faithful enthusiasm; but no lover of music, young or old, should miss the opportunity of hearing one of the finest singers, if not the finest voices, ever heard in concert hall or opera house in either the Old world or the New.”