Mendelssohn Orchestral Union Concert: 3rd

“There were two good concerts last night, one at Steinway Hall by Theodore Thomas’s band, and another at Irving Hall by the Mendelssohn Orchestral Union, both of which were well attended. At the latter a new singer, Miss Dusseldorp, made a debut, and the orchestra was particularly successful in a showy arrangement of melodies from Barbe Bleue.”

“At Irving Hall, the Mendelssohn Orchestral Union gave its third concert of the season. The orchestra, under the direction of Mr. H. B. DODSWORTH, numbered upward of sixty instruments. It was much better balanced than on any previous occasion, but something yet remains to be done. We are glad, however, to reord the continued prosperity of the association and the changes for the better which take place in it. An organization of such extent is manifestly of importance to art, expecially as it is a free organization. The principal piece played last night was ‘Les Preludes,’ by LISZT, which, although defective in parts, was given with grand effect as a whole. It served very acceptably as an indication of the metal of which the orchestra is composed. The light overture to the ‘Poet and Peasant’ was played splendidly, as also was the march with which the concert terminated. The soloists who assisted on this occasion were Miss ROSE DUSSELDORP, Signor FOSSATI and Mr. ARNOLD. The lady has a good voice, but it runs down rapidly from correct intonation. Mr. LASSERVE presided at the piano as accompanist.”

“The Mendelssohn Orchestral Union at Irving Hall purveyed a lighter and noisier kind of music for the popular ear, and we presume had their reward, though they did some of their work very badly. Mr. Richard Arnold contributed some hard and extremely unintellectual violin playing. He gave two movements from David’s 5th concerto—we were going to say with the orchestra, but that preposition would be entirely unjustifiable since Mr. Arnold and the orchestra were neither in time nor in tune. Miss Rose Dusseldorp, soprano, made her debut. She has a prepossessing appearance, and an agreeable voice, but she does not know how to sing.”