New York Conservatory of Music: Musical Soirée

Includes programme.

Includes programme.

“The hall of the Young Men’s Christian Association was crowded to excess last night with a very brilliant audience on the occasion of a grand musical soirée given by the professors and pupils of this popular institution, under the direction of Mr. S. N. Griswold. The performance was a formidable one, instrumentally in particular, comprising some of the most difficult piano and violin works. Kucken, Ritter, Thalberg, Chopin, Beethoven and Mendelssohn were well represented in it. The performance of the pupils was highly creditable, and bore evidence of the careful training they underwent. Misses Boucher, Cox, Hasse, Burr, Hard, Walbridge, and Scott, in their rendering of the piano selections, and the two last in their vocal duet, created a very favorable impression. Some of the pieces were played with more finish and grace than we have heard from professionals, and there was a notable absence of nervousness which one would expect from amateurs.”

“The audience that filled the hall of the Young Men’s Christian Association, last evening, indicated the great interest felt in the pupils of the New-York Conservatory of Music; and the applause marking each stage of the entertainment gave evidence of their abundant satisfaction at the proficiency of the youthful musicians. It was an occasion, of course, that calls for no criticism on individual performances, but one that gives genuine pleasure in its results, and special gratification to persons interested in musical America in the future. It is to be regretted, it is true, that the piano should have been the only instrument used, as it seems possible that we shall have to draw upon Europe for our orchestral players for many years to come; but there can be no doubt as to the popularization of good music to be accomplished by the manipulation of domestic grands and squares. And in respect of vocal culture, the entertainment yesterday was of liberal promise. There is no need, we think, to make reference to individual efforts. The programme, indeed, was too lengthened for recapitulation here. Misses L. Cox, A. Boucher, M. Hasse, A. Burr, L. Winant, and J. Hard, and Messrs. August Steinhaus and J. Buitrago were the instrumentalists; and Misses M. Hall, S. Hodges, L. Walbridge, and M. Scott, with Mrs. K. Haigh, the vocalists. These pupils had the assistance of the Professors of the institution and that of Mme. Gueretti, Mr. N. S. Griswold directing the affair and receiving, in the noisy proofs of delight, very flattering reassurances of a recognition of the worth and popularity of the institution.”