Ole Bull’s Farewell Matinee

"Another point seeming to invite discussion is the announcement that Ole Bull will play next Saturday, when the price of the tickets is to be increased to fifty cents. Now it was intended not that these concerts should make money, but that they should place the best music within reach of every one. Yet, whenever ‘eminent artists’ are announced, the prices always assume an upward tendency. Fifty cents is not an exorbitant price, but let it be understood that whenever really first-class professional musicians are to interpret the programme, the prices are to be doubled, and what is to become of the ‘popular concert’ theory? The hall is always full, and there can be, therefore, no question about expenses. We have no desire to cavil or find fault. The intentions of the managers are most excellent, and for that reason does any departure from the best method of carrying them into effect seem to challenge criticism. Prosperity is often dangerous to those affected by it. The concerts are too valuable assistants in the establishing of a higher standard of musical taste in the Metropolis to be allowed to degenerate into mere money-making machines.”

“The usual Saturday concert of the Young Men’s Christian Association was given in the Twenty-third-street Hall yesterday. The place was crowded to suffocation, though a departure from the popular tariff had been duly announced. The programme was not very interesting, nor were the artists, except Mr. Ole Bull, notable by general talent or general exertions. The organ element was less conspicuous than it had been of late, and was supplied by Mr. J. H. Willcox. Mr. William MacDonald and Miss Hattie Safford sang, the rich and not very flexible voice of the lady being ill adapted, to our thinking, to the execution of such compositions as ‘Il Bacio.’ Miss Safford, by the way, might have chosen less worn music than Arditi’s waltz, and, in response to the encore, ought certainly to have drawn anew from her repertory. The pianist was Mr. E. Hoffman. There is, of course, nothing to say in relation to Mr. Ole Bull’s performance, though the good effect of his variations on the ‘Carnival of Venice’ would be heightened by an omission of some feats that elicit by their result more laughter than direct appreciation.”