Amateur Concert

For Thursday, 20 January.

For Thursday, 20 January.

Postponed until 29 January.

“The amateur concert given last evening by Mrs. Adele L. Varona, under the direction of Mme. Gazzaniga Albites, at the Arts Building, corner of Fifth avenue and Twelfth street, for the benefit of Cuban families now in the field who are in a starving condition, was decidedly the most brilliant musical treat of the season. The unfortunately stormy night prevented many from its enjoyment who otherwise would have been present, but the select and appreciative few whom old Piuvius could not keep away had an evening of rare and splendid entertainment. Nearly all participating in the programme belong to Mme. Gazzaniga Albites’ musical college, and some are far advanced in preparation for the operatic stage. The care, painstaking and true artistic genius of their musical education was shown through the entire programme, which embraced a most pleasing and choice variety of instrumental music and songs in solos, duets and trios. To particularize each performance in fitting terms of praise would be a futile effort, like gilding refined gold and painting the lily. The ‘Il Giuoco della Mora’ of Gordigiani, by Dr. Ghisiani Durant and M. Martinez, was most spiritedly sung. Mrs. A. Varona’s style of singing the romanza ‘A Lui’ by Guia evinced an exquisite execution, a bird like melody and rich compass of voice. The romanza, ‘Una Furtiva Lagrima,’ of Donzetti, by Dr. Durant, was one of the most delightful musical gems of the evening. Mrs. Imogene Brown rendered the cavatina ‘Maria di Rohan’ with a tenderness of expression rarely surpassed. The duo ‘Una Notte a Venezia,’ of Luconioni, as sung by Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Dillingham, was sweetly and charmingly faultless. But in the multitude of real treats the cavatina ‘O mio Fernando,’ from Il Favorita, sung by Mrs. Varona, surpassed all the others. That tenderly pathetic ballad, ‘Waiting,’ was never sweeter sung than by Mrs. Dillingham, and the same may be said of ‘Caro mio Bene,’ sung by Mr. Martinez. Messrs. Sarti and Albite’s performances on the piano were those of genuine masters. The ‘Je ne Veux pas me Marier,’ as played and sung by the latter, was sweetly akin to perfection, showing a rare delicacy of touch and finish of execution on the instrument, and richer variety of the genuinely comic in music. Mons. Agramonte and Mr. Bartlett, the latter particularly for his manner of singing the ballad ‘False Hearts,’ deserve particular notice. The crowning glory of the evening was ‘Luisa Miller,’ by Verdi, as sung by Mrs. Brown, Dr. Durant and Mr. Bartlett.”

“A concert given by Mme. Adele L. Varona and several amateurs was given, wit“A concert given by Mme. Adele L. Varona and several amateurs was given, with a charitable object, in the hall corner of Fifth-avenue and Fourteenth-street, last evening. It would be hardly fair to criticise the individual performances, which were not pretentious and were generally creditable. The singing of Mme. Varona calls for most praise and could have exacted more decided compliment still had the lady greater repose of manner. Her associates were Messrs. Sarti, Brigiotti, Agramonte and Martinez, Mr. Bartlett and Dr. Ghislani Durant, and Mmes. Imogen Brown and Dillingham. Signor Albites was musical director.”h a charitable object, in the hall corner of Fifth-avenue and Fourteenth-street, last evening. It would be hardly fair to criticise the individual performances, which were not pretentious and were generally creditable. The singing of Mme. Varona calls for most praise and could have exacted more decided compliment still had the lady greater repose of manner. Her associates were Messrs. Sarti, Brigiotti, Agramonte and Martinez, Mr. Bartlett and Dr. Ghislani Durant, and Mmes. Imogen Brown and Dillingham. Signor Albites was musical director.”