Gottschalk Memorial Statue Fund Performance

“A number of leading amateurs in this city are interested in the forthcoming concert in memory of the late Louis M. Gottschalk. It will take place next Saturday evening, the 21st, at the Union League Club Theatre, and the proceeds will be applied to the erection of a bust or statue in some public place.

“Besides the accomplished amateurs who will participate in the musical part of the programme, Miss Henriques and Mr. Lester Wallack will vary the entertainment by the performance of ‘The Morning Call.’ The programme will also include Victor Masse’s operetta ‘Les Noces de Jeannette.’

“The previous concert given nominally to the memory of Gottschalk from its limited scope failed to appear strongly to the musical public. The entertainment announced for Saturday has certainly variety enough, while our amateurs need no urging to do justice to the memory of one of the most gifted and popular pianists known to them.”

“We understand that a number of ladies of high standing, musically and socially, have taken in hand the accumulation of a fund to be devoted to the erection somewhere in the City of a statue of the eminent American composer and pianist, L. M. Gottschalk, whose recent death in Brazil the musical world has been called on to deplore. In aid of this object an amateur entertainment is to be given at the Union League Club Theater, on Saturday evening next, consisting of Victor Masse’s operetta of ‘Les Noces de Jeannette,’ with a well-known lady amateur of Philadelphia in the principal part, and the petite comedy of ‘The Morning Call,’ by Miss Henrqiues and Mr. Lester Wallack. The musical conductor will be Mr. Bossoni [sic]. Under such auspices the entertainment cannot fail to be one of the most interesting of the season.”

“We are requested to announce that tickets for the amateur performance to be given in aid of the fund of the Gottschalk Memorial, Saturday, are now to be obtained of Mrs. D. Colden Murray, at No. 17 East Fourteenth-street.”

Brief.

“Strenuous efforts are being made by some of our most noted citizens to form a fund which it is proposed to expend in the erection of a memorial to Louis Moreau Gottschalk. In furtherance of these efforts, which ought to be co-operated in by all who admired the talent of the gifted and lamented pianist, a performance was given by amateurs and by professional artists at the Union League Club Theater last evening. The audience was very brilliant and very kindly. The representation it witnessed—that is to say, the portion offered by amateurs—though unquestionably worthier of attention than the large majority of performances of a similar order—appealed somewhat to its kindliness, and that one of its characteristics is therefore mentioned. The heat was most oppressive, and made it a difficult task to listen to the interpretation of a piece which requires hardly one hour for its recitation, and which had yesterday almost twice that time given it. This reproach is the most serious we have to make. ‘Les Noces de Jeannette’ is a delicious little operette by Victor Masse, and was sung, with the original text, by Miss Schaumburg and M. d’Epineuil, of Philadelphia, as the first part of the entertainment. M. d’Epineuil’s command of the French language is not to be wondered at, but Miss Schaumburg’s knowledge of its resources and ready use of them were as conspicuous as was the merit of her singing, which betokened an exceptional degree of culture. Equally at ease with Miss Schaumburg in relation to all the business of the stage—and the bearing of both amateurs was quite remarkable—M. d’Epineuil’s personation was not so satisfying in respect of his vocal music, some passages of which he sung not without skill, but with a decidedly inaccurate intonation. After the curtain had fallen upon ‘Les Noces de Jeannette’ the singers, however, were both recalled, amid great applause. ‘The Morning Call’ was subsequently represented by Mrs. Madeline Henriques-Jennings and Mr. Lester Wallack, two artists about whose general qualities it is unnecessary to write much here, but whose very fine and effective methods of pleasing ought not to go by entirely unreferred to, since last night’s exhibition in so bright and so small a house, asserted with unusual emphasis their fineness and effectiveness. Signor Carlo Bosoni was in the conductor’s chair, and led an efficient orchestra with his wonted maestria.”