Music for the Million Sacred Concert: 1st

“…The programme comprises classical and popular selections.”

“MUSIC FOR THE MILLION. GRAND SACRED CONCERT…The pronounced and unequivocal success at the Academy of Music, on the occasion of the Promenade Reception of the NINTH REGIMENT, has induced the management to comply with a general request from the patrons of this establishment for a MONSTER CONCERT, in which will appear the GRAND ORCHESTRA, composed of 125 instruments. Conducted by MAX MARETZEK and assisted by the most distinguished VOCAL TALENT now to be found in the metropolis.”

“The grand sacred concert this evening at the Grand Opera House promises to be in reality a grand affair…The programme will embrace some of the choiest [sic] pieces of modern music, vocal and instrumental, and to popularize this peculiar institution the admission will be only fifty cents to all parts of the house. An immense audience can be accommodated at this fine establishment without crowding, and it is admirably adapted for ventilation. The entertainment prepared, we think, is a good idea for the Grand Opera house for the whole summer season; but we presume the question will be left to the public judgment this evening.”

Program.

“The musical programme, so successfully interpreted under the bâton of Mr. Maretzek, at the Ninth Regiment reception, a few nights ago, will constitute, with some sacred vocal music, the material of a concert to be given at the Grand Opera House this (Sunday) evening.”

"The initial concert at this house last night was an immense success. Every seat was taken and the performance was of a high order of merit. The orchestra, consisting of 125 instruments, played the ‘Tell’ overture, selections from Mendelssohn’s ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ and ‘L’Africaine,’ the ‘Erie Galop,’ ‘La Périchole’ and the ‘Tannhauser’ march in splendid style. Miss Nully Peiris proved that she possessed a fine, resonant and well cultivated soprano voice by her artistic rendering of the ‘Inflammatus,’ by Rossini, and Gounod’s ‘Ave Maria.’ The other soloists were Misses Sänger and Ida Rosenburgh, and Messrs. Fritsch and Hasselerre, all of whom acquitted themselves very creditably. Rarely has such unequivocal success attended an opening concert in this city.”

“A concert was given last evening at the Grand Opera-House, with the participation, principally, of the orchestra which Mr. Maretzek directed at the recent Ninth Regiment Reception. The spacious auditorium was crowded by an assembly in which many known faces were conspicuous. The instrumental music being well selected and interpreted, there was no cause for complaint at its excess over the quantity of vocal compositions. Of the first-named element of the programme, Mr. Maretzek’s new and dashing ‘Erie Galop’ was a part, while Rossini, Mendelssohn, Strauss, Meyerbeer and Wagner contributed to it, in turn familiar numbers. The singing of Herr Fritsch, whose grand voice impressed the hearer quite deeply with a ‘Salve’ by Marschner, and the ad captandum strength of Miss Nully Pieris, whose voice is of too good quality and range to be suffered to want for culture, afforded the most evident pleasure of the entertainment. Miss Pieris sang the ‘Inflammatus,’ from Rossini’s ‘Stabat Mater,’ and Gounod’s ‘Ave Maria.’”

“If the concert given at the Grand Opera House last evening was an experiment, it was also a very great success. Every available portion of the spacious auditorium was occupied by an enthusiastic audience. Miss Nully Peiris sang delightfully the ‘Inflammatus’ from Rossini’s ‘Stabat Mater,’ and an ‘Ave Maria’ by Gounod, and was, as usual, forced to repeat them. Miss Rosenburgh and Miss Saenger seemed to have a great many friends, for their duets were heartily encored. Mr. Fritsch sang an ‘Ave Maria’ with much feeling; he has a fresh, clear voice, which may always be heard with pleasure. The orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Maretzek, was simply grand. A composition by that gentleman, called ‘Erie,’ was very effective.”

“The concert at the Grand Opera House last evening was a clear success. The music, under Maretzek’s management, was excellent. The orchestra contained 125 instruments. The house was well filled. The most respectable and fashionable persons occupied the boxes. Judging from the receipts last evening, these Sunday evening concerts will be continued.”