Dedicatory Service at St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church

Event Information

Venue(s):
St. Ann's Church (120 E. 12th St.)

Conductor(s):
Louis Dachauer-Gaspard

Event Type:
Choral

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
11 August 2023

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

01 Jan 1871, Morning

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Eben's Orchestra;  Octavie Gomien;  Miss A. [soprano] Wells;  Marie Krebs;  Miss [soprano] De Braux;  Mme. [contralto] Krebs-Michalesi;  [organist] Biedermann;  Lorenzo [bass] Remi;  Achille Errani
2)
Mass, no. 3
aka Inauguration Mass
Composer(s): Dachauer-Gaspard
3)
"Ave Maria"
Composer(s): Kosch
Participants:  Mme. [contralto] Krebs-Michalesi

Citations

1)
Review: New York Herald, 02 January 1871, 6.
2)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 02 January 1871, 6.

“The music of the Mass was new, composed expressly for the occasion by Mr. Dachauer who has charge of the music at St. Ann’s. The rendering of the music was in every way worthy of this well-known choir, the solo Ave Maria immediately before the sermon being especially effective.”

3)
Review: New York Post, 03 January 1871, 2.
“The music, under the direction of Mr. Louis Dachauer, the organist of the church, was composed by him expressly for the occasion; and, though a hazardous undertaking, was successfully accomplished. The composers of church music are too apt to be dry, austere and monotonous, defects from which Mr. Dachauer is happily free in his composition. While appropriately feeding the religious instincts, his composition has life, fire, and musical spontaneity.
 
The solos were artistically given and the choruses, with few exceptions, incidental to a first performance, were also very well sung.
 
The Ave Maria, with accompaniment of stringed instruments, by Mme. Michalesi-Krebs, made a very solemn impression and had the true sacramental fire, peculiar to her well cultivated contralto voice. The Agnus Dei of Miss M. Krebs, the well-known pianist, was well and tastefully sung. Miss Wells showed skill, animation and vocal ability in rendering the Regina Coeli. There were chasteness, measure and practiced art in the singing of Miss Gomien’s Christie Eleison. Miss De Braux did her Gratias agimus very creditably also.
 
It would be a supererogatory act to say anything of the valuable vocal services of two such well known artists as Errani and Remi. Both were in excellent voice, and sang most artistically their respective parts.”  
4)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 04 January 1871, 4.

“It is not generally known that Miss Mary Krebs, the eminent young pianist, is also a vocalist of rare gifts and accomplishments. She sang a soprano solo in M. Dachauer’s Dedication Mass at the new St. Ann’s Church last Sunday morning, and a canticle by Ambroise Thomas during the evening service. Her voice is strong and rich, and has been admirably cultivated, and she would probably achieve a high position on the operatic stage if she had not preferred devoting herself to instrumental music.”