Concert

“This is a terribly prosaic age, and despite the romantic character of the above named lady’s history very few people went to her benefit concert last evening. She is a very good artist—in appearance somewhat like Parepa, and possessing a fine, clear, sweet-toned, well cultivated soprano voice. She deserved, indeed, a much better recognition of her talents than what the metropolitan public seemed to give her. Her assistants were of recognized merit. Miss Marie Krebs, the talented young pianist; Miss Grazielle Ridgway and Messrs. Leoni, Bartlett and Bina appeared. The first played Chopin and Liszt, and the others sang in their usual style. Perhaps a reason for the very small attendance may be given in the fact that the tickets were placed at two dollars, and not one out of ten of our regular concert- goers is willing to pay so much, unless their wives want to see what new toilet Nilsson wears, and then they’ll pay an extra bonus. Mlle. Hallier-Dossi had last night, we should say, about $300 or less. She is, indeed, an artist of whom any Italian teacher (and we have a swarm of them in this city) may be proud. But two dollars was too much on a cold night to fill even the first rows of seats.”

“One of the most beautiful and majestic women who ever appeared before the New York public, and a vocalist possessing withal a rich, full mezzo-soprano voice, cultivated to a high artistic point, and instinct with sentiment and feeling, made her first appearance at Steinway Hall last night before a small audience. Madame Hallier-Dossi is said to be an amateur. She sings like an artist. In airs from ‘Puritani’ and ‘Tannhauser,’ and in the quartet from ‘Rigoletto’ she displayed to good advantage her many excellent qualities as a singer. The lady should be heard frequently. Her proper sphere is the opera, but of course there seems to be but little chance for her to prove her abilities in that obsolete line of art.

The concert was otherwise good. Miss Ridgeway sang with much sweetness and purity of intonation. Miss Krebs played in her usual clear, bright style, and Signor Leoni, a tenor of merit, sang with good effect the Cantique de Noel of Adolphe Adam, which Lefranc has made so popular here.

It is said that Madame Hallier-Dossi will give another concert. She will always be heard with pleasure.”