Philharmonic Rehearsal: 1st of the season

Details of the annual prospectus for the season.

“No great pains had been taken to announce the performance, and the programme of selections for the season usually published long in advance, has not yet been made known. Still there was a large assemblage of [people?]; for a first rehearsal we may call it an uncommonly large one, and there is every prospect that the success of this year’s concerts will be quite on a par with the experience of the last five or six Winters. The programme yesterday consisted of [see above]—a collection of pieces in which there is certainly abundant variety, and a contrast strong enough to satisfy the two extremes of musical taste. The orchestra is of the customary dimensions and apparently little if at all [changed?] in composition. Mr. Bergmann, of course, retains his place as conductor.”

“Philharmonic rehearsal this p.m. In our ‘official’ proscenium box were Miss Rosalie [Ruggles]—that bright little bird Mrs. Burton Harrison—Mrs. Gulager, etc. Symphony (Pastorale) more & more delightful. Overtures (Wagner & Schumann) utter bores. After the audience had gone, I took Mrs. Gulager downstairs, & she sang something from Lucrezia by way of showing how she could handle better music. Though she was suffering from a cold & was far below her standard, she hugely delighted Boehm, Bergmann, Rietzel, Ureli Corelli Hill, etc., and we shall be happy to have her services at the first or the second concert. This does not bring any prodigious emolument, but it will much please this excellent lady.”