Concert; Benefit of the Zenana Schools in India

Under the auspices of the ladies of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church.

“The ladies of St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal church gave a concert last night for the benefit of the Zenana schools in India. There were a good many people present, although ominous gaps divided the audience on the floor. The following was the programme [see above]. 

As may be seen from the distinguished names of the artists that appeared and the character of the selections, the concert was one calculated to enlist the attention of the musical public. We are surprised, then, that the hall was not crowded. The principal feature, in point of novelty, at least, was the first appearance in many years of Mlle. Morensi. We regret to be compelled to say that she did not fulfill the high expectations formed of her. Her voice, which, having gained in power and volume, has also become hard and coarse, and the delicious cavatina from ‘Semiramide’ was rendered by her with anything but success. Mrs. Gulager sang better than we have heard her before this season and redeemed to a great extent the unfavorable impression caused by her efforts at the Philharmonic concert. We have spoken before of Miss Kellogg’s singing in the numbers set down for her, and it is unnecessary to repeat our criticism here. Mr. Leggat is endowed with a tenor voice of considerable sweetness, power and compass, but its upper notes show evident signs of want of culture, being harsh and nasal. Mr. Berti is an agreeable drawing room player, and if he does not command a high position among the number of excellent pianists we have here, yet he can have the satisfaction of knowing that he will never offend even the critical public.”

“An excellent concert was given at Steinway Hall last evening, before a large audience, the benefit of Zenana schools in India. Miss Kellogg was in splendid voice and sang the pieces allotted to her in exquisite taste, around which was thrown a halo of artistic culture and finish. Her rendering of the beautiful ballad ‘She Wandered Down’ and the more difficult cavatina ‘O Luce di quest’anima,’ was full of tenderness and grace. Mrs. Gulager was heard to great advantage. Her sweet and powerful organ gave much pleasure to her listeners; and she sang an elaborate waltz by Strakosch with flattering success. Mlle. Kate Morensi, whose prolonged absence in Europe has been felt at the opera and in the concert-room, made her reappearance on this occasion. The warmth of her reception is conclusive evidence that she still holds a firm place in public esteem. The cavatina from ‘Semiramide’ was her only solo, and in it her noble contralto voice poured forth the great music of Rossini in full justice to the illustrious composer. The duet from the ‘Stabat Mater,’ with Miss Kellogg, was grandly given, and forcibly recalled the grand triumphs of these ladies on the operatic stage. Mr. Beril added two tasteful piano solos to the programme. Mr. Remmertz and Mr. Leggatt lent their desirable assistance. The latter sang unusually well.”

“The Charity Concert given last evening, under the auspices of the ladies of St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church, for the benefit of the Zenana Schools in India, was very numerously attended. Several of its incidents deserve a complimentary mention. Miss Kellogg’s appearances in public, this season, have been so few and far between that her co-operation in a concert is become a bonne fortune, sufficient to illustrate any entertainment. She was in excellent voice yesterday, and her singing was marked by greater expressiveness than usual, and by the brilliancy and finish to which audiences have long since been accustomed. Miss Kellogg sang ‘O luce di quest’anima,’ and Clay’s ballad, ‘I Wandered Down the Mountain Side,’ encores following both performances. She also took part in Rossini’s ‘Quis est Homo’ with Mlle. Morensi. The reappearance of this lady was another feature, so to speak, of the concert. Mlle. Morensi will be remembered by most frequenters of the Academy six or seven years ago. Her services have lately been enlisted in Havana, where she sang last Winter with great success. Mlle. Morensi was very cordially received, and the suppleness and power of her voice, which she used in the trying scena and cavatina ‘Ah quel giorno,’ from ‘Semiramide’ with particular skill and effect, elicited evidences of hearty admiration. We should be very glad to learn that Mlle. Morensi has been engaged for one of the series of opera nights soon to be commenced. Her commanding stage presence, and her resources and experience would not, we are sure, be overlooked. In last night’s affair, besides the above-named contributions to the bill, some vocal pieces were interpreted by Mrs. P. D. Gulager, Mr. W. S. Leggatt and Mr. Remmertz, and Mr. Berti played two compositions for the piano. Harsh criticism bearing upon an entertainment arranged with charitable intent would be unjustifiable, but the result of Mr. Remmertz’s choice of Rossini’s ‘Deh ti ferma’ would almost warrant it, if Mr. Leggatt’s liberties with the last bars of Gounod’s ‘Salve dimora,’ and the soprano-like swaying of his body to the music, did not.”

“The concert for the benefit of the Zenana schools, given by the ladies of St. Paul’s Church, yesterday evening, at Steinway’s, was well attended and amply successful. Miss Kellogg sang ‘Luce di quest anima’ with crisp execution, and gave Clay’s charming ballad, ‘She Wandered Down the Mountain Side,’ with unusual tenderness and delicacy of feeling. Mlle. Morensi’s magnificent contralto was effective in the scena and cavatina, ‘Ah quel giorno,’ and Mr. Leggatt sang the beautiful Faust air, ‘Salve dimora,’ with great taste and refinement. Perhaps the most interesting number of the programme was the fine duo from ‘Martha,’ ‘Solo profugo,’ which was admirably given by Messrs. Leggatt and Remmertz. The receipts of the concert, it is gratifying to know, will be appropriated by zealous and competent agents to promoting the interest of female education in India, and thus rescuing a large class of young girls and women from the ignorance and vice which would be their lot under the rule of Hindoo superstition and conventionality.”