Concert

“One of the most interesting concerts of the season was that given at Steinway Hall last night by the Hess family, aided by other artists. The programme was particularly interesting and varied. Miss Elzer, the precocious young prima donna, and Herr Muller, the baritone, were the vocalists, and sang, with entire acceptation to the audience, extracts from operas in which they have lately appeared, and other selections. Miss Elzer’s voice is one of unusual power and beauty, and has received careful training. Of Mr. Muller’s splendid ability it is needless to speak.

Mr. Diehm, the violoncellist, took part in this concert. He is a most accomplished player, executing on his ponderous instrument tours de force which at times entirely change its character. In one improvisation last night he showed, however, that he could also play with finished taste and delicacy. Some of his effects were as charming as they were surprising. 

The Hess children were, however, the main features of this concert. Willie Hess, a lad of eleven years, played on the violin, with great purity of tone and smooth facility of execution, a fantasia by Artot, introducing themes from the ‘Pirata’ and the ‘Sonnambula’ of Bellini. This boy is already an artist; and when increasing years bring maturity of judgment and that tenderness of sentiment which the very young can never feel, he will be a great one. His technical training was proved last night by the ease with which he took part in stringed quartets with adult musicians.

Miss Joanna Hess, a girl apparently not long in her teens, played some of the accompaniments with rare judgment; but in the exquisite G minor fantasia by Mendelssohn, taste and execution were felicitously combined. Miss Hess gave on this occasion a graceful and agreeable interpretation of one of the loveliest of piano-forte compositions. The Hess family belong [sic] to the resident talent of New York, and they should be heard often in the concert room.”

“Mr. Julius Hess and his children gave, with the assistance of several well-known artists, a concert at Steinway Hall last evening. Miss Joanna Hess and Master Will Hess are very clever children, who are likely to become—as most infant prodigies are not—accomplished musicians. The little lady is a pianist, and the boy is a violinist. Since the two were last heard in public, Miss Joanna Hess appears to have made most progress. She played as a solo, last night, Mendelssohn’s concerto in G minor, with a quartet accompaniment, and recited that delicious work intelligently, and with very neat execution. Master Hess is a proficient child-violinist, but his performance is not so eloquent as it ought to be—and, when the violin is soulless, it is little value, The boy, however, is deserving of much credit for his mastery of the technique of the instrument, and a few years of study and thought may enable him to reap the advantages of his early labors. The efforts of the children were supplemented on the occasion we write of by those of Mr. Jacob Muller, a baritone with a fine voice, of Miss Anna Elzer, soprano, and of Mr. Joseph Diem, violoncellist. Mr. Predigam was the accompanyist.”

“A vocal and instrumental concert was given Monday evening at Steinway Hall by Julius Hess and his children, Joanna and Willie, assisted by Miss Anna Elzer, Mr. Jacob Muller and others. The occasion afforded an excellent opportunity for the exhibition of the well-cultivated talents of the youthful performers, and the audience, which was large and appreciative, seemed delighted with the wonderful amount of execution and artistic finish which they displayed. The programme opened with Schumann’s quartet in E flat, first movement for piano, violin, viola and violoncello, the instrumentalists being Miss Joanna Hess, Master Willie Hess, Mr. Joseph Hess and Mr. Joseph Diem. It was in the solos, however, that the merits of the young artists received more hearty recognition. Willie played a fantasie, by Artot, on the violin, with great taste and accuracy. Nor was his sister less successful at the piano, her interpretation of Mendelssohn’s concerto in G minor, with quartet accompaniment, being marked by a carefulness and precision that elicited general admiration. If not forced to too great an extent the Hess children will one day realize the bright anticipations formed of their abilities. Miss Elzer sang Graham’s ‘Farewell,’ and was deservedly encored, while Mr. Muller’s rendering of the celebrated romance ‘Non, e Ver’ was almost faultless. A duet from ‘Don Giovanni’ subsequently given by those artists, was also warmly applauded. The concert was altogether very interesting.”

“Mr. Julius Hess brought forward his clever little children, Joanna and Willie, in a concert Monday night at Steinway Hall. We are not fond of juvenile prodigies, believing that little children are better off in the nursery and school room than under the glare of a public hall; but these young performers are superior to most of their kind, and bid fair to become genuine artists. They both have talent, and they seem to have been well taught. Master Willie’s touch on the violin is lean and correct, and Miss Joanna has attained surprising proficiency on the piano. They were assisted on Monday by Miss Anna Elzer, Mr. Jacob Muller, and Mr. Joseph Diem. The last-named performer is a violoncellist of remarkable merit who has lately been playing with Theodore Thomas’s orchestra.”