Onslow Quintette Concert: 1st

Program also includes “piano solos by Mr. Caryl Florio, and part songs of Leslie’s, Smart’s, and W. Macfarren.”  

“This last organization [the Onslow Quintette] gave its first concert of the present season last evening in De Garmo’s Hall.

The programme was interesting, not only by reason of the excellence, but also from the diversity of the selections. These consisted of a quartette for stringed instruments, a quintette for piano and strings, three pianoforte solo pieces, and some part songs for mixed voices.

The whole programme was well rendered. The concert opened with a quartette by Rubinstein, fresh and bright in ideas—bold, vigorous, and imaginative—as everything is that comes from his pen, and characterized by a great freedom and independence of treatment of the parts. The weakest movement was the andante. Rubinstein probably has keener sympathy with what is brave and spirited than with the sad and despondent side of life.

The quintette by Mr. F. Zitterbart—who played the viola both in the quartette and quintette—was a manuscript composition in five movements, showing in its composer a pleasant and genial talent. It possesses abundant melody, very happily and effectively treated. It is also original in its ideas, some portions being treated with charming quaintness. The piano part was brilliantly played by Mr. Caryl Florio. Looking more critically at this composition we should say that its author had sought special effects at some sacrifice of the continuity of thought. The work, therefore, is better in parts than in the whole. It could, however, have been written by no other than a devoted musician and a man of talent, and would adorn any programme.

The vocal quartette consisted of Miss Brainerd, Miss Bulkley, and Messrs. Bush and Schauffler, by whom several beautiful part songs were effectively sung.”