St. Cecilia Day Musical Commemoration

Event Information

Venue(s):
Ferrero's Rooms

Conductor(s):
S. Behrens

Price: $1; $.50 extra reserved

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
3 March 2025

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

23 Nov 1873, Evening

Program Details

To benefit the Church of St. Cecilia.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Strakosch Italian Opera Company, orchestra;  Annie Louise Cary;  Giuseppe Del Puente;  Italo Campanini;  Alice Maresi;  Romano Nannetti
2)
Stabat Mater, "Cujus animam"
Composer(s): Rossini
Participants:  Italo Campanini
3)
Stabat Mater, selection
Composer(s): Rossini
Participants:  Annie Louise Cary
4)
Stabat Mater, selection
Composer(s): Rossini
Participants:  Romano Nannetti
5)
Puritani, I, duet
Composer(s): Bellini
Participants:  Giuseppe Del Puente;  Romano Nannetti
6)
"Ave Maria," (Vocal version)
Composer(s): Gounod
Participants:  Alice Maresi

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Herald, 14 November 1873, 6.

“Rev. Father Flattery, of the Church of St. Cecilia, in this city, has engaged the entire Strakosch Italian Opera troupe for a concert for the benefit of his church, at Tammany Hall.”

2)
Announcement: New York Herald, 19 November 1873, 5.
“The anniversary of the birthday of St. Cecilia, the patroness of music, will be celebrated in this city with peculiar pomp on next Sunday evening. This day is commemorated in Rome with grand ceremonies, all the great musical artists who may then happen to be in the Eternal City taking part.
 
[Provides history of St. Cecilia.]
 
The 22d of November is the natal day of St. Cecilia. This year it comes on Saturday, and the celebration will take place on Sunday, the 23d. A new church, corner of 105th street and Second avenue, has been called after this distinguished saint. The Rev. Hugh Flattery is the talented pastor, and it is at his suggestion and under his control the celebration takes place. A grand sacred concert will take place at Ferrero’s Assembly Rooms, Tammany Hall, on Sunday evening, November 23. The principal artists of Mr. Strakosch’s opera company have volunteered for the occasion. Among them are Signors Campanini, Del Puente and Nannetti, Mlle. Maresi, Miss Cary and a full orchestra. The choicest musical gems have been selected for the occasion. The price of tickets has been placed at $1, with 50 cents extra for reserved seats, so that an immense attendance is expected.
 
The Rev. Father McQuirk, of St. Stephen’s, will preach the panegyric of St. Cecilia at the half-past ten o’clock services on Sunday, at the church corner of 105th street and Second avenue.”
3)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 21 November 1873, 2.
4)
Announcement: New York Herald, 23 November 1873, 7.
5)
Review: New York Herald, 24 November 1873, 7.

“The Strakosch Italian Opera Company celebrated the Festival of St. Cecilia, the patroness of music, last evening at Tammany Hall, the proceeds being devoted to the benefit of the Church of St. Cecilia, in this city, Rev. Father Flattery pastor. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the audience was very large and correspondingly enthusiastic. They were repaid for venturing out on such a disagreeable night by the general excellence of the artists. Signor Campanini gave a finished and effective rendering of the ‘Cujus Animam,’ from Rossini’s ‘Stabat Mater,’ and Miss Cary and Signor Nannetti also appeared with success in selections from the same work. The grand duo from ‘Puritani,’ written for Tamburini and Lablache, was interpreted in a truly artistic style by Del Puente and Nannetti, and Mlle. Maresi’s fresh young voice appeared to advantage in Gounod’s ‘Ave Maria.’ The hall is not well adapted for an orchestra, its echo qualities nearly making sad havoc with the tones of the instruments. Mr. Behrens conducted on the occasion, and by his skill in toning down the natural exuberance of the band avoided results which might have been disastrous.”