Colossal Operatic Concert: 1st

Includes program. 

“The first of a series of Sunday concerts at the Grand Opera House was given last night before a large audience. The programme seemed to suit the taste of the people for whom it was arranged, and it may therefore be called successful, though it was not in the least an intellectual entertainment, and in only two or three particulars made any strong claim to critical attention. The greater part of the music was given by Mr. Gilmore’s Twenty-second Regiment Band in all the glory of its new uniform. Mr. Gilmore is rapidly bringing his men into good training and has taught them already to play with splendid tone and considerable spirit. For out-of-door work they must be highly effective; but they have some delicacies yet to acquire before they can be quite satisfactory in the concert-room. In a short time, however, we shall expect to find them far superior to any other military band that New-York has thus far been able to support. Mr. Wieniawski, who was somewhat out of place last night, contributed two or three violin solos; Mr. Arbuckle gave two solos on the cornet, and Mr. Lefebre one on the saxophone; and there was a little vocal music by Mme. Lichtmay, Miss Henne, and other members of the German opera company.”

“The first of what we trust may prove a long series of Sunday concerts was given at the Grand Opera-house last evening. The performance was a very good one, and the audience very large. The principal features of the interest were the performances of Mr. Gilmore’s Twenty-second Regiment Band and the violin-playing of M. Wieniawski. Mr. Gilmore’s Band is making rapid progress toward perfection. Its members have not yet had the united experience which secures the marvelous variety of shading of which the French band offered such welcome specimens, but their delivery leaves nothing to be desired in the matter of precision or spirit. An admirable rendering of Wiprecht’s fantasia on motives from ‘Le Prophète’ is to be mentioned as the most striking evidence of the excellence of the band; with time, which, in this instance, is more than money, Mr. Gilmore will secure as fine a delivery of this and similar compositions as even autocratic Wiprecht could demand. M. Wieniawski interpreted Vieuxtemps’ ‘Air Varié’ and his own ‘Airs Russes,’ and was, of course, recalled and constrained to do double duty. Singing by Mme. Lichtmay and Miss Henne was also part of the concert.”

“At the Grand Opera House was given last night the first of a series of Sunday evening concerts, of an elaborate character. The house was crowded, and the auditors so enthusiastic that six or eight out of the dozen pieces on the programme were encored. Wieniawski was the principal solo attraction, playing with all his marvelous skill and finish four of the most admired selections from his répertoire. Mr. Arbuckle, the cornet player, was also received with great enthusiasm. Mr. Gilmore’s band performed in excellent style [see above].

There was a vocal element in last night’s concert in which Mme. Lichtmay, Mrs. Henne and Mr. Graf were conspicuous. The audience seemed delighted with everything, frequently encoring when there was no very obvious reason for the compliment. As a whole, however, the concert was decidedly entertaining, and the interest taken in it will undoubtedly secure the continuance of the series.”

“The first of a series of Sunday concerts was given last night at the Grand Opera House, and, as far as the numbers of the audience were concerned, it was an emphatic success. The attendance recalled the season when the Ninth Regiment Band held forth at this house and the musical attractions were varied and numerous. Gilmore’s Twenty-second Regiment Band, in their handsome uniform; M. Wieniawski, Mesdames Lichtmay, Heise, Henne and Lehman, and Messrs. Graf, Toedt, Vierling and Urchs—the last mentioned artists forming a double vocal quartet—were presented on this occasion. The band selections consisted of [see above]. The progress of this band becomes more marked at each appearance. Careful rehearsals, an indefatigable leader, excellent materials among the principal instrumentalists and the confidence and harmony of thought that result from constant practice together already produce flattering results. Two of the members—Mr. Arbuckle, cornet, and Mr. Lefebre, saxophone—played solos, that of the former artist, a work by De Beriot, being rendered with especial finish, expression and warmth. In response to a unanimous recall he gave a very beautiful interpretation of ‘Robin Adair.’ M. Wieniawski, the eminent violinist, played an air, with variations, by Vieuxtemps, in his best style, and it was one of the chief features of the concert. For an encore he gave an equally attractive rendering of ‘Willie, We Have Missed You.’ The ease, graceful delivery and high intelligence that characterize M. Wieniawski’s artistic efforts cannot be too highly heartily commended. There is not a coarse note on his violin in any work he essays, and the tone has breadth and warmth, rare to find with a virtuoso on this instrument.

The vocal part of the programme comprised the quartet, ‘Mezza, Notte,’ from ‘Martha,’ with the parts doubled, a rather uninteresting performance; a scene from ‘Il Trovatore,’ by the same German singers; a couple of Austrian songs, rendered by Mme. Lichtmay, the first, the first, ‘Morgenfensterlein,’ a comic song by Proch, being rather out of place on the occasion, and the aria, ‘Robert, toi que j’aime,’ of Meyerbeer, very tamely and ineffectively sung by Miss Henne.” 

“The concert at the Grand Opera House last Sunday evening was, so far as excellent music, a crowded audience, enthusiastic applause and other evidences of delight could make it so, what is called a grand success. Gilmore’s band shows a steady improvement and did its work finely. Mr. Wieniawski was, however, the hero of the performance and must have been satisfied with the appreciation of his auditors. The singing was more than respectably well done.” 

“A large audience attended the first of a series of Sunday-night concerts at the Grand Opera-House, on Feb. 8, under the direction of P. S. Gilmore. An excellent programme was performed by the Twenty-second Regiment Band, in full uniform, numbering sixty-five pieces, and including [see above]. Herr Carl Richter was the director of the orchestra. These concerts bid fair to prove highly successful.”