Vescelius Trio and Wieniawski Complimentary Concert

“Three young and attractive vocalists, known as the Vescelius sisters, and pupils of the distinguished maestro, Signor Muzio, are to appear on Tuesday evening next in concert at Steinway Hall, with the assistance of several artists and the orchestra of Mr. Strakosch’s Italian Opera Company. These young ladies, it is said, give promise of future eminence in art. They have already been received outside of New-York with much favor.”

“The Vescelius sisters, three gifted young ladies, of whose intentions some mention has already been made, are to give a concert at Steinway Hall this evening.”

“A complimentary concert was given last evening at Steinway Hall to the Vescelius trio [sic], consisting of three young ladies who are about to depart for Europe, and who have devoted themselves to the art of music.

The hall was about half filled with an audience so kindly in its disposition to the singers as to indicate that they had many friends. The concert was in several respects an interesting one. The programme was made up of music of a high grade, and three female voices are so seldom heard together that there is novelty as well as pleasure in listening to them. There are a vast number of trios for female voices written, especially by German and English composers, but they are very seldom heard outside of private musical circles.

Miss Louise Vescelius has a soprano voice, Miss Eva a mezzo-soprano, and Miss Frank an alto. They sing with great unity of sentiment and of phrasing, and the voices blend very effectively. Besides the trios each of the young ladies sang a solo, and they had also the assistance of Mr. Wieniawski, the violinist, and of the Signors Del Puente and Boy of the Strakosch company.

One of the most effective of the trios, though hardly appropriate to the occasion, was the hymn, ‘Nearer, my God, to thee,’ sung to the beautiful old melody of Robin Adair. This was given in response to an encore after a trio by Sir Michael Costa.

On the whole the young ladies may be congratulated upon the éclat attending their concerts. They are not without their shortcomings both in their solos and in their part singing, but the occasion of a complimentary concert is certainly not one when these are to be dwelt upon or when anything but the pleasantest side is to be seen.”

“The three Vescelius Sisters gave their first concert in New York last night at Steinway Hall. Probably much of the interest manifested in them was owing to the fact that they are pupils of Signor Muzio; but if so, his labors are not yet over. These young ladies, though they have fresh voices and sing with taste, require further training before they can rank as finished artists.

Herr Wieniawski, as usual, showed his great mastery over his instrument. His rendering of the difficult ‘Trille du Diable,’ by Tartini, was in every respect worthy of the highest praise. The double and triple trills intermixed with difficult chords were played with an ease and finish that were almost marvellous [sic]. It should be borne in mind that this concerto is one which only violinists of the highest culture can undertake. Herr Wieniawski also played in his best style his ‘Legende’—a most delightful and ear-haunting melody.

Signor Del Puente made a great success. His fine baritone voice and his artistic taste were shown in the romanza from Meyerbeer’s ‘Dinorah,’ while his singing of the drinking song from ‘Hamlet’ elicited an encore. Signor Boy sang Mattei’s Non e ver with good taste.”

“Misses Louise, Frank [sic], and Eva Vescelius last evening gave a concert at Steinway Hall. These young ladies are gifted with good voices—the voice of the soprano being especially rich and powerful—and we imagine that yesterday’s exhibition was intended rather to assert their fitness to be students than their proficiency as artists. The applause of a large audience encouraged them during the entertainment, which included, besides the performances of the sisters, two violin-pieces, executed by M. Wieniawski with his wonted maestria, and singing by Signori del Puente and Boy.”