Charity Operatic Concert for the Poor of New York

Interview with the soprano at the Metropolitan Hotel. 

Includes program.

“A concert in aid of the poor was given at the Academy of Music last evening. Mr. Wieniawski, Mr. J. W. Pattison, Signor Campanini, Miss Cary, Mme. Luca, and a number of other artists appeared, but the programme only included familiar pieces, which it is not worth while even to mention by name. The attendance was large, but it by no means filled the auditorium; this result may have been due to bad management, but it is not impossible that the public is rather weary just now of ‘charity entertainments.’”

“A very attractive musical entertainment was given at this house last evening for the benefit of the suffering poor of this city, the proceeds of which will be distributed by the Societies of St. Vincent de Paul and St. John’s Guild. The participants in this grand concert comprised the best musical elements in the city. Gilmore’s fine military band, which is attached to the Twenty-second regiment, played an overture and Wieprecht’s grand arrangement of airs from ‘Il Profeta.’ Then came the dashing overture to ‘Zampa,’ given by the orchestra of the Italian Opera; an aria from Donizetti’s ‘Betly,’ by Mlle. Maresi and a violin solo by Wieniawski. Then was presented the first great feature of the concert, a song, ‘Sweet the Angelus,’ by Operti, a very charming composition and delivered with that wealth of tone and expression that is allied to the voice of Mme. Pauline Lucca. ‘Die Kleine Paulina’ was in excellent spirits and voice, and her reception was very cordial. The song is simple and effective and exactly in the style of Mme. Lucca’s vocal art. Mr. J. N. Pattison was the solo pianist of the occasion, and in the rendering of his charming work, ‘Paraphrase de Concert sur un Thème Russe,’ a clever, artistic piano composition, he proved himself a true artist. The Liederkranz Society, a vocal organization which occupies the first place in this country, next sang two choruses, ‘Mignon,’ by N. Nagiller, and ‘The Water Lily,’ by Abt. The wonderful precision of tone, homogeneity of sentiment and warmth of expression shown by this renowned society in those selections, and the sonorous, well trained bass voice of Mr. F. Steins, in one or two solo passages, gave entire satisfaction and testified to the ability of the conductor, Mr. A. Paur. Miss Cary, the first of American contraltos, gave the second air of the page in ‘Gli Ugonotti,’ as only she can sing it, and Signor Campanini, after his arduous labors at the matinée of ‘Lohengrin,’ and we might also say in the same connection Del Puente and Nannetti, appeared with not a trace of the terrible strain on each voice which would be naturally supposed to be caused by Wagner’s opera a few hours previous. Miss Kellogg was absent through illness of the most severe kind. About $5,000 will be realized from this benefit.”

“There was a concert at the Academy of Music on Saturday night, given for the joint benefit of St. John’s Guild and the charitable society of St. Vincent de Paul. Gilmore’s full band, the opera orchestra, Lucca, Maresi, Campanini, Del Puente, Nannetti, Wieniawski, Pattison and the Liederkranz Society all volunteered their services, and a large and interesting programme was the result. Unfortunately, however, the house was not very full, and the audience was cold and apathetic. Owing to some oversight, the artists who freely gave their services, were rewarded neither with flowers nor applause, though they all did their parts well. In the management of a concert of this kind there are little points of courtesy to be attended to which should not be forgotten. The entertainment was, however, first-class, and the whole affair netted a handsome and much-needed profit to two worthy charities. Indeed, we are informed that but for this timely aid the work of St. John’s Guild—aiding thirty-five thousand poor people—must have been suspended.”