Private Musical Evening

Event Information

Venue(s):
Residence of George Templeton Strong

Event Type:
Chamber (includes Solo)

Performance Forces:
Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
10 October 2025

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

18 Apr 1871, Evening

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  George Matzka;  Frederick Bergner;  Charles Preusser;  Richard [pianist] Hoffman;  Franz Rietzel [cond.-comp.fl-vn];  William S. [tenor] Leggat;  Max Schwartz [viola];  Edward Boehm [clarinet];  L. Albites;  F. Gewalt [horn];  L. [oboist] Ohlemann;  Frank Bartlett;  Adolph Sohst;  Mrs. Philip [soprano] Gulager;  Mrs. [singer] De Neufville;  Fanny [singer] Reed
2)
Septet, strings, winds, op. 20, E-flat major
Composer(s): Beethoven
Participants:  George Matzka;  Frederick Bergner;  Charles Preusser;  Max Schwartz [viola];  Edward Boehm [clarinet];  F. Gewalt [horn];  Adolph Sohst
3)
Turco in Italia, Il, "D'un bell'uso di Turchia"
Composer(s): Rossini
Participants:  L. Albites;  Mrs. [singer] De Neufville
4)
"She wandered down the mountain side"
Composer(s): Clay
Text Author: Stephenson
Participants:  Mrs. Philip [soprano] Gulager
5)
"Message, The"
Composer(s): Unknown composer
Participants:  Fanny [singer] Reed
6)
"Allmacht, Die"
Composer(s): Schubert
Participants:  William S. [tenor] Leggat
7)
Freischütz, Der, "Leise, leise, fromme Weise"
aka Wie nahte mir der Schlummer; Softly sighs
Composer(s): Weber
Participants:  Mrs. [singer] De Neufville
8)
Septet, piano, flute, oboe, horn, viola, cello, double bass, op. 74, D minor. Allegro
Composer(s): Hummel
Participants:  Frederick Bergner;  Charles Preusser;  Richard [pianist] Hoffman;  Franz Rietzel [cond.-comp.fl-vn];  Max Schwartz [viola];  F. Gewalt [horn];  L. [oboist] Ohlemann

Citations

1)
: Strong, George Templeton. New-York Historical Society. The Diaries of George Templeton Strong, 1863-1869: Musical Excerpts from the MSs, transcribed by Mary Simonson. ed. by Christopher Bruhn., 18 April 1871.

“Evening, our little musical evening [on Tuesday, April 18, no time given; 113 East 21st St.]—ecce its little programme inserted opposite [Beethoven septet, op. 20 (Matzka, Mr. Schwartz (viola), Bergner, Preusser (bass), Boehm (clarinet), Sohst (bassoon), Gewalt (horn). Rossini, Turco in Italia, duet (Mrs. De Neufville, Mr. Albites). Piano solo (Mr. Hoffman). Clay, ‘She wandered down the mountainside’ (Mrs. Gulager). ‘The Message’ (song—Miss Reed). Schubert, ‘Die Allmacht’ (Mr. Leggat). Weber, Der Freischütz, ‘Wie nahte mir der Schlumme’ (Mrs. De Neufville). Vocal solo (Mr. F. Bartlett). Hummel, Septet, op. 74, Allegro only (Hoffman (piano), Schwartz, Bergner, Preusser, Gewalt, Rietzel (flute), Ohleman (oboe)]—about 200 present [names of prominent attendees], etc. It was Mrs. Emily Hayes’ party, & she adorned it, looking as nice & pretty as possible & not in the least ‘bride-ish’ or self-conscious. Pech was here, & not improbably miffed because Bergner was director. But Pech has no monopoly of music on these premises.

How Miss Fanny Reed hates him, without tangible reason! She ventilates her wrath a little too freely. Her talk to him (apropos of Edmund Schermerhorn’s music) was tartaric, according to her own report. The two septettes were charmingly & perfectly rendered. Mrs. De Neufville’s scena from Freyschütz given with great spirit. Mrs. Gulager’s voice specially commended by Boehm & Matzka & Rietzel & our other Philharmonicals. M. Leoni had a cold, so the programme had to be a little changed.”