Arion Gesangverein Concert: 2nd

Second concert of the season.

“The ‘Arion’ gave its second concert of the season at its hall in St. Mark’s Place yesterday before a pretty large public. The society sang four choruses, including two for the first time: Schumann’s ‘Wassermann’ and the eight-part ‘Alpenstimmen aus Oesterriech,’ a tasty, half-humorous composition by R. Weinwurm. The two new pieces, along with Cornelius’s ‘Grablied,’ were directed by Dr. Damrosch, very well sung, and received deserved applause. On the other hand, the singers were not up to Marschner’s ‘Unverzagt,’ which is admittedly pretty difficult; the first tenors in particular were unequal to their task. Herr A. Bischoff sang Uhland’s ballad ‘Jung Siegried,’ composed by L. Damrosch. It is not written in a strict ballad form, but the piece still captures a genuine folk tone, especially in the piano accompaniment. Herr Bischoff’s performance did him credit. The audience demanded that the exhausted singer repeat the song. Herr Remmertz, who was in magnificent voice last night, caused a furor with his masterful singing of an aria from Adam’s opera ‘Le Chalet.’ As an encore he offered the song ‘Ich bin der Hirtenknab,’ and did it very well [zum Besten]. Fräulein Anna Bock played Beethoven’s F-Minor Sonata, that which is called the Appassionata (though Beethoven did not give it the name), Liszt’s transcription of the Spinnerliedes from ‘Fliegenden Holländer,’ the Soiree de Vienne by Trausig [sic], and for an encore, a Melodie in F by Rubinstein. She was technically smooth—almost perfect; but her interpretation of the Beethoven sonata we found lacking in spirituality [die geistige durcharbeitung], feeling, and warmth. Her best was the Liszt transcription, which she played with energy and power.”