Ilma di Murska Concert: Last Sacred Concert

Brief. “Hopefully the weather will be more favorable than last Sunday.”

“Ilma di Murska’s concert troupe gave yesterday evening in the Stadttheater its second and final concert. Unfortunately the audience was rather small. After Fräulein di Murska last night, the baritone Signor Ferranti—an unsurpassable buffo in a tailcoat—made a furore. After the duet from ‘Don Pasquale’ he and Fräulein Murska were recalled three or four times, but this ovation was really for Ferranti, whose highly comical and vocally perfect performance captured the audience. Fräulein di Murska was in good voice last night and sang Doppler’s Hungarian song excellently. A trio in A major, by Signor Braga, is a solid piece and was beautifully played by Mme. Carreno, Mr. Sauret, and the composer. The audience approved of it heartily.”

“The Hungarian nightingale, who has probably no living peer as a bravura singer, took leave of New York last night at the Stadt Theatre, the weather having a very depressing effect upon the attendance. Her voice was as brilliant as ever, and in the Hungarian song, with flute obligato, written expressly for her by Franz Doppler, she created quite a sensation. It is an extremely trying test for a bravura singer, full of extraordinary fiorituri, trills, cadences and queerly constructed passages that would baffle the executive power of any cantatrice less accomplished than Mlle. Di Murska. The range is also excessive, reaching into comparatively unknown regions in alt. The concert began with a trio for piano, violin and violoncello, by Braga, played faultlessly by Mme. Carreño-Sauret and Messrs. Sauret and Braga. The distinguished violoncellist and composer, Signor Braga, was represented four times on the bill by his instrumental works, which are characterized by a wealth of melody and a finished, graceful style that are the best recommendations to popularity. Mme. Carreño-Sauret and her husband played a Braga duet for piano and violin with exceeding beauty of expression and artistic taste. Herr Schutz, a tenor, and Signor Ferranti, basso, contributed selections from the works of Méhul and Mozart.”