Carl Formes Farewell Sacred Concert

Prior to Formes’s departure for California.

“Herr Karl Formes gave a farewell concert last night at Steinway Hall, as he soon leaves for California. Unfortunately, the audience was very small. The performances of this departing bassist were, for us, a feast for the ears, and probably also for much of the audience, even if one only wants to regard them as reminiscences of old times. [Lists program.] So long as his voice allowed him, he did justice to every number he sang. He is still a master of presentation, but his resources [his voice] often lets him down. Still, each piece he sang was met with thunderous applause. Apart from his singing, though, the program had nothing special to offer.

Still, it would be unfair not to note the contribution of the young pianist, Fräulein Anna Bock, to the concert. The lady played Weber’s ‘Conzerstück’ and a polonaise by Liszt with courage. Fräulein Bock is a student of Herr von Inten, and she intends to study in Germany to complete her education. She plays already with great confidence and power; all she is missing are the finer touches—attention to details—which soon she will master.”

“A very small audience attended the farewell concert of this world-renowned basso at Steinway Hall last night. He sang [lists works]. His voice was in very good condition and exhibited some of its former powers, and his reception was of the heartiest kind. Mlle. Maresi sang the bolero from ‘Les Vêpres Siciliennes,’ instead of an air from Balfe’s ‘La Zingara,’ and Miss Anna Bock displayed considerable skill and talent in the rendering of that cheval de bataille for fleet fingered pianists, Weber’s ‘Concert Stück,’ arranged by Liszt. Mr. Armin Schotte played a few organ solos without any satisfactory effect. Mr. Formes leaves for California, we understand, in a few days.”