Gottschalk Farewell Concert: 1st

“Gottschalk, who has returned from the West, will be thawed out in a few days, when he will give his farewell concerts in this city.”

“The eminent pianist Gottschalk, having concluded a most successful series of concerts in the West, has returned to New York. We are assured that, assisted by artists of well known talent, he will give a series of farewell concerts here prior to his departure for Europe.”

“During the series M. Gottschalk will perform several new compositions, written expressly for these farewell concerts.”

“Mr. Gottschalk the pianist has returned from his Western tour, and will commence a new series of Farewell concerts at Niblo’s saloon to-night. [Lists participants.] Mr. Gottschalk [will play] four of his best known compositions.”

“Gottschalk’s Concert.—Niblo’s saloon [sic] was crowded last night for the first of Gottschalk’s two farewell concerts by a very fashionable, musical and demonstrative audience. It was a well dressed audience, an audience determined to be pleased, and an audience without moderation in its applause, for certainly nine encores in a programme of twelve pieces is very extravagant admiration. Gottschalk exhibited his complete mastery over all the possibilities of the piano in the overture to Oberon in his own Jerusalem [sic]; Home, Sweet Home, the Star-Spangled Banner, &c. In the first two pieces he was very acceptably assisted by Mademoiselle Barnetchie [sic]. Madame d’Angri was in excellent voice, and sang with her usual force and art. After her first piece, and in response to an encore, she gave with splendid gusto a characteristic Spanish song, La Pomplinero. The second of these concerts will be given on to-morrow night.”

“Mr. Gottschalk’s first concert was given last evening at Niblo’s Saloon to a very musical and enthusiastic audience. Many of the pieces on the programme were his own compositions, always remarkable for grace and finish; and few besides Gottschalk could elicit a reception so genial and cordial. The performances by himself and Mlle. Barnetche were seldom surpassed in a concert-room, and were warmly appreciated by the listeners. Madame D’Angri and Mr. Simpson sang well, and won applause. The violin efforts of Carlo Patti gave promise of great future success.”

“The crowd has followed Gottschalk to Niblo’s, with the same assiduous attention that it had showed him at Irving Hall. It was repaid for that fidelity by an excellent evening, in which the eminent pianist, Mme d’Angri, Mlle Barnetche and Carlo Patti’s talents vied with one another.”

One sentence.  “Mr. Gottschalk has resumed his Farewell Concerts at Niblo’s Saloon with his usual success.”

“Mr. Gottschalk gave a couple of pleasant concerts at Niblo’s Saloon last week. . . . D’Angri is the vocal star, and is assisted by Mr. George Simpson, a very pleasing concert tenor.  Mr. Carlo Patti—a brother of Adelina Patti—made his debut at the first of these entertainments as a violinist.  He has a pleasing style and presence, and satisfies the multitude.  Mr. Gottschalk himself never played better.”

More about Gottschalk’s Chickering pianos than the concert itself. “Mr. Gottschalk gave a concert last week at Niblo’s Saloon, which was according to custom well attended. Mr. Gottschalk combines the utmost strength with the utmost delicacy of fingering. It would be superfluous to range over the keys faster than he does. He is such an established favorite that musical conquest invariably attends him. We are reminded by some portentous letters painted on the grand pianoforte which he uses that he selects Chickering’s instruments. This house may gracefully be mentioned in connection with pianoforte playing as something stupendous in the history of American lyrico-mechanics. Established many years ago by the deceased father of the present principals, it has steadily sent forth a supply of American pianos, until the total number exceeds we believe some twenty-five-thousand, and their works are held in the highest esteem. Their establishment is immense: they take in logs of wood and iron bars and send forth their lyres Americanised. One of the partners has mounted a barbed steed to fright the souls of the fearful adversaries, being Colonel of an esteemed Boston regiment, in which is a large portion of recruits from his manufactory; the other is engaged in producing the lascivious lute. Both are respected as accomplished gentlemen and of the highest tone mercantile as well as musical.”

“L.M. Gottschalk (the popular pianist and composer) assisted by Madame Elena D’Angri, contralto; M’lle Barnetche, pianist; Geo. Simpson, tenor, and Carlo Patti, violinist; gave two concerts last week at Niblo’s Saloon, the 1st on the 22d, the 2nd on the 24th ult. The selections on both evenings were well calculated to please, and in the main were well executed. ‘Slumber on, baby dear,’ a mother’s cradle song, composed by Gottschalk, and sung by Madame D’Angri, is a sweet, simple piece of music, and was well rendered by the lady. Simpson, on the first night, appeared to be nervous; but on the second sang with his accustomed clearness and confidence. Gottschalk excelled himself on the latter occasion, particularly in his ‘Murmures Epliens’ and M’lle Barnetche is certainly the best lady pianist we ever heard. Eulogy, however, is superfluous, when we say that the house was full on both occasions, and every piece but one was encored. Gottschalk gives a matinee at the same place on the 3d inst., when, we understand, Madam Varian is to assit. The same party gave concerts at Hartford on the 25th, Boston 26th and 29th, Providence 27th ult., and appear in Stamford on the 1st inst.”