Dodworth’s Hall

Event Information

Venue(s):
Dodworth's Hall

Price: $1.50

Event Type:
Chamber (includes Solo)

Performance Forces:
Instrumental, Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
28 November 2021

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

03 May 1865, Evening

Program Details

Concert originally scheduled for April 18, 1865, but postponed because of Lincoln’s assassination.

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Composer(s): Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
3)
Composer(s): Schubert
Text Author: Rellstab
Participants:  Fanny Raymond Ritter
4)
Composer(s): Loewe
Text Author: Uhland
Participants:  Fanny Raymond Ritter
5)
Composer(s): Servais
Participants:  Frederick Bergner
6)
Composer(s): Mason
7)
Composer(s): Mason
Participants:  William Mason
8)
aka Variations on the Emperor hymn; Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser; Austrian National hymn variations; Kaiser Franz theme and variations
Composer(s): Haydn
9)
Composer(s): Schumann
Participants:  Fanny Raymond Ritter
11)
Composer(s): Schumann
Participants:  Fanny Raymond Ritter

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 14 April 1865.

      Announces concert originally scheduled for April 18.

2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 01 May 1865.
3)
Announcement: New-Yorker Musik-Zeitung, 03 May 1865, 101.

      Mr. Bergner is not merely an excellent cellist, but also a very educated artist; something that always proves the noblest characteristics of the heart and mind.  We wish him a filled hall.  He deserves it.

4)
Announcement: New York Post, 03 May 1865.

      “Bergner, the violoncellist, gives his annual concert this evening at Dodworth’s Hall, assisted by Miss Raymond, vocalist, and Messrs. Mason, Thomas, Mosenthal and Matzka.  The programme includes a quintet by Schubert, a duo for violin and violoncello, to be played by Thomas and Berger, and the ‘Souvenir of Spa,’ Servais’s beautiful violoncello composition, which will of course be played by Bergner.”

5)
Announcement: New-York Times, 03 May 1865, 4.
6)
Review: New York Post, 04 May 1865.

      “One of the most pleasant concerts of the season was that given by F. Bergner, our favorite violoncello virtuoso, last night, at Dodworth’s Hall.  Mr. Bergner was assisted by Miss Fanny Raymond and Messrs. W. Mason, Theodore Thomas, Mosenthal, Matzka and Schartz [sic].  The concert opened with a good performance of Mendelssohn’s fine quintet op. 87.  Miss Raymond then sang Schubert’s noble and suggestive song, ‘Aufenthalt,’ and a lovely ballad by Loewe.  The lady has a rich and powerful mezzo-soprano voice, and the manner in which she uses it proves that she has studied in a good school.  She sang the songs as originally written, in German, and her clear and distinct pronunciation and even accent were as creditable to her linguistic as her vocalization was to her musical acquirements.

      Mr. Bergner played as a solo for his instrument, ‘Souvenir de Spa,’ by Servais.  This artist is acknowledged as our best violoncello player.  His tone is noble, his execution sufficient, and he plays with a great deal of expression.  Mr. W. Mason charmed the audience with two of his own exquisite compositions, played in his own delightful style.  Haydn’s variations for string quartet have been so often heard that, though beautiful in their way, they begin to pall on the ear.  Of course this long-practised [sic] quartet of artists played them finely.  Miss Raymond also sang three songs by Schumann; the last especially satisfactory, both in the composition and by her impassioned singing.  The concert closed agreeably with a duo, played by Messrs. Thomas and Bergner.”

7)
Announcement: New-York Times, 04 May 1865, 4.

      “Dodworth’s Hall. – Mr. Bergner, the well known violoncellist – decidedly the best in the country – will give a grand concert at this establishment to-night, assisted by Miss Fanny Raymond, Mr. and Mrs. Mason, Mr. Theodore Thomas and other well known artists.”

8)
Review: Dwight's Journal of Music, 13 May 1865, 29.

      “Our violoncello virtuoso, Frederic Bergner, whose merit as an artist we have already spoken of in these letters, gave his annual concert at Dodworth’s Hall.  He was assisted by Miss Fanny Raymond, Messrs. W. Mason, Th. Thomas, Mosenthal, and Schwartz.  Mendelssohn’s fine Quintet, in B-flat, op. 87, was the opening piece, and the performance of it was an able one.  Mr. Bergner played Servais’ ‘Souvenir de Spa,’ an empty show piece, which has no other artistic merit than that of affording to the artist an opportunity of displaying his great technical ability, which was done in the most creditable way.  Miss Raymond sang, ‘Aufenthalt,’ a beautiful song by Schubert, a charming Ballad ‘Die Ueberfahrt’ by C. Loewe, and three songs: ‘Ich wandelte unter Bäume,’ ‘Die Lotosblume’ and ‘Schöne Wiege meiner Leiden,’ by Schumann.  If, on the one hand, we were delighted with the skillful manner in which Miss Raymond used her fine and rich voice, on the other, we did not less admire her true rendering of the spirit of each song; for every sentiment, every passion, she found the right color and the right tone, and the hearty applause and recall of the audience proved their appreciation of the singer and the songs.  Mr. W. Mason played two compositions of his own finely (this we always expect from such an artist), ‘Monody,’ and ‘Ah! vous dirai je Maman.’  In both of these Mr. Mason displayed his skill as harmonist and pianist; they are full of fine pianoforte effects and will not fail to become very popular.  Haydn’s ‘Kaiser Franz’ variations, the piece de resistance on ‘certain occasions’ of our meritorious Quartet, was, of course, executed with all the pianos and fortes, crescendos and decrescendos; the pros and contras, even the morendo of the closing harmony was conscientiously observed, to the delight of the audience.  The programme of the concert closed with a Duo for violin and violoncello by Schubert (not the Schubert, but another) and Kummer, a queer composition, in our opinion.”