Arion Concert
Event Information
Venue(s):
Germania Assembly Rooms
Price: $1
Event Type:
Choral, Orchestral
Performance Forces:
Instrumental
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
2 September 2012
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
17 Dec 1865, 8:00 PMProgram Details
Performers and/or Works Performed
Citations
“In consequence of the sickness of the Conductor, the Concert will not take place on SATURDAY, 8th instant. Further notice will be given.”
Mentions postponement due to Hartmann’s illness.
Includes contents. “The Arion Concert. A musical entertainment was given at the Germania Assembly Rooms last night by the Arion Society, which was quite a successful and well-patronized affair. The concert hall was fully occupied by the friends of the Arion, and the musical exercises were of a select pattern. The singers of the Arion, who rendered several chorus songs with great perfection, were assisted by Mr. Julius Sesselberg, an accomplished basso, who sang an aria from Lortzing’s Waffenschmied and a warrior’s song, by Abt. Mr. Sesselberg has only recently made his appearance here, but has already given ample proof of his talent and musical training. The violoncello performances of Mr. Henry Mollenhauer formed quite a feature in the programme, and were executed with great precision. Mr. Mollenhauer in part first performed a fantasia of his own composition, and in part second the fantasia of Kummer (Preciosa). There was a full orchestra in attendance, which at the close of the programme assisted in the rendition of a sailor’s chorus, quite a difficult composition, which was executed with great precision by the singers of the Arion.”
“MUSICAL GOSSIP.—Several concerts have taken place lately, to which we have not had an opportunity of alluding. Among them, the Arion Concert, on the evening of the 17th, at the City Assembly Rooms, was worthy of notice as a real musical treat. Mr. Sessebey [sic] was the solo vocalist, and Henry Mollenhauer played on the violoncello.”
Mr. Hartmann conducted the concert very satisfactorily. Although the orchestra was small, it was well put together with fine musicians. The choral part of the concert was performed with taste, yet a better balance of the various voices would be desirable. Mr. Sesselberg performed his chosen solos with “much, at times too much expression.” He possesses a pleasant and very strong voice and sings with much fire; nevertheless, he did not perform well enough. Mr. Mollenhauer was enthusiastically welcomed by the audience and deserved his applause, although his playing missed nuances and seemed rather plain in some parts.