German Hospital Benefit Concert

Event Information

Venue(s):
Academy of Music

Conductor(s):
Theodore Thomas [see also Thomas Orchestra]
Carl Bergmann
Agricol Paur

Price: $2.00; $3 reserved seats; .50 family circle

Event Type:
Choral

Performance Forces:
Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
22 May 2014

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

03 Feb 1866, 8:00 PM

Program Details

The concert was performed in two parts.

Anschütz was scheduled to be one of the conductors but broke his ribs and did not appear. Large chorus included 500 voices from 23 Gesangvereins. Orchestra of seventy. The Rakoczy march was performed with added orchestra.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Academy of Music, orchestra;  Men's chorus, unidentified;  Elena Angri;  Sebastian Bach Mills;  Wilhelm Formes
2)
Fidelio, (1806), overture
aka Leonore overture, no. 3; Leonora overture, no. 3
Composer(s): Beethoven
3)
Africaine, L', aria
Composer(s): Meyerbeer
Participants:  Wilhelm Formes
4)
Fantasie on Gounod's Faust
Composer(s): Mills
Participants:  Sebastian Bach Mills
5)
"Hymne an die Musik," op. 17
Conductor: Paur, Agricol
Composer(s): Lachner
Participants:  Academy of Music, orchestra;  Men's chorus, unidentified
6)
INTERMISSION
7)
Mazeppa, allegro marciale
aka march from Mazeppa; Grand maarch
Conductor: Bergmann, Carl
Composer(s): Liszt
8)
Huguenots, Les, "Non, non, non, vous n’avez jamais, je gage"
aka No, no, no
Composer(s): Meyerbeer
Participants:  Elena Angri
9)
Tannhäuser, overture
aka Tannhauser overture
Conductor: Thomas [see also Thomas Orchestra], Theodore
Composer(s): Wagner
10)
Altdeutscher Schlachtgesang
Conductor: Paur, Agricol
Composer(s): Rietz
Participants:  Academy of Music, orchestra;  Men's chorus, unidentified
11)
Rhapsodie hongroise, piano, no. 15
aka Rákóczy March, LW A60B; Rakoczy march; Magyar rhapsodiak, no. 15; Ungarische Rhapsodien, no. 15
Composer(s): Liszt

Citations

1)
Announcement: New-Yorker Musik-Zeitung, 01 January 1866.
2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 01 February 1866.
3)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 01 February 1866.
4)
Advertisement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 01 February 1866.
5)
Review: New-York Times, 05 February 1866, 5.

     “The charity concert in aid of the German Hospital Fund took place at the Academy on Saturday evening.  An admirable orchestra, seventy strong, assisted in the programme, which was further illustrated by Mme. D’ Angri, Herr Wilhelm Formes, Mr. S. B. Mills, and a grand chorus.”

6)
Review: New-York Times, 05 February 1866, 5.

     Just a mention that it “took place.”

7)
Review: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 05 February 1866, 8.

     The performers put quite some effort and diligence into preparing for this concert which deserves acknowledgement. We had hoped to see the Academy filled up completely. The orchestral performance, including the conducting, was executed with the usual precision. Unfortunately, Anschütz had fallen and cracked a rib last week and could therefore not participate in this event. Because Paur had only chosen the best of the chorus singers, the Lachner work was performed excellently even in the crescendo. The “Schlachtlied” however, seemed a little slow. Mr. Mills played with such skill, the audience asked for an encore performance. Mme. d’Angri proved again that she is still one of the greatest artists of the opera world, although she is beyond the peak of her career at this point and her vocal skills are waning. Wilhelm Formes’ performance could have been more nuanced and fierier in the end. However, because of his beautiful voice, he was still able to capture the audience.

8)
Review: New-Yorker Musik-Zeitung, 07 February 1866, 74.

     This concert was a big success. It made a revenue of $ 4,000. The 23 choruses performed significantly more effectively than a larger number of choruses did at the last chorus festival. Mills played brilliantly on a fine Steinway grand piano. The Rakoczy march was performed with added orchestra.