Widows and Orphans Fund Annual Benefit Concert and Ball

Event Information

Venue(s):
Irving Hall

Conductor(s):
Professor F. Groux [comp-cond.]

Event Type:
Choral, Orchestral

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
14 June 2016

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

02 Jan 1866, 8:00 PM

Program Details

The premiere of Nellie, an operetta in two acts by Groux, with libretto by Edward des Courtis, was originally announced but not performed because “it required a sum of five hundred dollars as license to perform his work, which was, therefore, entirely out of the question.”

Program included choruses by “Abt and other German composers.”

Event directed by F. Armond.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Orchestra, unidentified
2)
Diamants de la couronne, Les, overture
aka Krondiamanten, Die
Composer(s): Auber
3)
Fantasia on Halévy's La juive
Composer(s): Unknown composer
4)
Works, unidentified
Composer(s): Abt

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 26 December 1865.
2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 01 January 1866, 7.

Gives a description of the operetta, but it’s difficult to read.  “NELLIE, an operetta in two acts, composed expressly for this Association, will be performed for the first time. Libretto by Edward des Courtis. Music by Professor F. Groux.”

3)
Review: New York Herald, 03 January 1866.

     An operetta called “Nellie,” with music by F. Groux and libretto by Edward des Courtis, “founded on incidents of the war, was advertised, but did not come off.”  Instead, “several choruses were played by an efficient orchestra, conducted by Mr. Groux. . . . Choruses by Abt and other German composers were received with applause by the audience.  The latter, however, seemed to await impatiently the commencement of the ball which was to follow the concert.  The non-appearance of Nellie appeared to influence them to a considerable degree in a desire to exchange the concert for the ball.  The excuse assigned by the composer [not to perform the operetta] was that it required a sum of five hundred dollars as license to perform his work, which was, therefore, entirely out of the question.”