Benefit for the Construction of St. Francis Chapel in Westchester County

Event Information

Venue(s):
Residence of Dr. Ward

Manager / Director:
Mrs. General Egbert L. Viele
Wynant Van Zandt

Price: $3

Performance Forces:
Instrumental, Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
16 June 2016

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

02 Apr 1866, 2:00 PM

Program Details

Tate, Maxwell, and Grandin belonged to St. Alban’s Church choir and performed “by permission of Dr. Cutler.” Program also included recitations, all of which are listed in the New York Herald review.

The second singer of the duet, “Quanto amore ed io spietata,” was not identified.

Performers and/or Works Performed

4)
aka Ah, mio figlio; Beggar's song; Prophete. Ah! mons fils
Composer(s): Meyerbeer
Participants:  Fanny Reed Tate [vocal]
5)
aka Grande fantaisie dramatique sur les themes de Faust
Composer(s): Pattison
Participants:  John Nelson Pattison
6)
aka Song of the torreador
Composer(s): Iradier
Participants:  G. [basso] Fossati;  Maria Totten
7)
aka Fantasia on Russian national hymn; Fantasia on Russian airs; Variations on a Russian national hymn
Composer(s): Pattison
Participants:  John Nelson Pattison
8)
aka Salve, dimora casta e pura; Sei mir gegrüsst, du heil’ge Stätte; Romance
Composer(s): Gounod
Participants:  Alfred de Barry
10)
Composer(s): Ward
Participants:  John Farley;  Maria Totten

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Post, 01 March 1866, 3.

     “There is much talk in musical and fashionable circles in regard to the amateur matinee which is to be given at the elegant residence of Dr. Ward, No. 1 West Forty-seventh street, on the 2d of next month. The affair is to be under the especial management of Mrs. General Viele, and the list of managers embraces the names of ladies who fill and adorn the highest social positions. Under such auspices it is impossible but that the matinee should be one of the most brilliant events of the social season. The pecuniary proceeds of the entertainment will go to the benefit of the fund for erecting a chapel at Ashford, Westchester county. The tickets of admission (at three dollars each, and limited to five hundred), are to be procured of Mrs. General Viele, at No. 8 West Twenty-eighth street.”

2)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 31 March 1866, 7.

     “Next week the splendid mansion of Dr. Ward, in Forty-seventh-st., will be the scene of several brilliant musical reunions. The first will take place on Easter Monday, April 2, and will be for the benefit of the fund for erecting a chapel at Ashford, Westchester County, N.Y. The entertainment, which will commence at 2 o’clock p.m., will be both literary and musical, and will be sustained by many of the most distinguished musical and literary amateurs, whose talents have met with decided acceptance in society. They will be aided by the valuable services of Mr. J. N. Pattison, pianist, and Signor Fossati, baritone.

     This entertainment is the special project of Mrs. General Viele, who is aided in the management by Wynant Van Zandt, esq., whose knowledge of musical matters and tact in directing, suffice to insure success for such reunions. The lady patronesses comprise many of the names most influential in society. Every ticket was sold three weeks since, and hundreds of unavailing applications for tickets have since been made.”

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

“A very interesting private literary and musical matinee for a charitable purpose took place yesterday afternoon, under the auspices of Mrs. General Egbert L. Viele and several other prominent ladies of this city. The object specifically was to raise funds for the erection of St. Francis’ chapel at Ashford, Westchester county, and, like all such objects under proper arrangement, was carried out very successfully. The Comtesse de Ferussac, Mrs. S. Petigru King, Mrs. Julie Ward Howe, Mrs. Ellet, Miss Power, Miss Maria Totten, Signor Fossati, Mr. Patterson [sic], Mr. Alfred de Barry, and Mr. Farley took prominent parts in the exercises and acquitted themselves in an admirable manner

[Gives program.]

     The fourth piece, ‘I am Dying,’ was recalled in a creditable manner by Mrs. Petigru King, and the duetto La Iota del los Toreros was executed in admirable style by Miss Totten and Signor Fossati. The Comtesse de Ferussac’s rendering of Qui la voce from Puritani was also greatly admired. Indeed the entire performance passed off without giving any opportunity for unfavorable criticism. The musical part of the exercises was under the direction of Mr. Wynant Van Zandt.”