Ella Melville Debut Concert

Event Information

Venue(s):
Dodworth's Hall

Price: $.50; $.75 reserved

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
20 March 2013

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

30 Apr 1866, 8:00 PM

Program Details

Performers also included a number of Melville’s pupils, amateur singers, and Daniel Boone’s sisters.

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Composer(s): Tully
Participants:  Ella Melville [soprano]
3)
Composer(s): Barnett
Participants:  Ella Melville [soprano]
4)
Composer(s): Barnett
Participants:  Ella Melville [soprano]
5)
aka Ship on fire, man the life boat, The; Ship's on fire, The
Composer(s): Russell
Text Author: Mackay
Participants:  George Guy [baritone]

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 30 April 1866, 7.
2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 30 April 1866, 7.
3)
Review: New York Herald, 01 May 1866, 5.

     “This lady, assisted by a number of her pupils and some amateur singers, gave a concert at Dodworth Hall last night. The programme was an alarming one, comprising nearly thirty vocal pieces. A good many of those were comic, and very well sung, but the sentimental ones were in a great measure either incomprehensible or decidedly funny. Miss Melville formed an exception to the latter class, for she gave some little songs by Tully and Barnett in a pleasing if not artistic manner. She has an excellent voice, but it requires more finish and command before she can rank among American artists. Messrs Keenan and Hill were the pianists. As they played nothing but [illeg.] music we could not determine the merit of their claims as artists and professors. Mr. George Guy is a very good comic singer, but Russell’s ‘Ship on Fire’ is entirely beyond his powers. Little Daniel Boone and family afforded the most amusement at the concert. His address on temperance and comic songs showed a wonderful precocity of talent. Miss Melville may acquire distinction as a soprano if she cultivates her voice more thoroughly. Her pupils, considering their age, acquitted themselves very well.”