Anschütz German Opera: Fidelio - Carl Anschütz Benefit

Event Information

Venue(s):
German Opera House

Manager / Director:
Carl Anschütz

Conductor(s):
Carl Anschütz

Price: $1

Event Type:
Choral, Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
14 June 2012

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

11 Dec 1862, 8:00 PM

Program Details

Complimentary Testimonial for Carl Anschütz

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
aka Leonore, oder Der Triumph der ehelichen Liebe; Leonore, or The Triumph of Married Love; Fidelio, oder Die eheliche Liebe;
Composer(s): Beethoven
Text Author: Sonnleithner

Citations

1)
Review: Dwight's Journal of Music, 03 January 1862, 318.

“I rejoice with [the other musical correspondents to DJM] at the encouragement and patronage with which Mr. Anschütz’s enterprise of German opera has met.  Again and again have I heard it said by those who heretofore wasted all their enthusiasm upon Italian music: -- ‘Oh I like the German opera so much better than the Italian – there is so much less pretension about it, and then the music is so much more to the heart’ – or the like.  And is it not a triumph that just ‘Fidelio’ which has been denounced as heavy, incomprehensible, devoid of melody, etc., should have drawn the fullest houses, and had altogether the most success?  I regret to say that the opera will close ere long, the troupe having accepted a favorable engagement in Philadelphia.”

2)
Announcement: New York Post, 24 November 1862.
“A number of the patrons of the ‘Deutsche Oper,’ in recognition of Anschutz’s unwearying care and labor, have voluntarily subscribed a thousand dollars, which will be presented to him in some form or another.”
3)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 03 December 1862, 7.
Two ads. One is a “CARD to Carl Anschütz,” with the invitation to his benefit by the people arranging the affair.
4)
Announcement: New York Herald, 03 December 1862, 8.
“The artists of the German Opera have proffered to their able and energetic manager, M. Carl Anschütz, a benefit. He has accepted the compliment and fixed the evening of December 11, and suggested Beethoven’s ‘Fidelio’ as the opera.”
5)
Announcement: New-York Times, 03 December 1862, 4.
Mentions the benefit for Anschütz but mistakenly says it will be “to-morrow,” which was 12/04/1862.
6)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 03 December 1862, 7.
Benefit extended to Anschütz by: “M. Rader; H. Thiermann; D.A. Gescheidt; Herman Marcuse; A. Heidelberger; Herm. Rose; F. Werner Meyer , and others.”
7)
Announcement: Dwight's Journal of Music, 06 December 1862, 286.
From a letter dated 12/01/62. “The present experiment [of the German opera] has, however, proved the ability of New York to sustain a German Opera. Amateurs who don’t understand the German language find their way to Anschütz’s dirty little theatre and endure vast wastes of dismal dialogue so as to enjoy the oases of music. Anshütz, moreover, has an excellent orchestra, of which he is the life and soul. A number of patrons of the German Opera will this week present the spirited little conductor with a testimonial in the shape of a purse containing almost a thousand dollars.”
8)
Announcement: New York Herald, 08 December 1862.
“Each night the house is filled with a large audience. . . . ‘Fidelio’ will be performed . . . for the benefit of the manager.”
9)
Announcement: New-York Times, 08 December 1862.

“There will be a presentation of a baton to Mr. Anschutz and we are sure a hearty amount of applause.”

10)
Announcement: New York Post, 08 December 1862.
11)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 11 December 1862, 7.
12)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 11 December 1862, 7.
Price, time.
13)
Announcement: New-York Times, 11 December 1862, 8.
“We are glad to learn that tickets have been sold with unusual rapidity, leaving no shadow of doubt of the success of the entertainment.”
14)
Announcement: New York Post, 11 December 1862.
15)
Announcement: Courrier des États-Unis, 11 December 1862.

Tonight, the extraordinary performance to benefit M. Anschutz.

16)
Review: New York Herald, 12 December 1862, 2.
“[P]assed off most brilliantly last evening. We defer a detailed account of this grand affair to another occasion.”
17)
Review: New York Herald, 15 December 1862, 2.

     "Anschutz's testimonial and complimentary benefit on last Thursday evening was a grand affair of the kind. A house packed from parquet to dome, and other pleasing evidences of appreciation and popularity, filled the heart of the manager with joy and pride. The whole affair was an ovation, and no doubt Mr. Carl Anschutz will cater for the musical enjoyment of the habitues of the German opera with redoubled zeal and energy."

18)
Review: New York Herald, 18 December 1862, 5.
“The excellent management of Carl Anschutz at this house deserves special mention. His opera season has been conducted with great tact and liberality, and, we are glad to add, with immense success. Last week, Anschutz received a benefit, which took the proportions of an ovation, and on that occasion he was presented with a beautiful baton of gold and silver, by Madame Methua Scheller, who represented those friends of German art and of Anschutz who had kindly contributed this most appropriate gift.”