Venue(s):
Steinway Hall
Manager / Director:
H. L. [impressario] Bateman
Conductor(s):
Theodore Thomas [see also Thomas Orchestra]
Price: $1
Event Type:
Orchestral
Performance Forces:
Vocal
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
7 December 2017
“Steinway Hall was crowded yesterday at noon on the occasion of the last matinee of the Bateman troupe. Madame Parepa sang Arditi’s new waltz, ‘L’Estasi.’ It is a glittering, showy affair, and like its predecessor, ‘Il Bacio,’ not remarkable in point of originality or even effective brilliancy. Gounod’s beautiful serenade, which was sung with Mr. Rosa’s violin obligato and Mr. Hatton’s piano accompaniment, was a gem in execution and pure unaffected style. Mr. Hatton is an accompignature of rare merit. His preluding, to which exception has been taken, is an additional proof of the fact. Any person possessing the least knowledge of music will acknowledge at once the necessity of a prelude to lead from the key in which the preceding piece has been played or sung to the subject immediately before the finish. Mr. Rosa’s Vieuxtemps’ Caprice was excellent. This young artist is steadily gaining in the esteem of the public. Signor Brignoli sang ‘La mia Letitza’ and Good bye, Sweetheart.’ Ferranti is rather out of his element in the concert room. It is only in the opera that such a capital buffo singer can have scope for his demonstrative fun and humor.”
“The admirable company engaged by Mr. Bateman gave their closing matinee at Steinway’s Hall on Saturday morning, to a large and delighted audience. We have so frequently noticed the excellence of the artists engaged that it would be but mere repetition to particularize their efforts. Parepa was in glorious voice, and sang with all that grace of manner and perfection of vocal finish which have won from all the acknowledgment of her supremacy as a concert singer. The other artists fully sustained their reputations, and the entire matinee was in all respects thoroughly enjoyable.
It is a source of sincere regret to all that these talented artists are compelled to leave us so soon. We had anticipated two weeks longer enjoyment, and are sadly disappointed at finding ourselves mistaken. But engagements contracted in advance had to be fulfilled, and Mr. Bateman is compelled to withdraw his company from New York, just as their merits had touched and thoroughly awakened the public interest and curiosity, and he had begun to reap the reward of his brilliant and costly enterprise. But as we cannot retain Parepa and her confreres, we commend them to our friends and readers throughout the country, as altogether the most complete and admirable concert troupe that has left New York in a dozen years, to delight with their talents and accomplishments the multitudes of our music-loving people, scattered over the face of the country.”