The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II, Part 118

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II > Part 118

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On Monday, December 4th, Madame Caradori Al- lent gave her first concert in Brooklyn, at the Ly- ceum.

1839 .- January 4th, Madame Otto, Mrs. Munson and U. G. Hill (violinist) appeared at the Lyceum. May 9th, Mr. E. C. Horn, an excellent tenor singer, appeared for the benefit of the Apprentices' Library.

Mr. and Mrs. Seguin § made their first appearance at a concert in Brooklyn at the Lyceum. Both of these artists were great public favorites.

After the Segnins followed Henry Russell | with a concert at the Lyceum, assisted by Mr. Knight.

* Sig. CHARLES MONTRESSOR waa an Italian, and an artist of splendid abili- ties. He made his firat appearance on the American atage at the Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, June 23, 1833, in Italian opera.

t Mr. EnwIN made his debut on the stage at the Surrey Theatre, London, in 1834, and his first appearance in this country, November 19th, 1836, at the Park Thestra, New York. Ha afterwarda became a great favorite at Mitchell's Olympic Theatre, N. Y. He was a fine actor, and had a beautiful tenor voice, which he managed with remarkable skill. He was born in London, and dlad in New York, 1842.

# This lady mada her first appearance in the United States at the Park Theatre, in 1833, as Rosini in " The Barber of Seville." She was an artist of fins ability, and for several years attracted great houses in all the principal cities in the United States. She took her farewell of the American stage at the Park Theatre, April 15th, 1848, and returned to Europe. She died in England, October 15th, 1865.

§ Mr. SEGUIN had a remarkable hass voice. He was born in London, April 7th, 1809. He was a member of the London Academy of Music, from which he retired in 1830. He made his first appearance on the London stage, July 3d, 1831. In 1838, he came to this country, and appeared for the first time in America October 18th, 1838, at the National Theatre, Church street, New York City. He died in New York, December 13th, 1852.

Mrs. SEOUIN's maiden name was Ann Child. She was born in London, and made her first appearance at a grand concert of the Philharmonic So- cisty of London. She was a member of the Italian Opera Company for over three years. She first appeared on the American stage, October 15th, 1838, at the National Theatre, New York. She traveled aa a star through the United States, much admired as an artist, and much respected as a lady of cultivated manners.

| Mr. RUSSELL was, at the time, the most prominent tenor ainger this country had ever produced. He was born in Philadelphia, and made his début May the 17th, 1839, in opera, at the Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadel- phie, in the character of Elvino in "La Sonnambula." He visited Eng- land in 1844, and was complimented by being invited to sing before the Queen at Windsor Castle. He was the first American singer that met with marked attention and success in England.

1840 .- In January, Mr. E. Horn gave a concert at the Lyceum, introducing to a Brooklyn audience, for the first time, Madame Manncelli and Mr. Masset, both excellent artists. On March 3d, The Brooklyn Sacred Music Society gave a concert at the Presbyterian Church on the corner of Clinton and Fulton streets, and repeated the concert, with great success, on the 28th of April, at Rev. Dr. S. Hanson Cox's church in Cranberry street. In April, a new place for amuse- ment was opened on Columbia street, opposite to Pine- apple street, called "Colonnade Garden," and on August 6th, was presented the vaudeville of "The Lady and the Devil," in which Mrs. Charles and Mr. Graham did the singing.

At a concert of sacred music, December 30th, at the Lyceum, Mr. Braham,* the celebrated tenor singer, made his first appearance before a Brooklyn audience.

1841 .- Mr. Duflon, of the Military Garden, com- menced, on July 12th, to give concerts, " vocal and instrumental," at a shilling admittance. He must have met with considerable success, as they were continued until the latter part of September.

1842 .- Mr. Braham gave a farewell concert at the Lyceum, and had a crowded house.

1843 .- March 2d, the Mozart Association, a new organization, gave a concert at the Brooklyn Institute (Lyceum). Mr. Charles Holt was conductor. This year, Mr. Duflon retired from the management of Military Garden, and Mr. Isaac Burtis became lessee. He gave concerts through the season. Other concerts were given at the Institute, with the names of N. C. Hill and Mr. Timm on the bills.

1844 .- "The Hutchinson Family " appeared in Brooklyn this season, and gave several very successful concerts at the Institute. Monday, May 20th, Vieux Temps, the great violinist, assisted by his sister Fanny, an accomplished pianist, gave a concert at the In- stitute.

1845 .- The most noteworthy concert of this sea- son was given at the Institute, 14th of August. Mr. Templeton, t William Francis Brough, ; and Mr. Dempster, all fine artists, appeared for the first time in Brooklyn, and gave the public great satisfaction.

* Mr. BRAHAM was an artist of fine culture. He had a strong, clear tenor voice, and in London, for many years, he was the favorite ballad-singer. He was said to be the finest Harry Bertram, in the musical drama of " Guy Mannering," that ever walked the English stage. He performed this part with great success at the Park Theatre, New York, in 1840. He was born in London. Ha died in England, February 17th, 1856.

t Mr. TEMPLETON was born iu Scotland, and made hia first appearance in this country as a tenor singer at concerts. His voice had great power and sweetness, with a fine articulation He went to England in 1832, and became a great favorite. He was a member of Drury Lane and Covent Gar- den Theatres. He returned to thia country, and gave au interesting enter- tainment entitled " Nights with Burns and Walter Scott." As a ballad singer he had few equals.

# Mr. BROUGH, born at Wexford, Ireland, in 1798, appeared first on the stage as a bass singer in Sussex, England, 1818, and was afterwards a fa- vorite at the Haymarket Theatre, London. He came to the United States in

1128

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

1847 .- The most prominent concert given this year was at Gothic Hall, for the benefit of the suffer- ing people of Ireland, at which Sig. Lesto Beneditti, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Beams, Mr. Bowland and Miss Julia Northall (daughter of Dr. Northall, the dramatist) ap- peared

1848 .- "The Hutchinson Family" gave several very successful concerts at the Institute. This troupe was at one time the most successful concert organiza- tion that ever traveled in the United States. Not so, however, from their possessing any extraordinary abili- ty, but simply that they sang old-fashioned songs, in costumes, and in a quaint and old-fashioned way.

December 21, Madame Anna Bishop,* wife of Sir Henry Bishop, the well-known composer (and who arranged the old Sicilian air to John Howard Payne's words of " Home, Sweet Home"), gave her first concert in Brooklyn, at "The Brooklyn Female Academy." The concert was made up of cavatinas and songs from the best composers.

The Brooklyn Sacred Music Society gave the "Ora- torio" of " The Seven Sleepers" at the " Female Acad- emy." The orchestra was composed of over one hundred performers ; Mr. J. Zundel was director.

There were no unusual musical performances given in Brooklyn during the year 1849.

1850 .- February 18th, Mrs. Emma Gillingham Bostwick gave a concert at the Female Academy. This lady was for several years the leading voice in Grace Church, N. Y. The Hutchinsons returned to Brook- lyn this season, and performed to crowded houses for a whole week at Plymouth Church.

1835, and first appeared at the Park Theatre, September 4th, as Dandini. He met with great success, and was, for many years, the bass singer of the English opera troupe of Mr. and Mrs. Wood (Mra. Wood was formerly the celebrated Miss Ann Paton). He traveled with them through the United States, and became s grest favorite wherever be appeared. He had & rich, deep voice, and managed it with remarkable skill. Brough was one of those whole-souled and kind-hearted men that carried sunshine with him wher- ever he went. He was s most excellent actor, and was always greeted with s round of applause as soon as he appeared upon the stage. He was over six feet high, of a fine figure, and had s genial face that at once drew you towards him and made you his personal friend.

Mr. Brough was the author of several burlesques, one of which, " The Field of the Cloth of Gold," had a long run st Mitchell'a Olympic Theatre, New York. At different periods, he waa the agent and manager of Miss Maggie Mitchell, the Webb aisters, and the celebrated Mr and Mrs. Charlea Kesn, with whom he traveled throughout the United States during their last visit to this country. He was for a long time a reaident and s property- owner in the city of Brooklyn. His health failing him, he undertook a trip to England, and died just as he arrived there, May 21st, 1867. His body was brought back to this country in February, 1868, and buried in Greenwood He had a very large and highly respectable funeral.

* MR8. BISHOP made her debut in London, July 5th, 1839. In 1843, she trav- eled through Europe with success, and closed a brilliant engagement at Naples in 1845. She made her firat appearance in this country at the Wal- nut Street Theatre, Philadelphis, in the opera "Norma," November 22d, 1847. Sir Henry Biahop, her husband, died April 30th, 1855. In 1858, she mar- rried Martin Shultz. She went to Europe in 1859, aoon returned to the States, and has aince sung in almost every important city or town on the globe. Her laat appearance was in the spring of 1883, at a concert given to Harry B. Dod- worth, Steinway Hall, N. Y., January 30th. This lady, after a short illness of two daya, died in the City of New York, March 18th, 1884. Her remains were deposited at Red Hook, N. J.

1851 .- The celebrated Catherine Hayes* gave her first and only concert in Brooklyn, which took place at the Female Academy. Mr. Braham and Mr. Bassford assisted. Her selections were mostly from Donizetti and Wallace. The hall was packed, and the recipts amounted to over seven hundred dollars; tickets one dollar each.

Thursday, Nov. 4th, Madame Henrietta Sontagt gave a concert at Plymoth Church, assisted by Pozzolini, Carl Eckert, and other prominent artists. Her selec- tions were from Rossini, Schubert and Hayden.

* Thia remarkable vocalist was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1828. Bio- graphera have given her a place among the "queens of song." When ehs was only ten years old, her pure soprano voice and pathetic atyle of singing attracted the attention of the Right Rev. Edmund Knox, Bishop of Limerick, who happened to overhesr her singing. He invited her to his house, and she at once became the atar at the musical re-unions given by her patron. She soon took up her residence in Dublin with her selected teacher, and made a successful appearance in this city, in 1841. Lahlache heard her, and predicted for her a great future. As soon as she heard Madame Grisi, she made up her mind to study for the opera, and at once commenced her atudies with the great teacher Garcis. At the end of two years, he declared that he could not add another grace to her voice. On May 10th, 1845, che made her first appearance in the Opera House of Marseillea, as Elvira in "Puritani." She labored through the opera until ahe reached the latter part, when, as if by inspiration, ahe gained full confidence, and made a great BucceBB. She then appeared in "Lucis de Lammermoor," and other first- clasa opersa. Three montha after thia, ahe made a great sensation in "La Somnambula," and even a greater triumph in the part of Ophelia in the piece of " Othello." Her conceptions of characters were atrongly dramatic. She was tall, of a fine figure, graceful and lady-like. She made her first sp- pearance in America, at Tripler Hall, N. Y., on Sept. 23d, 1851. After she left Brooklyn, ahe went through the States, thence to the Sandwich Islands, Australia, and back through England. Her success was beyond all prece- dent. While in New York City, she married a Mr. Bushnell, who was acting as her agent. She did not give up her maiden name until abs returned to England. He aoon died, while at Sydenham. She retired from the stags for a while, and died Augnat 11th, 1861. She was s lady of the most refined culture and noble character, and was much beloved by all who knew her. She left a property of nearly one hundred thousand dollars, which was be- questhed in handsome legscies to her relativea and friends.

t HENRIETTA SONTAG ranka among the finest artista of the lyric stage. She was born at Coblentz, Msy 13th, 1805. She was intended by her parente for their own profession, and, when only six years old, she appeared on the stags st the Court Theatre of Hesse Darmstadt, in an opera entitled "Donsu Weibchen." Her prettinese and silver-toned voice made her s favorits at once with her audience. In her ninth year she lost her father, and im- mediately after, her mother took her to Prague, where she performed the parts of children, under the direction of the celebrated Weber. At fifteen years old, a sudden illness of the prima donna gave her the opportunity of taking the part of the Princese de Navarre, in the opers of " Jean ds Paris," and being very small for her age, the little vocalist was furnished with heals four inches high, so when the prodigy appeared on cork pedestals the house wss filled with acclamations, and she left the stage that night with a repu- tation which never faded. In 1834 ahe appeared in Leipzig, and made a brilliant success. Her voice waa s pure aoprano, reaching from A or B to D in alt. In her high ootave from F to C in alt, her notes rang out like the sound of silver bells. Her inventions were displayed in brilliant flights and lavish fioriture. Her rare flexibility of voice was a natural gift, but fully oultivated by her taste and by incessant study and practice.

Sontag was of middle stature, with s face full of delicacy and sensibility. She had light-colored hair, fair complexion, and large blue eyes. As an actress, though not great, she justly claimed applause.

In 1826, she appeared at Paria in " Il Barbier di Seviglia," and made a decided success. In 1827, she was at Berlin, and in London the next season, alwaya gstuing new laurele wherever she went. She left the etage for several years, and when she returned to it atill found public favor. In 1850, ahe was prima donna under the management of Lumley at the Drury Lane Theatre, London. In 1852, Sept. 19th, she arrived in New York City, and gave a series of splendid concerta at Metropolitan Hall, assiated by Sig. Silvi. She next appeared in Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia and New Or- leans. She then returned to New York, and in July, 1853, appeared in opera under the baton of the celebrated Max Msretzek at the Castle Garden. In 1854, ahe went to Mexico to perform an engagement of two months, for which she was to secure ten thousand dollars, but shortly after she arrived there, she died of the cholora, on the 17th of June, 1854. She hed an im- mense funeral; all performers of both theatree assiated at her funeral service. Her remaine were aent to Germany, and buried in the Abbey Marienetern.

1199

THE PROGRESS OF MUSIC AND OPERA IN BROOKLYN.

1852 .- Whatever minor concerts were given this year in Brooklyn were attended with a better success than formerly. The excitement created by two such great artists as Miss Hayes and Madame Sontag ap- pearing in Brooklyn, gave a new impulse to the desire on the part of the people for other musical entertain- ments of high order, and almost demanded the return of these excellent artists to the " City of Churches."

1853 .- This year is made notable from the fact that a new hall, " The Atheneum," opened its doors for the first time on the 2d of May. The building is a fine structure, standing on the north-east corner of At- lantic and Clinton streets. It contains a large hall on the second floor, and will seat twelve hundred people. It has a parquette floor and a gallery, both well arranged. The interior is finely frescoed, and has a small stage, a drop-curtain and a few scenes, better adapted to concert purposes than to the drama. Sev- eral fine concerts were given the early part of the season at this hall. On October 14th, Henrietta Sontag appeared at the Athenaeum. This was her second and last appearance in Brooklyn. She was supported by Sig. Rocco and Paul Jullien.

1854 .- Madame Isidora Clark, an American prima donna, and who for many years had been a resident of Brooklyn, gave a concert at the Athenaeum November 29th. Mr. Henry Appy, the celebrated violinist, and Mr. Wells, pianist, assisted. The well-known Mr. Henry Timm acted as conductor.

1855 .- " The Pyne and Harrison English Opera Troupe " gave their first concert in Brooklyn at the Atheneum, April 5th. Miss Louisa Pyne* was assisted by her sister, Mr. William Harrison, and Mr. Henry Horncastle. The selections were from the most pop- ular operas. The concert was repeated on the 11th of the same month with increased attendance.

September 14th, Madame Theresa Parodi made her first salutation to a Brooklyn audience at the Athe- nænm. Madame Amelia Patti, Strakosch, Sig. Barvidi, and Mr. Gardiner composed the list of artists. The selections were from Meyerbeer's "Prophet," " Casta Diva," "Norma," with the duettino called "Love's Approach," composed by William Wallace, and were sung by Madame Parodi .*

1856 .- January 16th, the celebrated Gottschalk gave his first " Piano-forte Soiree " in Brooklyn, at the Polytechnic Institute, Livingston street. This gentle- man came to Brooklyn witli a splendid reputation, which he had recently made in the City of New York, yet, on this occasion, he performed to almost empty benches. He was a wonderful artist. The piano in his hands seemed like a spirit of music that answered in a peculiar and thrilling way to his fingers as they floated over the keys, as if by magie. There was a melancholy of tone and pathos of melody which at times he expressed that would force tears to the eyes. He made the piano talk to you as the poet talks in his written verses. Yon understood his effect of sounds as you understand the forms of words. He could express sentiments so strongly and picture the descriptive so vividly that one could almost see the colors of the sunset, and hear the ripplings of water, see the flashings of the light- ning and hear the mutterings of the thunder, the swayings of the forest in the storm, and the moanings of the afflicted. If ever the human soul was expressed through the medium of the fingers upon an instrument, Gottschalk attained the height of that expression t

* This lady was the pupil of the great Pasta, who was the most prominent of all lyric tragediennes. She was to the operatic stage what Siddons was to the dramatic stage. Parodi made her first appearance on the stage at the Grand Opera House, London, April 10th, 1849, in " Norma," and achieved a perfect success. A critic, who used to write many years ago for the New Yorker, a weekly paper, over the nom de plume of "D ", and was present at her debut, describes her performance in the following terms : "I well re- member the sager scrutiny which the whole performance underwent, to ascertain how much of the Pasta leaven it contained, and how far her Norma would hear comparison with that of Grisi, the acknowledged great ' diva ;' but Parodi's interpretation was entirely different in many respects from that of Grisi. There was more of the lovely yet slighted woman, and less of the tragic queen about it. Not only were the great outlines of the character more strongly developed, but all of the nicer shades were filled in with more artistic skill and dramatic effect, which gave tone and coloring to the whole picture. In this the teaching of Pasta and the great scholarship of Parodi were alike evident. There was the same beauty of declamation in the reci- tative, the same frequent sacrifice, though hut momentary, of composer to author, and the same abandon of style which her great teacher had manifested in her own wonderful performances."

Madame Parodi arrived in New York City, October 25th, 1850, and made her appearance under Max Maretzek, Nov. 4th, 1850. She was warmly received by the New York press, and was frequently compared to Grisi. Her voice was pure and sympathetic, with a fine quality preserved through- out. She was not brilliant in execution, but she put in those embellish- .ments that attracted, for the reason that they belonged to the sentiment of the music, and not to mere tricks of the voice to gain applause. She pos- Bessed an intellect that gave great power and artistic thought and weight to her conception of character-just such a mind as could grasp the meanings of such a character as Lady Macbeth, and expound the meanings of deep thoughts. She had a fine figure, and a face better fitted to the work of a tragic actrose than a prima donna, to whom we generally look for voice-cul- ture only, and not to those mental acquirements that are absolutely neces- Bary to make a great actor or actress. On leaving the theatre, one was more apt to remember Parodi as the great actress, than as the great singer.

t This great genius of the piano was born in New Orleans in 1829, and died at Tijuca, a plateau, about two miles from Rio, on the 18th of Decem- ber, 1869.

*Miss LOUISA PYNE was a great favorite with the American public. At an early age, she was placed under the instructions of Sir George Smart. When only ten years old, she appeared at the Queen's Concert-Room, London, and met with much applause, and soon became a favorite concert singer. In 1847, she visited Paris, and met with success. In 1849, she made

her first appearance in opera at Boulogne, as Armena in "La Son- nambula," and was greeted with loud applause on the fall of the curtain. Two months later, she performed at the "Princess's " Theatre, London, as Zeilina in "Don Giovanni." In 1851 she was prima donna at the Haymarket Theatre, London. It was here that she first appeared in the opera of "The Crown Diamonds," the music of which she sang with exquisite taste and brilliancy. Her fame was now made, and she soon appeared, by request, before Her Majesty Queen Victoria, at Windsor Castle, and st Buckingham Palace. In 1854, from Liverpool, she embarked for the United States, and made ber first appearance at the Broadway Theatre, Oc- toher 9th, the same year, in the opera of "La Sonnambula." The theatre was crowded almost to suffocation, the admittance being only fifty cents. She made s most decided hit, and performed for several weeks to crowded housee. After this, she traveled through the States with like success. Her voice was s coprano of excellent quality, remarkable for compass and fiexi- bility. In her appearance she was petite and blonde, with a most agreeable expression of face that almost sparkled with intelligence. After remaining in the States for three years, she returned to England in 1857, and at the Lyceum Theatre, London, she made a great hit in "The Rose of Castile," a new opera hy Balfe, which was produced for the first time, October 29th, 1857. In 1860 and 1861, Miss Pyne crowded Drury Lane and Covent Garden Theatres hy her delightful singing in Wallace's new opera of "Lurline." In 1882, she took the place of Mies Kellogg at Her Majesty's Theatre, London. Mr. William Harrison, a fine tenor, and who always sang with Miss Pyne, died in England, 1868, 53 years old. Miss Pyne was born in England in 1835.

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1130

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

On the 22d of January, Louisa Pyne made another visit to the Atheneum. January 29th, Gottschalk made his second attempt at the Polytechnic Hall, and on this occasion the people of Brooklyn redeemed their reputation for musical culture by giving him a fine re- ception and a full house. February 22d, Louisa Pyne, Gottschalk and Paul Jullien all appeared at the Athe- næum. May 8th, Madame La Grange and Gottschalk gave a concert at the Athenaeum. Oct. 15th, La Grange gave her second concert at the same hall. On the 23d, Parodi, Gottschalk, Tamberlini, Bernaidi and Morini all appeared at the same concert at the Athe- næum. Selections were given from Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi, Ballini and Malibran. This was the greatest display of musical genius that had ever appeared on the same night in the city of Brooklyn.

December 1st, Thalberg appeared for the first time in Brooklyn.

1857 .- January 5th, Mr. William Mason, an American pianist of fine ability, captivated his hearers at the Atheneum. On the 16th, Gottschalk gave a concert at the same hall, assisted by Parodi, Cora Wil- horst, and Madame Amelia Patti. February 5th, the Pyne and Harrison troupe. March 14th, Carl Prox gave what he called a " Philharmonic Soiree," at the Athenaum. April 4th, Ole Bull, the great violinist, gave a concert at the Athenaeum to a crowded house. April 30th, many of the first citizens of Brooklyn gave a grand complimentary concert to Miss Louisa Pyne, at the Athenaeum. Every seat in the house was filled.

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The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II, Part 118

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co Number of Pages: 1345

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345