1890-1900
The decade covered in this chapter was remarkable for progress in many
directions.
Large orchestras were established all over the country--Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati, San Francisco, Los Angeles, widely scattered cities, were
among those which made serious efforts in the orchestral line, and
performed large orchestral works.
America became in a still greater degree the hunting ground of the
musical star who came from Europe, and swept the country of its loose
dollars, appearing both as soloist with these orchestras, and giving
recitals in the various cities.
Among pianists we had Busoni, who was, for a time, resident in Boston,
Vladimir de Pachmann, the great interpreter of Chopin, who was immensely
popular for some twenty-five years, and Paderewski, whose progress
through the country was marked by previously unheard of demonstrations.
It is said that thousands of people traveled many miles to see the train
pass in which he was traveling. Alfred Reisenauer came in 1895,
Slivinski, Alberto Jonás, Raoul Pugno, Siloti and Dohnanyi, were among
those who made their first appearances in America during this decade.
There was also a large list of violin virtuosi beginning with Adolf
Brodsky, who was followed by Henri Marteau, César Thomson, Ondriczek,
Burmester, Halir, Gregorovitch, Marsick, Maud MacCarthy, Petschnikof and
Madame Normann Neruda, who had been prominent in England for many years,
and was long past her prime when she visited America. But the greatest
artist of all was Eugen Ysaye, who first appeared in 1894, and who,
since the great war, has been conductor of the Cincinnati Orchestra.
Opera continued to flourish on misfortune. Henry Abbey, who had ruined
himself in driving out Mapleson, formed a partnership with John B.
Schoeffel and Maurice Grau, and for some years provided opera for the
country. Signor Luigi Arditi, who first appeared as conductor of the
Havana Company in about 1848, and had seen more operatic service in
America than any other conductor, made a brief but interesting estimate
of the impresarios under whom he had traveled during those years. "I
have come to the conclusion," he writes, "that Don Francesco Marty (of
the Havana Company) was the most generous of men, and Max Maretzek the
cleverest. Colonel Mapleson was decidedly the astutest of all directors,
... while to Henry Abbey must be attributed every straightforward and
honorable quality. Maurice Grau was the cleverest of _entrepreneurs_."
Among the singers brought here by this combination was Tamagno, who
appeared in 1890. The following season came Jean and Edouard de Reszke,
who reigned supreme for a number of years. Also two American singers who
had made reputations abroad,--Emma Eames and Marie van Zandt. In 1893
Nellie Melba and Emma Calvé came; and in 1894 Pol Plançon. In 1896 the
Abbey and Grau combination collapsed. Abbey died soon after, and Grau
continued alone until 1903.
In 1895 Walter Damrosch made an effort, which extended over several
years, to reëstablish German opera, at the Metropolitan Opera House.
This house, by the way, had been burned down in 1892, but was rebuilt
and opened again in the following year. Several new singers were brought
over from Germany, among them being Johanna Gadski.
In 1897 and 1898 Walter Damrosch joined forces with Charles A. Ellis,
the manager of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, who had already been
managing a company of which Melba was the star.
In 1896 Ernestine Schumann-Heink made her first American appearance in
Chicago, and the following year joined the Metropolitan Company. Also
Milka Ternina, an excellent artist, made her first appearance in Boston.
In 1898 Maurice Grau was the leading operatic impresario once more and
introduced several new singers, including Marie Brema, Suzanne Adams, an
American, and Marie Engle, also in 1900 another American, Louise Homer,
while of the men Albert Alvarez, a French tenor, and Antonio Scotti, an
Italian baritone, were the most brilliant stars.
Italian opera was now being pushed hard by German opera, while French
opera was very little heard. The table of performances published in New
York at the end of the season 1900-1901 shows that Wagner had
thirty-four performances out of a total of eighty-six. Gounod was next
with twelve performances, Verdi with eight, Puccini with eight,
Meyerbeer with five, Mascagni with four, Reyer and Massenet three each,
Boito, Mozart and Donizetti two each, and Beethoven, Leoncavallo and
Bizet one each.
American composers were seeking new themes indigenous to the soil. Many
had already written something under the title of "Rip van Winkle," and
Walter Damrosch had brought out an opera based on Hawthorne's novel "The
Scarlet Letter." Anton Dvo[vr]ák composed his "New World Symphony"
making use of negro melodies for his themes. The resources of the
Indians, the prairies and the mountains have been tapped more or less
successfully. The oil fields still offer a thrilling subject for the
composer.
1890. Jan. 4. Peter Cornelius's opera "Der Barbier von Bagdad"
presented at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, under
Walter Damrosch, also J. Bayer's ballet "Die Puppensee," with
Frank Damrosch conducting.
1890. Jan. 4. Saint-Saëns's Third Violin Concerto (B minor) given
by the Boston Symphony Orchestra with T. Adamowski as soloist;
also Borodin's First Symphony (E flat).
1890. Jan. 11. Production of MacDowell's symphonic tone poem
"Lancelot and Elaine," given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1890. Jan. 23. Edouard Lalo's opera "Le Roy d'Ys," presented at
New Orleans, La., with Furst, Balleroy, Geoffroy, Rossi, Butat,
Miss Leavinson and Mrs. Beretta in the caste.
1890. Jan. 31. Brahms's "Liebeslieder Waltzes" given by the
Symphony Society, in New York City.
1890. Feb. 1. Chaikovsky's Fourth Symphony (F minor) given at a
concert of the Symphony Society in New York City. W. Damrosch
conducting.
1890. Mar. 24. Début of Tamagno, great Italian tenor, as _Otello_
at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City.
1890. Mar. 25. Dvo[vr]ák's Pianoforte Concerto in G minor, given
at a concert in Chickering Hall, Boston, under B. J. Lang, with
Benjamin L. Whelpley as soloist.
1890. April 8. J. C. D. Parker's oratorio "St. John" produced by
the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston.
1890. Nov. 1. Goldmark's overture "Prometheus," and Sgambati's
Pianoforte Concerto in G minor, given by the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
1890. Nov. 15. Moszkowski's Second Suite given in New York City,
by Theodore Thomas.
1890. Nov. 20. Raff's overture to "Romeo and Juliet" given at a
concert of the Cecilia Society in Boston.
1890. Nov. 22. Haydn's Concerto for Violoncello given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra, with Anton Hekking as soloist, also
Smetana's symphonic poem "Vltava."
1890. Nov. 26. Franchetti's opera "Asraële," presented at the
Metropolitan Opera House, New York City.
1890. Dec. 6. Goldmark's Violin Concerto in A minor given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra. F. Kneisel, soloist.
1890. Dec. 10. Production of H. W. Parker's overture "Count de
Paris" by the Manuscript Society in New York City. Also E. C.
Phelps's "Meditation" for orchestra.
1890. Dec. 12. Smareglia's opera "Der Vassall von Szigeth"
presented at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City.
1890. Dec. 12. Richard Burmeister's Pianoforte Concerto given by
the Symphony Society in New York City, with the composer as
soloist.
1890. Dec. Leopold Godowski, who had previously toured America as
accompanist for Ovide Musin, made his first recital-tour.
1890. Grand opera given by Abbey and Schoeffel with a company
including Adelina Patti, Emma Albani, Lillian Nordica, Fabbri,
Carbone, Ravelli, Tamagno and others.
1891. Jan. 9. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha's opera "Diana von
Solange," presented at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York
City.
1891. Jan. 10. Joachim's Violin Concerto in G given by Theodore
Thomas in New York City, and on the 17th, Rubinstein's overture
to "Antony and Cleopatra" in Brooklyn, N. Y.
1891. Jan. 23. Début of Xaver Scharwenka in concert at
Metropolitan Opera House, New York City.
1891. Jan. 24. Arthur Foote's symphonic prologue "Francesca da
Rimini" produced by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1891. Feb. 4. Chaikovsky's overture fantasia "Hamlet" given by
Theodore Thomas in Brooklyn, N. Y.
1891. Feb. 5. Massenet's cantata "Eve" given by the New York
Chorus Society at Lenox Lyceum, New York City.
1891. Feb. 23. Dudley Buck's Romance, for Four Horns and
Orchestra, played at an American Composers' Concert in New York
City, under Mortimer Wiske. Also H. R. Shelley's Concerto for
Violin.
1891. Mar. 7. Klughardt's Third Symphony (D major) given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1891. Mar. 14. Paderewski's Pianoforte Concerto in A minor given
by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with Madame Julie Rivé-King as
soloist.
1891. April 2. G. W. Chadwick's ode, "The Pilgrims' Hymn,"
produced by the Cecilia Society, Boston.
1891. April 10. Dudley Buck's overture "The Star Spangled Banner"
produced at the "Tribune" Celebration in New York City.
1891. April 15. Massenet's suite "Esclarmonde" given in Chicago,
by Theodore Thomas. Produced as an opera in New Orleans, 1893.
Feb. 10.
1891. April 29. Balakirev's oriental fantasia "Islamei" given by
the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with Arthur Friedheim, soloist.
1891. May 5. Berlioz's "Te Deum" given by the Oratorio Society in
New York City, at the opening of Carnegie Hall.
1891. May 8. Chaikovsky's "Legend" and "Paternoster" given by the
Oratorio Society, New York City, conducted by the composer.
1891. Sept. 9. Mascagni's opera "Cavalleria Rusticana" given in
Philadelphia, under Gustav Hinrichs.
1891. Sept. 23. Dr. J. F. Bridge's dramatic oratorio "The
Repentance of Nineveh" given at the Worcester (Mass.) Musical
Festival.
1891. Sept. 24. Also Victor Herbert's dramatic cantata "The
Captive."
1891. Sept. 24. MacDowell's suite in A minor, and
1891. Sept. 25. Handel's "Overture to an Occasional Oratorio."
1891. Oct. 31. Richard Strauss's tone poem "Don Juan" given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra, A. Nikisch conducting.
1891. Nov. 3. American début of Adolf Brodsky, noted violinist,
with the New York Symphony Society, in Brahms's concerto.
1891. Nov. 5. Liszt's symphonic poem "Hungaria" given at a concert
of the Philharmonic Orchestra in the Tremont Theatre, Boston,
with Bernhard Listemann as conductor.
1891. Nov. 13. American début of Ferruccio Busoni, pianist, with
the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven's Fourth Concerto.
1891. Nov. 18. American début of Ignace Paderewski, noted Polish
pianist, in Carnegie Hall, New York City.
1891. Nov. 21. Production of C. M. Loeffler's suite for violin and
orchestra, "Les Viellées de l'Ukraine," by the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
1891. Nov. 29. Berlioz's "Le 5 Mai," for bass solo, chorus and
orchestra given by the Cecilia Society in Boston.
1891. Dec. 8. Rimsky-Korsakof's second symphony "Antar" given by
the Arion Society, New York City, F. van der Stucken, conductor.
1891. Dec. 14. American début of Jean (tenor) and Edouard (bass)
de Reszke in "Roméo et Juliette" at the Metropolitan Opera
House, New York City.
1891. Dec. 21. American début of Marie van Zandt, American
soprano, as _Amina_ in "La Sonnambula" at the Metropolitan Opera
House, New York City.
1891. Dec. 25. Reyer's opera "Sigurd" presented at the French
Opera House, New Orleans, La.
1891. Dec. 26. Handel's Concerto in F major for strings and two
wind instruments, given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1878. Dec. 21. Chaikovsky's fantasia "Francesca da Rimini" given
by the Philharmonic Society, New York.
1891. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra established, with Theodore
Thomas as conductor.
1892. Jan. 6. Litolff's overture to "King Lear" played at a Young
People's Concert of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1892. Jan. 9. Strauss's tone poem "Tod und Verklärung" given by
the Philharmonic Society, New York City, Theodore Thomas
conducting.
1892. Jan. 10. Chadwick's "A Pastoral Prelude" produced by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1892. Jan. 15. American début of Jean Lasalle, noted French
baritone, as _Nelusko_ in "L'Africaine" at the Metropolitan
Opera House, New York City.
1892. Jan. 29. P. Scharwenka's symphonic poem "Frühlingswogen"
given by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Theodore Thomas
conductor.
1892. Feb. 5. Max Bruch's Second Concerto for Violin given by the
New York Symphony Society with Geraldine Morgan, soloist.
1892. Feb. 6. First recital of Vladimir de Pachmann, Russian
pianist, at Chickering Hall, New York City.
1892. Feb. 13. Massenet's opera "Hérodiade" presented at the
French Opera House, New Orleans. (Given in New York, Nov. 8,
1909, by Hammerstein.)
1892. Feb. 20. F. Busoni's Symphonic Suite (Op. 23), three
movements, given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1892. Feb. 27. A. Dvo[vr]ák's Fourth Symphony (G major) and
Borodin's "A Prairie Scene" given by the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
1892. April 1. R. Strauss's symphonic poem "Macbeth" given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1892. April 16. Suite from G. Henschel's music to "Hamlet" played
by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the composer.
1892. May 5. G. W. Chadwick's cantata "Phoenix Expirans" produced
at the Springfield, Mass., Festival.
1892. Aug. 1. John Philip Sousa, noted bandmaster, resigned from
the Marine Corps, and organized his band, which gained a
world-wide reputation.
1892. Aug. 27. Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, destroyed
by fire.
1892. Oct. 21. A. Dvo[vr]ák's "Carnival" and "Otello" overtures
presented at a concert given under the auspices of the National
Conservatory of Music in New York City, in honor of the
composer's first appearance in America.
1892. Oct. 21. The music of Moritz Moszkowski's opera "Boabdil"
given by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Also J. Strauss's waltz
"Seid umschlungen Millionen."
1892. Oct. 22. Chaikovsky's suite "Le Casse-Noisette" given by the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1892. Oct. 22. Saint-Saëns's Second Symphony (A minor) given by
the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1892. Oct. 22. Production of J. K. Paine's "Columbus March and
Hymn," and George W. Chadwick's "Columbian Ode," at the
dedication of the Music Building at the World's Fair in Chicago,
Ill., under Theodore Thomas.
1892. Nov. 11. Hamish McCunn's concert overture "The Land of the
Mountain and Flood" given by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1892. Dec. 2. Cherubini's Overture given in New York City.
1892. Dec. 17. P. Gilson's symphonic sketches, "La Mer," given by
the Philharmonic Society, New York City.
1892. Peoples' Choral Union organized in New York City, by Frank
Damrosch.
1893. Jan. 4. Saint-Saëns's opera "Samson et Dalila" presented at
the French Opera House, New Orleans, with Renaud and Madame
Mounier in the leading parts.
1893. Jan. 24. Moritz Moszkowski's opera "Boabdil" presented at
the Manhattan Opera House, New York.
1893. Jan. 31. P. Mascagni's opera "L'Amico Fritz" given its first
complete stage performance in America by Walter Damrosch at
Carnegie Hall, New York City. (A performance had been given June
8, 1892, by Gustav Heinrichs, in Philadelphia.)
1893. Feb. 3. Fuchs's Serenade for Strings and Two Horns given by
the New York Symphony Society.
1893. Feb. 4. Arthur Foote's ballad "The Skeleton in Armor" for
chorus, quartet and orchestra, produced by the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
1893. Mar. 4. G. Riemenschneider's "Tödtentanz" given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1884. Feb. 3. Volkmann's Violoncello Concerto given by the Boston
Symphony Orchestra.
1893. Mar. 17. Edgar Tinel's oratorio "St. Francis d'Assisi" given
by the Oratorio Society, New York City.
1893. April 8. Margaret Ruthven Lang's "Dramatic Overture"
produced by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1893. April 15. F. Busoni's Symphonic Tone Poem produced by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1893. May 3. H. W. Parker's oratorio "Hora Novissima" produced by
the Church Choral Society in New York City.
1893. June. Musorgsky's "Une Nuit sur le Mont Chauve" said to have
been played in a series of Russian concerts at the World's
Columbian Exposition (June 5-13) with V. T. Hlavac, conductor.
1893. June 6. Balakiref's Overture on Russian Themes given at the
Chicago Exposition at a concert of Russian music, and on June 7,
Glazunof's "Triumphal March."
1895. June 12. Arthur Bird's Third Orchestral Suite given at the
Chicago (Ill.) Exposition.
1893. July 7. Harry Rowe Shelley's "Carnival Overture" produced at
the Chicago Exposition, and on the 19th his suite "The Ruined
Castle."
1893. July 29. Margaret Ruthven Lang's overture "Witches" produced
at the Chicago Exposition.
1893. Aug. Bizet's opera, "The Pearl Fishers," given in English in
Philadelphia.
1893. Nov. 16. Scholz's suite, "Wanderings," given by the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra.
1893. Nov. 16. Gounod's opera "Philémon et Baucis" given in
English by the Duff Opera Company, at Herrman's Theatre, New
York City.
1893. Nov. 24. G. Charpentier's orchestral suite "Impressions
d'Italie" given by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1893. Nov. 27. New Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, opened
with a performance of "Faust," at which Pol Plançon, noted
French basso, made his American début.
1893. Nov. 29. American début of Emma Calvé, noted French
mezzo-soprano, as _Santuzza_, in "Cavalleria Rusticana" at the
Metropolitan Opera House, New York City.
1893. Dec. 2. American début of Richard Burmeister, pianist, at
Carnegie Hall, New York City, with the Damrosch Orchestra.
1893. Dec. 3. F. A. Lamond's overture "From the Highlands" given
by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1893. Dec. 4. American début of Nellie Melba, great Australian
soprano, in "Lucia di Lammermoor" at the Metropolitan Opera
House, New York City.
1893. Dec. 5. First appearance in America of Josef Slivinski,
Polish pianist, at a concert in Madison Square Hall, New York
City.
1893. Dec. 9. Alberto Jonás, noted Spanish pianist, made his
American début in Carnegie Hall, New York City.
1893. Dec. American début of Sigrid Arnoldson, soprano, in
Gounod's opera "Philémon et Baucis," at the Metropolitan Opera
House, New York City.
1893. Dec. 9. Sinding's First Symphony (D minor) given by the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1893. Dec. 15. Dvo[vr]ák's symphony in E minor "From the New
World" produced by the Philharmonic Society in New York City.
(Played from MS.)
1893. Dec. 28. Sgambati's "Te Deum" performed in Chicago, Ill.,
under directorship of Theodore Thomas.
1893. Dec. 30. Chaikovsky's "1812" overture given by the Boston
Symphony Orchestra.
1893. Henri Marteau, violinist, made his first American concert
tour.
1893. The Pittsburgh (Pa.) Symphony Orchestra organized under
Frederick Archer.
1893. Emil Paur appointed conductor of the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
1893-4. Abbey and Grau presented grand opera with a company which
included as newcomers, Emma Calvé, Nellie Melba, Sigrid
Arnoldson, Pol Plançon, Gurin, Dufriche and Vignas.
1894. Jan. 5. Dvo[vr]ák's Concerto for Violin given by the New
York City Symphony Society, with Henri Marteau as soloist.
1894. Jan. 27. Liszt's rhapsody "Espagnole" given by the Boston
Symphony Orchestra.
1894. Feb. 3. Moszkowski's "Torchlight Dance" given by the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra.
1894. Feb. 3. Loeffler's "Concerto Fantastique" for Violoncello,
produced by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and at the same
concert d'Albert's overture to "Esther" was played for the first
time in America.
1894. Feb. 7. Hartmann's overture "Nordische Meerfahrt," Bruch's
"Romanza" (Opus 42), and Saint-Saëns's "Morceau de Concert,"
given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1894. Mar. 16. Chaikovsky's Sixth Symphony given by the Symphony
Society in New York City, and Victor Herbert's Second
Violoncello Concerto, with the composer as soloist.
1894. April. Edgar Stillman Kelley's "Aladdin" and "A Chinese
Suite for Orchestra," San Francisco, Cal.
1894. April 7. Hans von Bülow's "Funerale" given by the Boston
Symphony Orchestra.
1894. April 20. Massenet's opera "Werther" given at the
Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, with Eames, Arnoldson
and Jean de Reszke in leading parts; Mancinelli conducting.
1894. May 23. Goldmark's overture to "Sappho" given in Cincinnati,
O., under Theodore Thomas.
1894. May 25. Second and third tableaux from Rubinstein's sacred
opera "Moses," given by Theodore Thomas in Cincinnati, O.
1894. June 15. Leoncavallo's opera "I Pagliacci" presented in New
York with Kronold, Montegriffo and Campanari.
1894. Aug. 29. Puccini's opera "Manon Lescaut" presented at the
Grand Opera House, Philadelphia, with Selma Kronold and
Montegriffo.
1894. Sept. 27. Handel's Concerto (No. 7, in B flat) for organ and
orchestra given at the Worcester (Mass.) Festival, with William
C. Carl as soloist.
1894. Oct. 19. G. W. Chadwick's Third Symphony (F major) produced
by Boston Symphony Orchestra. (This work won the prize offered
by the National Conservatory.)
1894. Oct. 30. American debut of César Thomson, noted Belgian
violinist, at Carnegie Hall, New York City.
1894. Nov. 17. P. Benoit's Symphonic Poem for flute and orchestra
given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1894. Nov. 25. American début of Eugen Ysaye, great Belgian
violinist, in a concert at the Metropolitan Opera House, New
York City.
1894. Dec. 7. Joachim's "Theme and Variations" for violin, given
by the Symphony Society, New York City, with Eugen Ysaye as
soloist.
1894. Dec. 17. Bemberg's opera "Elaine" (libretto by Paul Ferrier)
presented at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, with
Melba, Mantelli, J. and E. de Reszke, Plançon and Castelmary.
1894. Dec. 28. Goldmark's Scherzo (Op. 45) given by the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra.
1894. Dec. 29. Henry Holden Huss's Pianoforte Concerto in B major
produced by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with the composer as
soloist.
1895. Jan. 5. C. M. Loeffler's Divertimento in A minor, produced
by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1895. Jan. 15. American début of Sybil Sanderson, American
soprano, as _Manon_, at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York
City.
1895. Jan. 25. A. Mackenzie's nautical overture "Britannica" given
by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1895. Feb. 4. Verdi's opera "Falstaff" presented at the
Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, with Emma Eames, Zelie
de Lussan, Scalchi, Campanari, and Maurel. Mancinelli
conducting.
1895. Feb. 8. Cecile Chaminade's "Concertstücke," for orchestra,
given by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1895. Feb. 16. Gustav Strube's overture to "The Maid of Orleans"
produced by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1895. Feb. 21. Howard LeGrand's oratorio "The Resurrection" given
by the Church Choral Society, New York City.
1895. Feb. 22. Rheinberger's Concerto in G minor, for organ, given
by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1895. Feb. 28. Maurice Arnold's "American Plantation Dances" given
by the American Symphony Orchestra, New York City.
1895. Mar. 1. American début of Johanna Gadski, soprano, as _Elsa_
in "Lohengrin" at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City.
1895. Mar. 23. Marschner's overture to "Hans Heiling," and
Reinecke's entr'acte of "Der Gouverneur von Tours" given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra; also R. Kahn's overture in C minor
"Elegie" produced (from MS.). "Hans Heiling" played 1856. April
19. by the Philharmonic Society, New York.
1895. Mar. 30. H. Goetz's "Spring Overture"; Knorr's "Variations
on an Ukraine Folk Song," and H. W. Parker's Rhapsody for
baritone and orchestra, given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1895. April 14. J. C. D. Parker's oratorio "The Life of Man"
produced by the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston.
1895. Oct. 6. Humperdinck's opera "Hänsel und Gretel" given in
English in New York City at Daly's Theatre, with Alice Gordon,
Marie Elba, Louise Meisslinger, Jacques Bars, C. Brané and E.
Johnson. A. Seidl, conductor.
1895. Oct. 19. Mozart's Andante and Variations in D minor given by
the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1895. Oct. 25. Smetana's symphonic poem "Sarka," and Edward
German's "Three Dances of the Time of Henry VIII," given by the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1895. Nov. 1. The _Vorspiel_ to R. Strauss's opera "Guntram" given
by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1895. Nov. 1. Rameau's suite de ballet from "Acanthe et Céphise"
and the Prelude to the third act of R. Strauss's opera "Guntram"
given by the Symphony Society in New York City.
1895. Nov. Symphony Orchestra organized in San Francisco, Cal.,
with Fritz Scheel as conductor.
1895. Nov. 4. Paderewski's "Polish Fantasia" given at a concert in
Carnegie Hall, New York City.
1895. Nov. 8. César Franck's symphonic poem "Les Sylphides," given
by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1895. Nov. 15. The ballet music from Massenet's opera "Thaïs," and
Strauss's tone poem "Till Eulenspiegel," given by the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra.
1895. Nov. 15. American début of Franz Ondriczek, violinist, at a
concert of the Philharmonic Society, New York City, in
Dvo[vr]ák's A minor Concerto for violin.
1895. Nov. 29. American début of Giuseppe Cremonini, tenor, at the
Metropolitan Opera House, New York City.
1895. Nov. 30. The Prelude to d'Albert's opera "Der Rubin" played
by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1895. Dec. 7. Reznicek's overture to the opera "Donna Diana" given
by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1895. Dec. 11. Massenet's opera "La Navarraise" presented at the
Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, with Emma Calvé in the
title-rôle.
1895. Dec. 17. American début of Yvette Guilbert at Hammerstein's
Music Hall, New York. N. Y.
1895. Willy Burmester, violinist, toured the United States.
1895. Alfred Reisenauer, pianist, first appeared in America.
1895. Cincinnati Orchestral Association founded, with Frank van
der Stucken as conductor.
1895-6. German opera given in New York and several of the large
cities by Walter Damrosch, with a company including Johanna
Gadski, Marie Brema, Rose Sucher, Rothmühl (tenor) and others.
1896. Jan. 4. Lalo's Suite "Namouna," given by the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
1896. Jan. 23. Edward MacDowell's "Indian Suite" given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra at the Metropolitan Opera House, New
York City.
1896. American début of Milka Ternina, soprano, as _Brunnhilde_ in
"Die Walküre" in Boston.
1896. Feb. 7. Chaikovsky's First Symphony (G minor) given by the
Philharmonic Society, New York City.
1896. Feb. 11. Stage production of Walter Damrosch's opera "The
Scarlet Letter," at the Boston Theatre, Boston, Mass., with
Gadski, Berthald and Mertens.
1896. Feb. 13. Scharwenka's opera "Mataswintha" given in concert
form by the Manuscript Society in New York City.
1896. Feb. 22. H. Zöllner's orchestral fantasia "Midnight at
Sedan" given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1896. Mar. 21. "Three Hungarian Dances" by Brahms, given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1896. April 4. Production of Gustav Strube's Symphony in C minor,
by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1896. April 17. Handel's Concerto in F, for strings, given by the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and on the 24th Smetana's symphonic
poem "Vysehrad."
1896. April 24. Henschel's "Stabat Mater" given by the Oratorio
Society, New York City, conducted by the composer.
1896. Oct. 17. Bourgault-Ducoudray's "L'Interrement d'Ophélie"
given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1896. Oct. 23. Balakireff's symphonic poem "Thamar" given by the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1896. Oct. 24. Chabrier's Overture to "Gwendoline" given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1896. Oct. 31. Production of Mrs. H. H. A. Beach's "Gaelic
Symphony" (from MS.) by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1896. Nov. 7. The "Sevilliana" from Massenet's opera "Don César de
Bazan" given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1896. Nov. 8. American début of Karl Halir, violinist, in
Beethoven's Violin Concerto, with the Philharmonic Society, New
York City.
1896. Nov. 13. Giordano's opera "Andrea Chénier" given at the
Academy of Music, New York City, by Mapleson, with
Bonaplato-Bau, Scalchi and Durot.
1896. Nov. 13. Smetana's symphonic poem "Richard III," Duparc's
symphonic poem "Lenore," and Glazunof's "Oriental Rhapsody,"
given by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1896. Nov. 21. The Intermezzo from Goldmark's opera "Das Heimchen
am Herd" given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1896. Nov. 24. American début of C. Gregorovitch, violinist, at
Chickering Hall, New York City, with the American Symphony
Orchestra.
1896. Dec. 11. Roentgen's "Ballad on a Norwegian Folk Song" given
by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1896. Dec. 19. Dvo[vr]ák's Violoncello Concerto in B minor, given
by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Schroeder, soloist.
1896. Dec. 26. Selections from Gluck's ballet, "Don Juan," and
from Humperdinck's opera "Königskinder," also Handel's First
Overture, in D minor, given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1896. American début of Jacques Bars, tenor, in "Hänsel und
Gretel" at Daly's Theatre, New York City.
1896. Margaret Ruthven Lang's "Sappho's Prayer" produced in New
York City.
1896. Los Angeles (Cal.) Symphony Orchestra organized.
1896. Martin Marsick, violinist, made his first tour in America.
1897. Jan. 1. Dvo[vr]ák's tone poem "The Golden Spinning Wheel"
given by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1897. Jan. 2. Smetana's symphonic poem "Wallenstein's Lager" given
by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1897. Jan. 8. Rimsky-Korsakof's suite "Mlada" given by the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra.
1897. Jan. 16. Dittersdorf's Symphony in C major, given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1897. Feb. 4. Dvo[vr]ák's symphonic poem "The Water Fay" given at
a concert of the Seidl Society at the Academy of Music, New York
City.
1897. Feb. 5. R. Strauss's tone poem, "Also sprach Zarathustra,"
given by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1897. Feb. 12. Massenet's opera "Le Cid" given at the Metropolitan
Opera House, New York City, with Felia Litvinne, Clementine de
Vere, J. Bars, J. de Reszke, Pol Plançon, J. Lasalle and E. de
Reszke. Mancinelli conducting.
1897. Mar. 6. Arthur Whiting's Fantasy for pianoforte and
orchestra in B flat minor, given by the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
1897. Mar 17. J. W. Glover's oratorio "St. Patrick at Tara" given
at the Lexington Opera House, New York City.
1897. Mar. 24. Mozart's Symphony in A major given by the American
Symphony Society in Chickering Hall, New York City. Sam Franko,
conductor.
1897. April 3. Dvo[vr]ák's Rondo for Violoncello (Op. 94) given by
the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1897. April 17. Rimsky-Korsakof's symphonic suite "Scheherazade"
given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1897. June 25. H. R. Shelley's Symphony in E flat played at the
Music Teachers National Association Convention in New York City.
1897. Sept. 22. Production of Gustav Strube's Violin Concerto (Op.
13) at the Worcester (Mass.) Festival, with F. Kneisel as
soloist.
1897. Oct. 16. Glazunof's "Poème Lyrique" (Op. 42) given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1897. Oct. 23. Rimsky-Korsakof's overture on Russian church
themes, "La Grand Paque Russe," and Gernsheim's Violin Concerto
in D major, given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1897. Oct. 29. Glazunof's Second Concert Waltz given by the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and on the 4th Nov. Glazunof's
tableaux musicales "Printemps."
1897. Nov. 26. Chaikovsky's symphonic ballad "Voyvode" given by
the Symphony Society in New York City.
1897. Dec. 3. Introduction to Act II of d'Albert's opera "Gernot,"
given by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Frederick Archer
conductor.
1897. Dec. Production of Henry K. Hadley's First Symphony under
direction of Anton Seidl, in New York City.
1897. Dec. 10. Raoul Pugno, French pianist, first appeared in the
United States.
1897. Dec. 13. Massenet's opera "Le Portrait de Manon" given in
French by the Society of Musical Arts, at the Astoria, New York
City. Also C. Chaminade's ballet "Callirhoë," and on Dec. 21, an
opera by V. Thompson and Aïme Lachaume, "In Old Japan," was
produced.
1897-8. The Damrosch-Ellis Opera Company gave grand opera
throughout the country with artists including Melba, Nordica,
Gadski, soprani; van Cauteren and Mattfeld, contralti; Kraus,
Salignac, Rothmühl and Ibos, tenors; Stehman, Fischer, and
Boudouresque, basses.
1898. Jan. 7. Hugo Kaun's "Festival March and Hymn" given by the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1898. Jan. 8. Siegfried Wagner's symphonic poem "Sehnsucht" given
by the Philharmonic Society in New York City.
1898. Jan. 8. Production of C.M. Loeffler's dramatic poem, "La
mort de Tintagiles" by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1898. Jan. 14. Hugo Kaun's Symphony in D minor given by the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1898. Jan. 15. Paganini's "Caprice" for violin, in A minor, given
by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1898. Jan. 25. American début of Alexander Siloti, famous Russian
pianist, as a concert given by Anton Seidl at the Astoria, New
York City.
1898. Jan. 27. Production of Gustav Strube's overture for
trumpets, horns, tuba and kettledrums, at a concert of the
Apollo Club in Boston.
1898. Jan. 27. Dubois's Concerto for Violin, in D minor, given by
the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra with Henri Marteau as soloist.
1898. Jan. 29. César Franck's symphonic poem "The Wild Huntsman"
given at Cincinnati, O., by Theodore Thomas.
1898. Nov. 12. Chaikovsky's Second Pianoforte Concerto (G major)
given by the Philharmonic Society, New York. Alexander Siloti,
soloist.
1898. Feb. 26. A. Goring Thomas's cantata "The Swan and the
Skylark" given at a Seidl Concert in the Metropolitan Opera
House, New York City.
1898. Mar. 1. H. H. Huss's dramatic scene, "Cleopatra's Death,"
given by the Philharmonic Society, New York City, under A.
Seidl.
1898. Mar. 5. Glazunof's Fifth Symphony (B flat major) given by
the Philharmonic Society in New York City. A Seidl conductor.
1898. Mar. 7. Saint-Saëns's Fifth Pianoforte Concerto given by the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra in New York City, with Raoul Pugno as
soloist. Also César Franck's "Variations Symphoniques."
1898. Mar. Puccini's opera "La Bohème" presented in San Francisco,
Cal., by the Royal Italian Opera Company. (Given by same company
in New York, May 10.)
1898. April 7. F. Weingärtner's symphonic poem, "The Elysian
Fields," given by the Philharmonic Society, New York City.
1898. Horatio Parker's oratorio "St. Christopher" given by the
Oratorio Society, New York City.
1898. April 23. D'Indy's symphonic variations "Istar" given by
Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Theodore Thomas, conductor.
1898. Oct. 22. Chausson's symphonic poem "Viviane," and
Mackenzie's three dances for "The Little Minister" given by the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1898. Nov. 7. American début of Ernestine Schumann-Heink, as
_Ortrud_ in "Lohengrin," in Chicago.
1898. Nov. 8. American début of Albert Saleza, tenor, as _Romeo_,
in Chicago.
1898. Nov. 29. American début of Ernest van Dyck, as _Tannhäuser_,
at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City.
1898. Dec. 3. First performance of Walter Damrosch's "Manilla Te
Deum" given by the Oratorio Society of New York City.
1898. Dec. 14. American début of Anton van Rooy, as _Wotan_ in
"Die Walküre" at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City.
1898. Dec. 25. American début of Maud MacCarthy, violinist, at the
Metropolitan Opera House, New York City.
1898. Borodin's Symphony in B minor first played in America by the
Cincinnati Orchestra.
1898. Victor Herbert appointed conductor of the Pittsburgh
Symphony Orchestra.
1899. Jan. 4. American début of Suzanne Adams, American soprano,
at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City.
1899. Jan. 7. R. Strauss's tone poem "Don Quixote," given by the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1899. Jan. 12. Gounod's opera "La Reine de Saba," presented at the
French Opera House, New Orleans, La.
1899. Jan. 17. F. S. Converse's Symphony in D minor (first
movement) given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1899. Jan. 17. Grieg's Symphonic Dances given by the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra.
1899. Feb. 3. Hugo Kaun's overture "Der Maler von Antwerpen" given
by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1899. Feb. 7. American début of Albert Alvarez, French operatic
tenor, as _Romeo_, in Boston, at the Boston Theatre.
1899. Feb. 8. American début of Lady Halle (Normann Neruda), noted
violinist, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She played
Spohr's Violin Concerto in C minor.
1899. Mar. 4. Chabrier's "Bourrée Fantastique" given by the Boston
Symphony Orchestra.
1899. Mar. 10. Mancinelli's opera "Ero e Leandro" presented at the
Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, conducted by the
composer.
1899. Mar. 22. American début of E. Dohnanyi, Hungarian pianist,
with Boston Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, New York City.
1899. Mar. 25. César Franck's oratorio "The Beatitudes" given by
the Liederkranz Society of New York City.
1899. April. 15. César Franck's Symphony in D Minor given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1899. April 24. Perosi's oratorio "The Transfiguration of Christ"
given by the Cecilia Society of Boston.
1899. Oct. 14. Arensky's Pianoforte Concerto in F minor, given by
the Boston Symphony Orchestra with Katherine Goodson as soloist.
1899. Oct. 20. Dvo[vr]ák's tone poem, "The Wild Dove," given by
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1899. Oct. 21. Lalo's Violoncello Concerto in D minor, and
Glazunof's Sixth Symphony (G minor) given by the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
1899. Oct. The Society of American Musicians and Composers
organized to succeed the MS. Society of New York City.
1899. Nov. 3. American début of Mark Hambourg, pianist, in Boston
with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1899. Nov. 4. Siegfried Wagner's opera "Der Bärenhäuter," and W.
Berger's Symphony in B flat major, given by the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
1899. Nov. 17. American début of A. Petchnikof, violinist, with
the Philharmonic Orchestra, New York City.
1899. Nov. 18. Dvo[vr]ák's symphonic poem (Op. 111), "Pisen
Bohatyrská" given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1899. Dec. 9. F. Draeseke's "Jubel Overture" given by the Boston
Symphony Orchestra.
1899. Dec. 23. American début of Antonio Scotti, noted baritone,
as _Don Giovanni_ at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York
City.
1899. Dec. 30. H. W. Parker's "Northern Ballad" given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra.