THE Josephstädter Theater recently produced Donizetti’s Anna Bolena with little success; the Leopoldstädter Theater, however, was more fortunate in the production of a new opera, Die Liebe auf der Alm (Love on the Alm), the numerous performances of which were received with much applause. The music, by Riotti, is very melodious.
The concerts have been numerous; that of M. Benesch was very successful. He performed a concerto of his own composition, and Madame Benesch also distinguished herself, in a concerto of Kalkbrenner’s, as a finished pianiste. A new symphony by M. Joachim Hoffman, a composition of great merit, was performed at that gentleman’s concert. A concert has also been given by the Koutski family. Anton, the pianist, infused much expression into his play, which is more remarkable for solidity than brilliancy. Carl, the violinist, excited astonishment by a spirited performance, and the singer, Eugenie, delighted the audience with an agreeable, well cultivated voice, and very chaste style. Demoiselle Fanny Sallamon has also given a concert, at which her exquisite performances on the piano-forte were, as usual, enthusiastically applauded. Besides the above, there have been four very excellent concerts given by the Society of Musicians.
BERLIN.
Königstadt Theater. On the 4th February Demoiselle Caroline Schechner, a sister of the celebrated singer of the same name, made her debut here as Emmeline in Die Schweizerfamilie. Her voice is clear and sweet, she sings with much taste and expression, and altogether gives great promise of future excellence. On the 26th, a new opera, Melusina, was brought out under the direction of the composer, Conradin Kreutzer. The music is very pleasing, being light and flowing.
M. Felix Mendelssohn has given two very brilliant concerts, particularly the last, which were fully attended. In these was performed a Symphony by Louis Berger, full of fine thoughts, clear in style, and very original. M. Mendelssohn played a capriccio of his own, a concerto in D minor of Sebastian Bach, and a sonata in C sharp minor by Beethoven. He is now on his road to London.
A grand concert has been given by M. Hubert Ries, consisting solely of classical compositions, which was well attended. He played a new violin concerto by Spohr, with uncommon precision, grandeur, and depth of feeling, and some compositions of Beethoven with M. Felix Mendelssohn and M. Ganz. Three concerts have been given by the Dutch virtuosi, MM. Brugt and Franco Mendez, and Madame Schmidt. The former is a distinguished singer, with a sweet, though not particularly strong voice, and great powers of execution. M. Mendez played some variations on the violoncello with neatness and good taste, but his tone on the lower notes is thin, and Madame Schmidt displayed more flexibility of voice than taste.
On the 26th February the Vocal Academy performed the Passion Music of St. John the Evangelist.
M. Möser’s second series of concerts has commenced. The first concert introduced a well conceived overture by Taubert, and the second, the overture to King Stephen, by Beethoven.
At the last meeting of this season, which was to celebrate the anniversary of Beethoven’s death, we heard for the first time his Fest-Ouvertüre, ‘Zur Weihe des Hauses,’ a masterpiece in the fugue style, or rather an ancient theme, full of original ideas, such as could only occur to Beethoven. His piano-forte concerto in E flat major was performed by a Scotch virtuoso, Mr. R. Müller, who has lately been playing with great success at the courts of Denmark and Sweden. In his style, Mr. Müller distinguishes himself more by his conception and delivery of the intrinsic beauties of the composition, than by imitation of the popular pianists of the day. He shows the highest degree of his ability in the sonatas of Beethoven, in which the most difficult passages, when played by him, appear not as passages merely, but real musical ideas. If we were allowed to express a wish, it would be that Mr. Müller should perform on a solid English instrument to which he has been accustomed, and which under his finger would truly express all the delicate degrees of light and shade. Mr. Müller, as far as we remember, is the first pianist of Great Britain who has performed publicly on the continent; and it gives us the more pleasure to admire in him the talents of one of Old England’s artists, because our own German artists have always found in that country the most flattering reception.