Plançon as Ramfis in Aida.
Plançon as Ramfis in Aida.
Before closing this chapter of bassos a few words should be said concerning three eminent singers whose reputation was made{319}in oratorio and concert singing,—Stockhausen, Henschel, and Myron W. Whitney.
Julius Stockhausen was one of the most remarkable singers of the century. He was born at Paris in 1826. His early career was of a varied nature, for he took part in concerts as singer, violinist, accompanist, and even drummer. He did not finally decide on music as a profession until 1848, when he took the part of Elijah in a performance of that oratorio at Basle, and his success decided his future career.
Stockhausen's singing in his best days must have been wonderful. Even to those who heard him only after he had passed his prime, it was something never to be forgotten. His delivery of opera and oratorio music was superb in taste, feeling, and execution, but it was the Lieder of Schubert and Schumann that most peculiarly suited him, and these he delivered in a truly remarkable way. The rich beauty of the{320}voice, the nobility of style, the perfect phrasing, the intimate sympathy, and the intelligible way in which the words were given, all combined to make his singing wonderful. His highest achievement is said to have been his delivery of the part of Doctor Marianus, in the third part of Schumann's "Faust."
For many years Stockhausen has been one of the chief vocal teachers of Germany, and has recently celebrated his golden wedding to the musical profession, which he formally entered in 1848.
Although not an opera singer, but rather a broad musician, the name of Georg Henschel will be remembered from the fact that for a few years he was considered one of the most excellent oratorio and concert singers before the public. He was born at Breslau in 1850, and at the age of eleven commenced his studies under Doctor Schaeffer. A year later he made his début as a pianist at{321}Berlin, where he played Weber's Concerto. He had already composed a good deal of music and shown much talent in that direction. In 1867 he entered the conservatory at Leipzig, and studied under Moscheles, Richter, Reinecke, and Goetze. After spending some time in Weimar, he settled in Berlin. One of his most marked successes was in 1874, at the Cologne festival. In 1877 he went to London, where he soon acquired a great reputation as a bass singer, and in 1879 he produced the Triumphal Hymn of Brahms.
In 1880 he visited America on a concert tour, and while in Boston became the conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which was organized and established during the three years of his conductorship. In 1881 he married Miss Lillian Bailey, a Boston lady, who was a concert singer of marked ability. In 1884 he returned to London, where he has since organized the London{322}Symphony concerts, and won an enviable position in the musical world.
Myron W. Whitney, who was born in 1836 at Ashbury, Mass., decided at an early age on following a musical career. For ten years he sang in concerts, and then went to Italy, where he studied under Vannucini, and later in London under Randegger. He now made a tour of Great Britain, and at the Birmingham festival sang the rôle of Elijah in such a manner as to make an immediate reputation for himself. He has a superb bass voice, which under long and careful training became flexible and even, and which extended for nearly three octaves. After achieving a reputation in England he returned to America, and from 1876 he has sung only in his native land, where his reputation is unexcelled.
For many years Mr. Whitney sang in light opera, but he also gave an interpretation of the King in "Lohengrin," under{323}the baton of Theodore Thomas, when the American Opera Company was floated, which is said to have been finer than any heard in this country. Of late years Mr. Whitney has retired from the stage and settled in Boston, where he teaches singing.
To give an account of all the singers who have appeared in grand opera would require several volumes. Of American singers alone there are many more who have achieved fame than can be placed in this little book. Alwina Valleria, of Baltimore, was well known, and is now married and settled in England. Emma Juch, Helene Hastreiter, Marie Litta, Emma Abbott, Louise Dotti are all of American origin and became well known. Margaret Reed, Suzanne Adams, Susan Strong are singers whose stars are in the ascendent.
As time passes on, the number of singers whose names are handed down as "famous" is very small in proportion to the number of{324}singers who come before the public, and it is possible that even some of those mentioned in this book may become dim in the distance of years.{325}
The dates in italic are not authenticated.
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