Chapter Twelve

CAMILLA URSO'S FESTIVAL, 1873. MADAME ANNA BISHOP. THE LORING CLUB. ALFRED WILKIE, FRANK GILDER, D.P. HUGHES

One of the most difficult tasks in writing my memoirs is the choice of the most important happenings in a busy life. There are so many things to speak of it is hard to know where to begin. I cannot begin with a more appropriate event than the Fourth of July celebration which took place in 1869, with William Seward, Secretary of State, in one of the boxes of the California theater.

Alex Austin, Esq., was president of the day and called the assemblage to order.

The programme was as follows:

Prayer by Rev. H.D. Lathrop.

Music by the orchestra.

Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Lawrence Barrett, Esq.

God Bless our Glorious Land (written for the Fourth of July, 1869, by our friend Sam Booth). Full chorus, George T. Evans, leader.

Poem by R.C. Hopkins, Esq., read by John McCulloch, Esq.

Music, orchestra.

Vocal music, Gloria in Excelsis, Mozart.

Oration by Henry E. Highton, Esq.

Song, Star Spangled Banner.

Full chorus from the Handel and Haydn Society and quartette composed of Mrs. S.D. Mayer, soprano; Mrs. M.R. Blake, contralto; Mr. S.D. Mayer, tenor; Walter C. Campbell, bass.

Music, orchestra.

In 1868 we were visited by the Lyster Opera company from Australia, which gave a season of ten operas at the old Metropolitan Theater on Montgomery street. They brought with them a goodly company of artists.

Henry Squires, tenor W.F. Baker, tenor Armes Beaumont, tenor Lucy Escott, soprano Geraldine Warden, mezzo-soprano Mrs. Ada King, contralto Mr. Sutcliff, baritone

LOCAL SINGERS

Sig. Roncovieri, tenor Mr. Nathanson, bass Mrs. M.R. Blake, contralto Mrs. Cameron, soprano

They gave, December 21 and 22, Les Huguenots; December 23 and 24, Bohemian Girl; December 25, Maritana.

On Her Fiftieth Anniversary as a Public Singer, June 12, 1896

Sixty Years of Age and Still in Good Voice]

After the close of the season Mr. Squires and Miss Escott gave a farewell concert in Pacific Hall in which I participated and sang with them the celebrated trio, Protect Us Through the Coming Night.

On May 16, 1870, the Handel and Haydn Society gave Rossini's Stabat Mater in Sacramento, Prof. Hugo Mansfeldt, leader, assisted by the societies of Sacramento. The chorus was 500 strong, the soloists were the best to be secured, assisted by Henry Heyman, violin soloist.

Herr Wenderlich, bass W.C. Campbell, bass Samuel C. Mayer, tenor Matthew Anderson, tenor Mrs. Marriner, soprano Mrs. S. Little, soprano Mrs. J.M. Pierce, soprano Mrs. McNeil (of Sacramento), soprano Mrs. M.R. Blake, contralto Miss Hewlett, contralto Miss K. Stone, contralto

Cornet solo, Mr. Dick Kohler and full orchestra. Anvil chorus, with artillery accompaniment.

The undertaking was a financial as well as a musical success and added one more wreath of laurels to our musical advancement in 1873.

Also in this year the celebrated violin virtuoso, Camilla Urso, came to San Francisco on a tour. The Mechanics Pavilion then stood on the square of Stockton and Powell, Geary and Post streets, and numerous entertainments were given there. The musical festival had been successfully opened with Camilla Urso as soloist, and on the second day she tendered the society a benefit concert. The programme, a noted one which should be preserved, is as follows:

MUSICAL FESTIVAL

TENDERED BY CAMILLA URSO in aid of The Mercantile Library of San Francisco at the MECHANICS PAVILION

FIRST PART

1. Overture, Ali Baba Cherubini Grand orchestra of 150 men.

2. Glory to God on High (from 12th Mass) Mozart Oratorio chorus, 1,200 voices.

3. Symphony in C (Andante and Allegro) Gade Grand orchestra of 150 pieces.

4. (a) Sleepers, Awake, Choral from St. Paul Mendelssohn (b) Prayer of Moses in Egypt Rossini

5. Grand Concerto for the Violin (orchestral accompaniment) Beethoven CAMILLA URSO