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387.
weeks. A. Jaell became very popular. "The
Carnival of Venice" still tingles in our ears
and even now echoed in our parlors of our
young American belles.

May 12th, 1852 Ole Bulle the unique vio-
linist joined the Germania in Baltimore.
They performed in Philadelphia May 12th,
in union. They gave three very successful
concerts through well directed puffery; for
Bull had declined in attraction. A professor
of music in our city who had directed their
operations gave us the following account of
this Ole (irascible) Bull. At New York he
quarreled with the Herald (Bennett) who op-
posed him at every point and defeated all his
concerts at Gotham. At this time Jenny
Lind's three final concerta were being given
with three of Bull's only on alternate nights.
His at the Metropolitan Hall her's at Castle
Garden. It was necessary to fill Bull's
houses with free tickets. One thousand each
night was the number given to the New York
Councilmen aldermen editors policemen
hotel-keepers printers etc. All got them.

Alboni the great contralto of Europe made
her first appearance in America at the Me-
tropolitan Hall New York in June 1852.
This professor sat beside Bull and asked his
opinion of the singer. He replied "she was
not very good and predicted a failure for
her." So it may be seen that great artistes may
prove very poor judges and prophets as in
this case. It is acknowledged she was the
greatest artiste living. Mad. Sontag at an-
other time said to the same professor (Eme-
rick) that "she ought to have left America
with a fortune of $100,000."

We now arrive at the grand concert era or
advent of the Countess Rossi alias Madame
Sontag. The arrival of Sontag and her suite
was on October 13th, 1852 from New York.
Preliminary measures had been taken by the
musical elite of our city to give to this prima
donna a formal reception worthy of the great
event. It was therefore arranged after much
exciting discussion that her approaches to
Philadelphia should take the form of an ova-
tion. A select party of ladies and gentlemen
mostly connected with the Musical Fund So-
ciety were to proceed on the steamboat
Washington to Burlington and there receive
their guest and retinue pro forma and thus
escort her to the city. Agreeably to this pro-
gramme on the 13th the lady was met at the
ancient city of Burlington by a delegation of
the Musical Fund Society who awaited her
arrival at the landing on the Delaware in the
steamer. Sontag and her professional cortege
soon arrived in carriages at the boat. The
lady was accompanied by a cicisbeo with
much gallantry of style who was known as a
citizen of our city and a most astute musical
critic. The delegation conducted the party
after the first brief but ceremonious geeeting
on board the steamer while the orchestra
during this action discoursed most appro-
priate music. After Sontag and cortege had
entered the cabin of the steamer and re-
ceived in dumb show to places the music
ceased. Mr. George Campbell the Secretary
of the Musical Fund Society advanced and
addressed her in the following brief words:

"Honored Madame the Musical Fund Society of
Philadelphia desirous to express their high estima-
tion in which they hold your character as a lady and
as an artiste made arrangements to meet and con-
gratulate you here for the purpose of welcoming and

escorting you to their city. The fame of your
talents and virtues have long ago preceeded you; and
this opportunity of meeting personally one who
has for years occupied so distinguished a rank with
the musical world and so eminently contributed to
dignify and exalt the divine art you profess affords
us every pleasure. We cordially welcome your ap-
pearance among us and hope your visit may prove
in all respects agreeable and gratifying to yourself."

To which Mad. Sontag responded briefly:

"Sir I am totally unprepared for the kindness
thus shown to me. It is as delightful as it is touch-
ing and flattering to my feelings. Accept sir my
heartfelt thanks where it ever will be deeply en-
graved. Thanks thanks dear sir to you and your
noble society."

A splendid collation was spread upon the
tables during which repast the Germania
Society played some joyous operatic music
while a chorus chaunted some choice har-
monies. This continued down the river till
the boat reached Brown street wharf Ken-
sington when the party took carriages for
Jones' Hotel Chesnut street. A professor of
music of our city who participated in this
reception gives us the following racy de-
scription of this musical aquatic festival:

"Herr F. B. Helmsmueller one of Ullman's Bo-
hemians was sent to Philadelphia--an advance
courier--to manage the preliminaries of Sontag's
entree into that city and to prepare a grand recep-
tion for her in advance of her arrival. The agent's
ingenuity became tasked to produce this brilliant
result. His first overtures were made to the musical
patrons and guardians of our city but his sugges-
tions did not meet with an animated response. The
pulse of the musical leaders did not beat in inison.
Their pride of music was marked by an apathetic
clef--a lack of melo[?]ic profession seemed to exist.
At this andante icy movement the agent became as
agitated as a hurried passage of double demi semi
quavers or as Councillor Hopkinson would say
'Puffed up with artificial delusion.' In the agent's
empressement to obey orders from his sovereign
'little Ullman' he produced a tempest and revived
the latent rival feelings of our two universities of
music--the Doric Musical Fund and the Ionic Phil-
harmonic Societies. His appeals to their pride to
their future and past fame aroused their dormant
love of the 'art divine' and they convened pro
forma to discuss the spirited propositions whether
they should charter a steamer or all the vapor craft
of the port to receive the Countess of Rossi (Sontag)
and thus meet her at Burlington nd escort her to
the city. But indecision marked their progress.
The Bohemian despaired for a failure looked clear.
Upon this obvious maction Helmsmueller with de-
jected aspect seriously appealed to a musical gen-
tleman of our press of extensive influence whether
it would not be expedient as a dernier resort to call
upon the vox populi--to the firemen a body as he
learned of fiery proclivities and a spirited organi-
zation that were ever ready to lend to all excitement
and processional views their potent aid. At the tap of
their bells they could assemble with their artistic-
colored costumes: their splendid equipments and
glazed helmets would thus improviso prove a ivil
procession of a Roman ovation character with a
display of fireworks and a midnight serenade--a
gala reception may inaugurate the arrival of yhe
'Queen of Song.' To this magnificent display and
popular demonstrations the sage musical gentleman
of the press dissented. He ridiculed the idea and
dissuaded the agent out of so eon strepito reception.
At length the important internationnal musical sub-
ject was harmoniously adjusted. A high-toned re-
cherche party of bon ton pretensions assembled to re-
ceive the Countess. The steamer Washington was
chartered. With an epicurean repast of ambrosial
dishes chicken salad and green seal champagne
under the auspices of the Musical Fund (which the
Bohemian agent paid for) away they steamed for the
goal of the grand reception at Burlington. But alas!
they lacked a spokesman. Quite an animated search
was made for an orator to welcome the Countess.
A prominent member of the society sought the as-
sistance of several gentlemen and finally succeeded
in procuring the services of Mr. George Campbell
the secretary of the society. The awful moment
came. Four carriages with the distinguished lady
and suite arrived at the landing when the prima
donna approached hanging gracefully on the arm
of the preux chevalier (J. D. Esq.) a celebrated
musical critic attrached to her retinue. Count Rossi
and the male singers Signors Badiali Rocco Rosi
and Pozzolini brought up the rear at a respectful
distance with much nonchalance puffing their Ha-
vanas in a dolce far niente style quite a la Italiana.
The scene was rich--nay picturesque. Mr. Camp-
bell's address and Madame's reply were both short
and sweet as 'lovers vows' 'for brevity is the soul
of wit.' The Germania discoursed most eloquent
music while the cortege of ladies and gentlemen
were thrown into ecstacies and did ample homage
to the viands and wines.

On Thursday evening October 14th, 1852
Madame Henrietta Sontag's first concert was
given at the Musical Fund Hall. She was
assisted by Signor Cesare Badiali Signor Poz-
zolini Signor Rocco (a buffo his first appear-
ance in America) Carl Eckert conductor
from the Italian opera in Paris; Paul Julien
the young violinist ; Alfred Jaell the grace-
ful piantist &c. and the Germania Musical
Society augmented by the first artiste of
Philadelphia. Of this firsy concert we give a
programme:

PART FIRST.
1. Overture--"Euryanthe"......................Weber
By the Germania Orchestra.
2. Romanza from "I Normanni en Parigi"
.....................................................Mercanditi
Sirnor Cesare Badiali.
3. Aria--"Como per me sereno." ("La Son-
nambula").................................Bellini
Henrietta Sontag.
4. Fantasia--Piano Forte themes from "Lu-
erezia Borgia"..............................Leypold de Meyers
Alfred Jaell.
5. The celeberated Polka Aria from "Letre
Nozze" a lay written expressly for Ma-
dame Sontag......................................
Madame Sontag.

PART SECOND.
6. Overture to "Martha"............................Flotow
The Germania Orchestra.
7. Aria--"O Lucede de Questa Anima" from
"Linda di Chamouni"...........................Donizetti
8. Fantasio on themes from "The Fille du
Reiment..................................................Allard
Paul Julien.
9. Ballad--"Home Sweet Home" from the
opera of "Clara"......................................Bishop
Madame Sontag.
10. Aria--"Largo al Factotum" ("Il Bar-
biere di Seville").......................................Rossini
Signor Cesare Badiali.
11. Swiss Song composed expressly for Ma-
dame Sontag........................................Eckert
Madame Sontag.
12. Finale--"The Coronation March"..................Meyerbeer
Germanis Society.
Conductor Carl Eckert ; Leader Carl Bergmann.
Prices $3 and $2 according to location.

Sontag's second concert was on Monday
October 18th. Wednesday October 20th third
concert. October 21st the fourth concert or
the second series. The prices were now front
seats $3; side and middle seats $2; to all other
seats $1.

On the fourth night Luigi Rocco made his
first bow and sang with Badiali a duet from
"I Puritanni" (Bellini;) Dr. Arne's celebrated
song of "The Soldier Tired of War's Alarms"
with Madame Sontag ; also "Rhodes Air"
with brilliant variations by Madame Sontag ;
the Irish ballad by Moore of "The Last
Rose of Summer."

Of Madame Sontag it would be superoga-
tory to offer any further remarks of ours on
her superlative powers of execution in these
songs and arias. She sang them magnificent-
ly as all who heard her are aware. Signor
Badiali was a fine artiste as he now stands at
the Queen's Opera at London the first in
his line.

The scene at the hall each night of the con-
certs was most brilliant not surpassed by any
similar affair of the kind in these days of bril-
liant shows. The room was filled to a surfeit
with the beauty taste and the aristocratic
fashion of our city. The auditory presented
nightly a dazzling spectacle.

The overtures were played by the Germa-
nia with admirable precision and effect di-
rected by the magic wand of Carl Eckert.
The romanza from "I Normanni en Parigi"
by Badiali was sung with the perfection of
art and the nicety of polished taste. But the
accomplished Sontag was the cynosure of
these concerts--the fascinating sorceress of
song. When she first appeared and came be-
fore the audience a solemn stillness ensued.