Synopsis
On today’s date in 1869, a visitor to Boston’s Back Bay could have marveled at a huge, specially-constructed wooden structure sporting American flags and surrounded by a mini-village of peanut vendors and lemonade stands.
Inside, an orchestra of 1000 sat surrounded by a chorus of 10,000. Over the stage hung giant portraits of Handel and Beethoven, and higher yet depictions of two angels gazing heavenwards by a banner reading “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”
This June 19 concert marked the end of a five-day Jubilee Festival of Music and Reconciliation, as America tried to mend the wounds caused by its recent Civil War. Former Union General and current President Ulysses S. Grant was on hand, and the New York Times opined that the Festival offered proof that, “our people can think of something beyond … the almighty dollar.”
During the Festival, the massive orchestra and chorus performed selections ranging from classical works by Bach and Mozart to more recent works by Meyerbeer and Verdi.
A review by John S. Dwight, Boston’s leading music critic of that day, found the immense chorus “glorious and inspiring” and the huge orchestra “splendid.” However, he dismissed a performance of Verdi’s Anvil Chorus, accompanied by 100 real anvils, as a “childish, trivial thing for such a grand occasion.”
Music Played in Today's Program
Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864): Coronation March, from Le Prophète; New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; Sony 46709
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): Anvil Chorus, from Il Trovatore; Chicago Symphony and Chorus; Georg Solti, conductor; London 466 075
On This Day
Births
1717 - Baptismal date of Bohemian violinist and composer Johann Wenzel Anton Stamitz, in Nemecký Brod (Deutsch-Brod, now Havlíckuv Brod)
1842 - Austrian operetta composer Carl Zeller, in St. Peter in der Au
1854 - Italian opera composer Alfredo Catalani, in Lucca
Deaths
1915 - Russian composer Sergei Taneyev, 58, in Dyud’kovo, near Zvenigorod (Julian date: June 6)
Premieres
1899 - Elgar: Enigma Variations, in London, Queen’s Hall, Hallé Orchestra conducted by Hans Richter
1915 - Saint-Saëns: choral work, Hail California, in San Francisco, composer conducting
1926 - Antheil: Ballet Mécanique, in Paris
1984 - Bernstein: opera A Quiet Place (revised version), by La Scala Opera, John Mauceri conducting. The first version of this opera premiered at Houston Grand Opera on June 17, 1983, conducted by John DeMain.
Others
1869 - Final concert of a five-day “Great National Peace Jubilee” involving an orchestra of 1000 and a chorus of 10,000 organized by bandmaster Patrick Gilmore performing in a specially-constructed hall in Boston’s Back Bay
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About Composers Datebook®
Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.
He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.