Ignatz Moscheles in Venice - in the middle of 1853

from Recent Music and Musicians, pages 378-379:

On the eve of the 'Festa di San Rocco' a 'Musica a Grand Orchestra' was performed at the church; but how? Pretty waltzes and polkas were played upon the organ, then a fugue full of discordant fifths and octaves, with occasional utterances from a priest's hoarse voice at the high altar, and the tones of a wheezy and discordant organ! The Director marked each rhythm by thrashing his desk as heartily as the poor saint may have been beaten in his lifetime, often drowning the sharp metallic ring of the orchestra, and murdering the effect of the solo, which was sung by a fine tenor, with the usual …   more >>
cite as

Ignatz Moscheles, and Charlotte Moscheles (ed.), Recent Music and Musicians (New York, 1879), p. 378-379. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1432376397230 accessed: 19 April, 2024

location of experience: Venice

Listeners

Ignatz Moscheles
Head of Leigzig Conservertoir, Composer, Conducting, Musician […]
1794-1870

Listening to

hide composers
a fugue
vocal music
waltzes
written by Chopin

Experience Information

Date/Time in the middle of 1853
Medium live
Listening Environment in the company of others, indoors, in public

Originally submitted by mallen on Sat, 23 May 2015 11:19:57 +0100