Budapest Hungarian Orchestra: Sasha Schlionsky, director

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Sasha Schlionsky DIRECTOR


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Budapest Hungarian Orchestra




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Schlionsky's Budapest Hungarian Orchestra
SCHLIONSKY'S BUDAPEST HUNGARIAN ORCHESTRA was started in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, many years ago.  It is a well known fact that the Hungarians are among the most proficient performers upon the violin.  In fact, it was in the wanderings of the Gypsies through that country that the violin was first used.

For years the members of this orchestra played in the Royal Band for Emperor Franz Joseph, and at his beautiful summer home in Pest, where he usually brings his court during the summer months, the orchestra was always at his side, ever ready to do his bidding, and discourse sweet music at his command.  During the winter the time was spent in playing at the various springs in the vicinity, they having become famous as the most wonderful health resorts in the country.  The first American appearance of the orchestra was made in New York in 1898.  Sasha Schlionsky was its conductor then, as he is now, and so successful was he that not only did he and his musicians win unstinted praise on every side, but was successful in winning the first prize for the finest string orchestra.

So well were they received that the orchestra decided to remain in this country and make a tour of the principal cities of the East, where it met with phenomenal success.  Since that time they have provided the principal attraction at Newport, Atlantic City, Long Branch, Narrangansett Pier, Block Island, and many places of lesser note.  The orchestra is directed by Sasha Schlionsky and consists of six pieces.  Included in this number are celebrated soloists.  Sig. Schlionsky is a pianist deserving of more than passing notice, and everywhere he goes it is remarked of him that his style of playing produces tones which for breadth, richness and a peculiarly penetrating human quality is rarely surpassed and very seldom equalled.

The personnel of the orchestra is as follows:

Sasha Schlionsky, Director.
Roman Podyárey, Violinist.
Oscar Nátzi, Cellist.
Jerems Progodyany, Clarinetist.
Joseph Matieyas, Cornetist.
John Knety, Cimbalonist.


The solos of the famous Hungarian prima donna, Mdme. Laura de Rudnyanszky, with full orchestra accompaniments, will be a splendid and unrivalled feature of the rich programs of this company.  This is a great all-Hungarian organization.



Eleven years of artistic achievement have made the Budapest Hungarian Orchestra one of the most popular attractions in the concert field





Mdme. Laura de Rudnyanszky

American and Foreign Notices

Boston.—Mdme. Laura de Rudnyanszky, the dramatic soprano, has a voice of extensive range, resonant and pleasing of quality.  Leonora's opening aria, The Calm Night, showed a good command of vocal power, and the following song, Love Like This, revealed her voice in most tuneful condition.  She sang the aria, On Rosy Wings of Love, with excellent expression and commendable artistry, and carried the ensuing episodes in the last act with dramatic skill.  The bravura passages were executed with ease and in the concerted numbers Mdme. Rudnyanszky proved perfectly capable of holding her own against the sonorous baritone, Pemazzoni.—
Globe.


Chicago.—Mdme. Laura de Rudnyanszky, known in this country and abroad as the Nightingale of Hungary, sang last night at the entertainment of the Hungarian Literary Society.  She is the wife of Julius Rudnyanszky, the exiled Hungarian nobleman, whom the Austrian government sought to extradite several months ago because of a poem he wrote criticising Emperor Francis Joseph.  Mdme. Rudnyanszky appeared in the costumes of rural Hungary and sang the songs with which she charmed nobility while prima-donna of the Royal Hungarian Opera House at Budapest.  She was given an ovation, the concert lasting until long past midnight.—
American.


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Budapesti Hirlap
—Laura de Rudnyanszky's voice is sweet, flexible and pleasant to hear.  It charms the audience with its ingratiating softness and splendid schooling.  The trills are pure and fine, the colorature artistic and conquering.  This singer with the true artistic soul is the glory of the Magyar stage.


Hazank
—Among our Magyar singers the laurels belong to Laura de Rudnyanszky, who just returned from Transylvania.  None surpasses her in her songs.  She really enchants her audience with her wonderful voice and perfect art of singing.


Independent
—Laura de Rudnyanszky is the great Creator's noblest interpreter.  Such magnificent music in such form we have not enjoyed for many decades.


Pesti Hirlap
—Laura de Rudnyanszky's acting and singing creates a sunny atmosphere, it acts like an intimate, sweet smile, conquering the audience.  We gladly surrender to its charm and enjoy its refinement and distinction with happy quietude.  Her voice extends from the high soprano to the deep alto, it is warm, noble, resounding, justifying the many praises of the most competent critics.  This phenomenal voice stands in a class for itself and it covers a great variety of roles.  Laura de Rudnyanszky is a soubrette, colorature singer, soprano and alto, she sings all her parts beautifully and is convincing in all her roles.


Magyarorszag
—Laura de Rudnyanszky is the only worthy successor of the immortal Blaha.  Her artistic individuality reflects the Magyar genius, Magyar fire and Magyar soul.  Her voice sways the audience through the entire scale of joyousness.


Nemzeti Ujsag
—Laura de Rudnyanszky has now reached the climax of her artistic career.  There is no other singer in our country worthy of such praise.  She is indeed a star of first magnitude on the firmament of the art of singing in Hungary.


Magyar Szinpad
—Laura de Rudnyanszky is a great artist in the ideal meaning of the word.  She has the most beautiful voice of all the Magyar singers.  No wonder her triumphs are continually accumulating.  Laura de Rudnyanszky is, today, the lark and nightingale of Hungary.


Pester Lloyd
—Seldom do we hear such artistic, valuable, charming and conquering singing.  Its effect is greatly increased by the marvelous technique, charming voice and her accurate interpretation of the songs she renders.


Music World
—Wondrous gift.  When Laura de Rudnyanszky sings it feels as being in a church.  In the devout stillness with devout delight and bliss one absorbs these godly tones.


Boston.—The second night of the Knickerbocker Opera Company at the Majestic Theater was devoted to a performance of Verdi's undying Il Trovatore, and the pleasing tunes were sung with plenty of fire and vigor, albeit there has perhaps never before been a performance exactly like it in Boston.  Mdme. Rudnyanszky, who made her first appearance before a Boston audience, is a singer trained in the traditions of the old Italian school, understanding thoroughly just how to utter every phrase, how to make every gesture, how to express every emotion, according to the ideas of the founders of that school.  She has a strong voice, with a full volume of tone.—
Evening Transcript.





Prima-Donna Soprano
MDME. LAURA DE RUDNYANSZKY is unquestionably the greatest Hungarian Opera singer in the world.  Her appearances in the Royal Opera House in Budapest and other large cities in Hungary were triumphant successes.  Known as the Nightingale of Transylvania and the most sparkling star, she sings the heaviest as well as the lightest operas with equal facility.

Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot living in Turin, Italy, in exile, had not heard a Hungarian national song up to a short time before his death.  When Laura de Rudnyanszky paid a visit to this great man, singing for him some Hungarian national songs, he listened with tears in his eyes and afterwards impressed a kiss upon her forehead.  She recently appeared in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston and Cleveland, and everywhere she aroused such enthusiasm that the most severe musical critics wrote columns about her accomplishments.


Mdme. Laura de Rudnyanszky, Prima-Donna Soprano
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Schlionsky's Budapest Hungarian Orchestra

New York.—A large audience enjoyed the great program given by Schlionsky's Budapest Hungarian Orchestra at Mendelssohn Hall.  There are several Hungarian Orchestras on the road, but the Budapest Hungarian Orchestra is clearly entitled to first place.  The director, Sasha Schlionsky, is a leader of leaders and has directed this organization for years.  It is easy to get a few instrumentalists together and play a few pieces in an indifferent way, but it is quite a different thing to so master the music and direct the parts that real orchestra music is presented with a limited number of instruments.  This, Schlionsky does perfectly.  The program was especially well selected from works of the best authors, and his encores were equally as good as the arranged program and gave it a zest and variety that was delightful.  One thing was especially noticeable last night.  Hardly a word was spoken by those present from the beginning of a selection to its close, the exceptional work of the orchestra holding the audience's undivided attention.  The old time tune of Turkey in the Straw was given as an encore, and when played by master musicians it is really enjoyable.  Its rendition made a great hit with the audience.  A number of national airs were given and thrilled the audience and elicited the heartiest applause.—
Tribune.


New Haven, Conn.—Sasha Schlionsky and his Budapest Hungarian Orchestra is perhaps one of the greatest organizations of its kind in the world.  Sig. Schlionsky, director, has the fire and spirit which characterize the foreign artists.  He has acquired excellent control over the artists under him, and the movements of the baton are responded to with forcefulness which makes the attacks very pleasing.—
The Register.


New York Musical Courier.
—One of the big successes of the season thus far is the Budapest Hungarian Orchestra, under the direction of Sasha Schlionsky.  All reports are enthusiastic.


Cincinnati.—The Cuvier Club cannot express the gratitude they feel toward Sig. Sasha Schlionsky for the concert rendered by his Hungarian Orchestra.  To say the least he is a finished musician.  He more than deserved all the applause showered upon him.  Not a sound was heard during the entire time of the concert, and the audience was simply enwrapped in listening, so strong was its appreciation.—
Commercial Tribune.


New York.—To speak of the playing of Schlionsky's Budapest Hungarian Orchestra in such terms of praise as it deserves would be to use expressions that have the appearance of extravagance.  If the general public knew how seldom musical performances merit unqualified praise, it would appreciate how great a pleasure is afforded the musical reviewer in listening to efforts that merit only approval.—
Herald.


Akron.—No finer company of artists could have been selected than that which opened the Popular Concert Course at the First M. E. Church, Friday evening.  Composed of six musicians of the first rank, Sasha Schlionsky's Budapest Hungarian Orchestra is perhaps one of the greatest organizations of its kind in the world.  Years of playing together have given to the members a confidence in each other which enables each one to play as only artists can and have no fear that the other parts will not be taken care of.  Sig. Schlionsky, the director, has all the fire and spirit which characterize the foreign artist.  He has acquired excellent control over the artists under him and the movements of the baton are responded to with the forcefulness which make the attacks very pleasing.  The instruments all had pretty tones and the harmony produced was beautiful.  The number which excited the greatest applause was a splendid arrangement of the music of Gounod's Faust.—
Times and Democrat.


Cincinnati.—Sig. Sasha Schlionsky captured the audience at the Auditorium by the genius which he demonstrated on the piano.  It is but stating a fact that Sig. Schlionsky plays with heart and soul.  To him technique has become but the medium of expression.  His reading of the Fantasie for piano, by Liszt, was in every respect scholarly and full of poetic touches.  For encore he played Chopin's Military Polonaise.—
Enquirer.


Des Moines.—The Budapest Hungarian Orchestra, under the leadership of Sig. Schlionsky, appeared at the Drake Auditorium last night and the different artists connected with the concert company were heartily encored.  The orchestral work was exceptionally fine, the members being Hungarians, playing wild, weird music of their steppe lands.—
Register and Leader.


Philadelphia.—In the details of shading, phrasing and in general finish Schlionsky's Hungarian Orchestra is certainly quite out of the reach of adverse criticism, and the unity and precision of its playing are a continual delight after the shabby and ragged Royal Hungarian Orchestra performances to which we have been accustomed.—
Item.


Bloomsburg, Pa.—If ever an audience was pleased, it was the big crowd which attended the Institute entertainment by the Budapest Hungarian Orchestra in the Normal Auditorium last night.  It was considered one of the best concerts ever heard in Bloomsburg, and the music lovers were enraptured by it.—
The Daily Mail.


Lead, S. D.—One of the greatest musical treats that it has been Lead's people's good fortune to enjoy, was the program rendered last night in the first number of the entertainment course at the Assembly Hall.  The house was packed to the doors, and it is safe to say that none went away with even a tinge of disappointment.  In fact, a number were heard to say that the Budapest Hungarian Orchestra was worth the price of the entire course.  From the minute that the first strains were played in the opening piece the audience sat almost spellbound until the program was finished, except for the thunderous applause that followed each selection, and in every instance encores were demanded.  Sig. Sasha Schlionsky's piano solos were superb and elicited great applause.  If the management is half as fortunate in their selections of other numbers on the course the enterprise this year will be a most brilliant success.—
Leader.


New York.—Artistic is putting it mild.  Sig. Sasha Schlionsky is, without the least shadow of a doubt, an artist.  He completely won the hearts of the large audience that attended the concert at Carnegie Hall last evening.  His masterful playing and rendition of the Hungarian Rhapsodie by Liszt overwhelmed the audience and he carried the house by storm.  He also was highly appreciated by his gracious response to encores.  Judging from last evening's performance Sig. Schlionsky belongs to the best of musical favorites.—
New York Mail and Express.


Fort Dodge, Iowa.—Schlionsky's Budapest Hungarian Orchestra delighted every person present last night.  Busy business men came in to listen just a little while and remained till the last number was finished at 11 o'clock, saying we decided we did not want to leave.—
Rev. Lewis P. Kopp, Pastor Christian Church.



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