Henri Appy During the Period of nearly a quarter of a century Henri Appy as been preeminently the most distinguished musician in Rochester in fact there are hut few, if any, in America whose fame is so wide-spread throughout the world. Professor Appy, the oldest of a large lamily, was born at the Hague in 1830. His father, Jean Appy, an eminent violinist, was a pupil of Rhode and conductor of the Chapel of the King of Holland. Henri was born in a musical atmosphere and inherited a love for classical music that was nurtured by his surroundings. He began his musical studies under his father when but fIve years old, and at the age of eight entered the Royal conservatory under the charge of William Lubeck, solo violinist to the Court of Hanover. Here he made such progress that when twelve years old he took first honors over all competitors. Next he studied under the violinist Berzieou, and then was sent to study under Savari, a pupil of Paginini. His father died at this time and Henri became the main support of his mother and her younger children. He was then such a master of the violin that the concert halls where he played were crowded to hear him and his reputation had spread so wide that he was led to make a concert tour of Holland and Germany. The success of his tour was so pronounced that on his return to Amsterdam he was invited to play before the King at Felix Meritus, of which Van Bru was director. Henri, on the occasion, played by request, Mendelssohn's violin concerto and with such effect that the King personally presented to him the decoration of honor. The American consul to The Hague, Mr. Schwartz, was present and advised the young artist to make a tour of America. The advice was followed and he made his first public appearance at Niblo's before a large and critical audience, who were captivated by his skill. He next played with the Philharmonic Society of New York, repeating his previous success. This led to an engagement with Jenny Lind, at whose concerts he was solo violinist. He was then induced to make a tour of the chief cities of the United States and was assisted by the most eminent artists. He played with Madame Sontag, Madame Le Baronesse de Berg, Gottschalk, Gustave Satter, Richard Hoffman and others. Catharine Hays, Emma Bostwick and Paradi were among his prima donna assistants. After a triumphant tour of the principal cities Professor Appy was invited to locate in Cincinnati, and gave a series of concerts there which are credited with planting in that city the taste for classical music which it still retains. The climate of Cincinnati did not agree with him and he came back to New York, from which city he was invited to Rochester to become Director of the Academy of Music then in existence. Soon after his arrival here he organized the Rochester Philharmonic society and was its director for twenty years. With the lapse of years Professor Appy became tired of public life and of late devotes his time mainly to giving private lessons. His success as a teacher has been no less marked than as a performer in public, and his pupils, to whom, in many cases, he seems to have imparted some of his own genius, are perpetuating his fame all over his adopted country.
compiled by John Devoy (1895)
pages 125-126
Henri Appy During the Period of nearly a quarter of a century Henri Appy as been preeminently the most distinguished musician in Rochester in fact there are hut few, if any, in America whose fame is so wide-spread throughout the world. Professor Appy, the oldest of a large lamily, was born at the Hague in 1830. His father, Jean Appy, an eminent violinist, was a pupil of Rhode and conductor of the Chapel of the King of Holland. Henri was born in a musical atmosphere and inherited a love for classical music that was nurtured by his surroundings. He began his musical studies under his father when but fIve years old, and at the age of eight entered the Royal conservatory under the charge of William Lubeck, solo violinist to the Court of Hanover. Here he made such progress that when twelve years old he took first honors over all competitors. Next he studied under the violinist Berzieou, and then was sent to study under Savari, a pupil of Paginini. His father died at this time and Henri became the main support of his mother and her younger children. He was then such a master of the violin that the concert halls where he played were crowded to hear him and his reputation had spread so wide that he was led to make a concert tour of Holland and Germany. The success of his tour was so pronounced that on his return to Amsterdam he was invited to play before the King at Felix Meritus, of which Van Bru was director. Henri, on the occasion, played by request, Mendelssohn's violin concerto and with such effect that the King personally presented to him the decoration of honor. The American consul to The Hague, Mr. Schwartz, was present and advised the young artist to make a tour of America. The advice was followed and he made his first public appearance at Niblo's before a large and critical audience, who were captivated by his skill. He next played with the Philharmonic Society of New York, repeating his previous success. This led to an engagement with Jenny Lind, at whose concerts he was solo violinist. He was then induced to make a tour of the chief cities of the United States and was assisted by the most eminent artists. He played with Madame Sontag, Madame Le Baronesse de Berg, Gottschalk, Gustave Satter, Richard Hoffman and others. Catharine Hays, Emma Bostwick and Paradi were among his prima donna assistants. After a triumphant tour of the principal cities Professor Appy was invited to locate in Cincinnati, and gave a series of concerts there which are credited with planting in that city the taste for classical music which it still retains. The climate of Cincinnati did not agree with him and he came back to New York, from which city he was invited to Rochester to become Director of the Academy of Music then in existence. Soon after his arrival here he organized the Rochester Philharmonic society and was its director for twenty years. With the lapse of years Professor Appy became tired of public life and of late devotes his time mainly to giving private lessons. His success as a teacher has been no less marked than as a performer in public, and his pupils, to whom, in many cases, he seems to have imparted some of his own genius, are perpetuating his fame all over his adopted country.
compiled by John Devoy (1895)
pages 125-126
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