New-York daily tribune., 1856-05-20
AR SISFELDS CONCERT At THE
ACADEMY.

Mr. Esfsld, TO whom the community is indebted fcc
The performance Of ~ much good music gave Sat-
urdsy light, at the Academy, Fourteeuth strset. O
sonevhs. rsre spsces Of entertainment in the perox.
mApas Of Beeihoven's musia to Goelhe's drama, Ee-
mont the orchestra of the Philharmonic Society &C.
6c,sspg for the instrumental part, Miss Bsinerd Cor
the voea, and Mr. Donald Mcleod reading some origi-
mai exp anstory lyrical matter OF the wei known ,sry
of liberty. ...l. .l...,,
Be DO not think such music success under tho
cicupstances in question The pieces are necessarily
skeashes and rot developments, like those in the
thors symphonies as the lime does not sduit Of dus
technical development and then the scene, the voocs
and actors Of an opera beirg venting we have
ain ply disjointed musical hints by the orchestra We
say BY the orchestra for excepting two tie solss from
Miss Braineid. there was NO vocal mnsic given II
Il e whole thing. The music, not aboundng in eer>
Ssin quality which may define by calling 1t per-
roIssm, and which is the great requisite OF snccess'
ul opera writing failed, excepting in some par's to m
er,st sufficient. the audience and indeed there vas no
earnest applause the hearers maintaining most hig'A
ps, uciar ce throughout. We considered lsetho
ven Ian attic geDlus-his opulen invention lying in
s,mpboDie forms. This is sho VI in bis nibiity 70
make popular melody Indicative Of thskcharsctsr
which sings it, such for example as IN NsEAts
hoSeuh taio, ausS' "s''~e
Belhnis ElyBo and forth. Indeed we are unable
to pdisiduste spge melody of Beethoven watch has
cluched the tendris Of the common heart-a Skskes-
pesrean test of dramatic power. Hence, last evening.
the two little solos OF Miss RrapeTd had everything
but popular beauty. They were commonplace enough
in their phrsseoogy lie true, and easily sung they
picely and specially instrumen but not
melodic inspirations, "pure and simple" The most
comylete piece of the evening the overtuse made
up part of the music subsequently giveu; and thn
is very fine composition viewed symphonacally. but
has not the impersonated quality due an overture
or dismatic prelude-such as Won Weoer IN
stills into his overtures. Points OF the text
fo bade musical illustration, and therein ono thing
would have answered about as well as another; buS
there were others-,hat depicting Cisrss death, for
exampie-~hch admitted Of such illustratioc and
were worthy of the composers genius. The March
was good but not ustous either in theme or instra-
ment aop; and the coronal anthem the intended
grand hymn If popular exultation on the nausuraaoe
OF liberty, was little more than musical hurry -
being neither in Instrumentation accent idea, pronun-
citation or climax, worthy Of the subject Indeed,
quasi vocal accent and climax In the orchestra Is
thing Of comparatively recent creatcnthe most mod
ern composers alone, as audiences feel, though critics
may not, having reached that supreme qushty.r Tho
orchestra pcffOfmtu MUCH oetlcf tnah CV"'u hosS
been looked fer under the cessariy limited number
of rehes rsa Mr.. Esfeld himself led. Miss Branerd
has very pure sweet voice. AID sang her little psrs
accordingly. Mr.. Donald Mcleod recited in an easy.
sutemaDlke manner, but not loud enough to bs
heard uniformly the poetic text of the evening. ss
original composition by himself, which was full o.
manly sentiment and demoe,stic sympathy well eK-
pressed. The music TO Egmont occupied the second
part Of the entertainment. .t
The frs part contained, among other things, piano.
per iormance by Mr.. Hoffman, who plays well enough
to play anywhere, and gave an elegant piece =
NJ ndelssobns with dexterty and beauty. An original
piece and air composed by Mr.. Esfe'd for Mr.. Bsdiah
and the orchestra the good old plan OF recitatve,
andarte aud allegro, was the best vocal composition u
the evening that We heard. 1t sistioaly put To-
getber the only want being that Of dramatic reason
for Il chspges oftmehe poetry indicating no pro-
gressou in stntiment action. 1t was. however. ex
ceedDgly well composed, the melody being itsla.s
and the accompaniment elaborate and was admirably
surg by Mr.. Badali. .-.r... ... r....-.
Mr.. Eisfeld deserves many thanks, but whether hn
enterprise has repaid him may be well doubted.
| The so-called "season" Of twelve nights at tho
| Academy eDded on Friday with TN overwhelming
| house to hear ~ Iyovatore, and il will be seen by
| the advertisement that new "season" cornmesces
on Wednesday the opera Of the evening to be ferdfs
Luisa Miller which is but little known here.