New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-09
Opcrn Specimens as . Conesrs.

Mr.. Edw ard Mollenhauer 10 fsvorstly knowuto
the musical world since Mr. julien brought him
hirhe- with that coruscation Of musical magnatss,
which taught our people for the. FIRST time what the
purity. poetry and sutlimity Of orchestra are Since
then alr. Molienhsuer hes been engaged as thsas-
rical leader at the Winter Garden. He now appears
in new lich. as q composer-s writer for tho voice
and orchestra. When the Emperor Of Russia told
Madame Catalan that she asked more salary than
one of bis field marshals" Then" replied the ean-
tatrice, "your Imperial Majesty had better get one
Of your ed.marshas to sing" Ii singers are scarce.
composers are more 70. by composers We do NOS
mean the writers of "sbeet music" any more than
we would call poets the fllers-up OF the corner OF =
Will AGE newspaper; but by composers We convey the
idea of those who can wieid the mechanism and
spjritualism-the detail and the general'zation-os
the opera which comprehends every style OF musl-
cal cxnression--coyers instrumental as we'll as vocal
requirements, and demands what no purely instru-
mental writing can, with all its Wanted and undue
pretenss claim dramatic characterization, OF By
comparison the hyper-noble, Shakespearan function.
So rare are composers Of any sort that even 10 our
largest cities the who can detail with the PEN
on paper, the abstract souorousness and expression
Of musical eiIects-may be set down at one or two
or none-ana out of the great cities, there Is no
BODY at all. Other capacities q rule abound
GOOD painters are fifty to one to the number Of men
capable Of welding the operate pen. we MAKE
tthese snticpatory statements as necessary oc,ore
coming 20 the main fact Of our discourse, wuicu "
,bat Mr., Edward MolleDbauer has essa! CD INC 'arS
and difficult task of writing an OPERA anu 'nat IA
act of il was performed at Irving Hall III puono
copcert--by Madame Rotter and Messrs. Lott,
We;sI;eh. and Hartman Of the Germoa oPera-ehe
text benp by DR.. August koehler)-asslsted oy
chorus and orchestra.
An opera act ia concert room Is q h'n cut u
waer especially if the opera has not land tho ono
h.. noh Lsen played at the theatre. We profess To-
a;ye accordingly no critical opinion on the work
! Int merely 10 say we were fayorably impressed
and surprised at the same tune. The conditions Tor
an operAtc composer first the faculty OF oein8
able to invent, OF be inspired with, memorable
captivating easily caught dramatic melodles-and
added TO this there must DO the academicians ex-
perence in working.up effects and disposipe OF
Rhetorical details in the construction Of pieees-"h0
Il sentiment of stage-business-a thing a'oso'h~
apart from the music Of the drawin5rooni VI ~"
orchestra at the concert. Whether the neloo'es "
Mr.. Mollcnbauer's opera are menoraoe, 'u0 P"o
alone must decide. Whether II is enecuseY WV
ION for the stage, stage-trial alone can detefu'A'
But wa think, after the good impression er'''.'
-, tho concert. the trial ought to be ~'u''
No,iog is so dreary mean and stupid ar'w''s s -
an .xcl..;ve reference to Europe for musc'u NO.
or, ,,o,r-,bs capital, strength, wisdom ana s'o'.
the nation considered positively aud , r'lSsey =;
None but iguoble sOulsthemselves ineai~Dv :"
producing any thing-woold oier any apced on ., :,
Wv .oa Rut we find too Ofsen--eay' NO may Az,
own 'O ..0,,or notwithstanding but oppor tion
we is not so lecund in operate muse Tat we
''u' ,a;, her motions Italy, the land off ong dur
ias twenty years ha. given '1s word one composer
Us ,ha Jeslh OF Won Weber, more than thirty
,ea,s 70. no uilster spirit in Germany has rsea y
70 take Lis plase-equaly gifted with the neavenp
snlusuce of original melody and s'oi''iuai''''
halmonie5