New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-02-13
MUSIC.

formidable TanRhduser of Richard Wagner have Deeh'
of late the musical temptations OF the Olympic Inc
former is merely q suggestion OF Shakespeare ana no
more but its story follows pretty closely upon the
original MtTry Hfues. Most of the drGaGts persona
are i'm the Opera not emitting Slender ana IN Cd,bs
The libretto is well cOntrivod, offering IN feasible
shape The most popular scenes OF the DRAMA ana tne
music on the other hand fills up the scene win cor
responding animation. The amount OF actual Chare
9cter IN the opera as compared with the drama 49, Oh
course very small but it is enough to color the COM
pOsers vyaGty. Thus. the crotchcty faiS1ll S is
a Door apology for the brave OLD or
John. who had more ideas in his Shakes
perean composition than any composer is ape 10
translate but it will do indiffeTenty wen Ior te IC
roystercr Of an operate company. Stcnd~S Outut Is
much the same as it is in the play; he is more D0s
ferrous moon-calf than we knew HIM; ana his lacka1
daisicai plant about Sweet Anne rage lscohve9eu
i'm n phrase of musical humor Dr. Cd'gs makes mp up
after Shakespeare, and sings theatncally; INC
Merry Wives" are gaTrulOus as they can pc ann
make mischief with vocal concert tnat Is dehgntl'
out lively and the music, though never pro
found. is generally well-studied and able feI-
hans the best scene in the opera III all respects Il
that of the tavern where Falstaff quaiis sack ana
sings drinking song which as an imitation OF shakes
DeaTe would be considered lunatlc Win respect 10
version but as composition is bold ana unique WIN
a breadth and pOsitiveneSs Of character and humor
that ought to make 1T very effective WIN a gOog
bassO. Uir tieU ich mich" as sung by IGtstdg ana
Mrs Ford is one of the best known mOTceauG OF the
oDera and IeRtOn'S air, HOTCh dc LOTch, IA pass
age of a rare deality. These, with the general mae
of the wOrkwhicb is dancing ana Driill', II no,
ing mOre-make up the most charming ana suDstil-
ti9 features of NiCOlai's opera. It's precise Iahk
though high and peculiar II would De dlilicuIO 10
determine the music IS not esSentlaly orlgHa,, u
homogeneous. bat il is never weak or mlnVenuNe' III
is to be valued, however, AS remarkaDe atteupb AZ
a great subject rather than as an entire success
That the performance of Saturday evening was Dut
half-heaIted is not a matter of wondeTment. let
nothing could have been more acceptable IMAM inc
earuestness and animation of Madame Johah5sch ~
Mistress ford. Madame Fredencls MiSLrtSS rage -
coinmendable for being wel-drcsSed wei SUM, ana
UIettily acted, and what fell TO Madame hOCters
part rs ARRc Page was cleVerly dOhe' Inc psIt vi
FgIsaf could i'll dispense with Hermannss s0n0Tous
and noble voice, but the characterization scarcely
deserves the name. 1t was simply mass OF stuieu
and prepOstcrous obesity almost Darrch Oh nuulGiIi
"G be ne plays IL again we trust MIR. HcImanns VIII
at least make up his part Win sOuo oelVi cI0V W
probabilities. Lastly, we have 70 regre. lhiC Ihc
fine music of the part OF EentOn suffered ah,oSl oH
non performance or little worse. Last mght, IGn-
Iatser the much debated work OF one OF toe ableSt
and most versatile men of his time, was oSSayeo WIN
earnestneSS. But we must await moro la'oI"u"
opportunity for comment
The best performance the German Opera has yet
given us is undoubtedly that of UiiiiGm 1cit we
have therefore 90 hope that 1T VIII be
heard again by an audience worthy OF IT.
Whatever may be the precise moritoi RoSSlnls music
land it is high in respect to both scenco ana Spia
toni its vitality seems incXh2uStlble, ana Dut lllle
other lyrical music that rules the stage appears 10 he
worked UP with wide a variety toward climax
and such powerful massng of distinct, delicate, yet
enpbatic and beautiful effects. TheicOncerted mu-
sic in the second act, especially the grand scene oil
the CantOns splenddy given by the chorus FRIDAY
nights dramatic action timing 80 finely IN every
way with the music it reached It's explosive eli
max: the memorable trio in the same act sung rs no
other music has been sung for many seasons by Her
| mans as UaLdo FWfst Formes az Tell, and thinner as
ArHOld and we ought also to mention the fine sextett
of the first act piece OF complex dramatic music,
the texture of which is altogether original ana never
threadbare such passages as these may DC cltfO III
! praise of the great ability with winch
| The Germans at the Olympic have re-vocal-
| lied a powerful work.
| AT the Testimonial Concert on Saturday night to
Mr. Henry Molenhauer, beautiful service OF silver
was given him by the pupils of the Musical Conserva-
tory of which he is the director. This woakc pleas
ure i'm recording because the OF MOllenhauer ~
! a synonym of worth in our local profession OF
| music and If We needed another reason, be-
cause the concert OF which Mr.. Henry Molten
hauer was the star, was so well fitted by its UNI
usual excellence 10 be the occasion for such
a gift. The gI.Itest feature of the programme was
Schmnanns FIntaSestuck. OPP -. for piano, YlOlln
and cello-in which duet OF the deepest aud most
variable fancy prelndes the quaint. fountain-llke
Hiig0Tcskc of the mo. How charming II Is we need
not say; would only suggest the pleasure derived
from 80 graceful performance as tRat OF
hauer The next important feature of the
programme was Naumanns admired song OF
the Syrens," an imaginative poem, IN which the
subtle and persuasive melancholy instinct III the old
legend is not lost ii well described IN duet Of
violins by Edward aud Bernard MollonhaueI. The
Witches Dance by PaCaninl was indifiercntly
played at the outset by Nh. Edward MOllenhauer;
hut all the grace and adroitness Of style became
listed in the work as 1t proceeded Mr.. Molenhauer
will never bring the trinity of "sprt, fire, and
dew" ont of his instrument, and to very few
viOlinists is it given thus to succeed; but he
is nevertheless tn brilliant II R aysT lie y, eS
dance-a composition worthy Of its name, but quite
as cfish as weird The bow must play prank or
two to be equal TO the theme and the abrupt mimit-
able breaking up of the dance IN the last scattering
twang of the fddle-strings, is more than mere
trick Of art-it Is highly suggestive idea the effect
of which Mr.. MOllenhauer brought ont
finely by his excellent shading Of CON
irasts The new pianist, Dir. Bockelmann
gave a fantasia of his own on a theme of Faust
an interesting composition in its manipulating free
dom. but too Uniform otherwise. IL gave Mr.. BOckcl-
mann. nevertheless, the opportunity 10 show that he
is = meritoriOus and accomplished player. The
brothers Mollenhauer should give us such concerts
often; and we should hear them once III while to
50 good an advantage when they all take part in
playing the excellent violin compositions OF The
elder
We are compelled TO defer critical notice of
the new Operatic enterprise at the French Theator
where Madame Altier-Pfeffer is now the relgning
lady There is good probability that Of the
popular Italian operas will. in the present interim
satisfy certain demand. Mr. Mora is boldly deter
mined to try his fortune as an impressario His
season will last about dozen nights, and in Alcr
Phillips Irfre Fortuna and Milcrl. he has at least
offered company efficient for the ordinary roper
tOire.
--0fthe successful repetition of the Wallace Concert
by the FaTepa troupe, IN Brooklyn we should be glad
to speak at length. Without revealing the very
strongest qualities of composer worthy of his Prow
ing fame the programme presented fair selection OF
his beauties. The Overtres TO Mariana and L,Tlinc
the latter incOmparably the best artistcally. as
that to Mariana is the more popular and mereticOus
cOntrivance-were well rehearsed by Mr.. ThOmas's
Orchestra. The grand scene in LurliRe beginning
Sad is my Soul might have been sung with more
dramatic expression by Madame Parepa, but GER
tainly not with greater delicacy Those who stud
led the composers varieties as discovered by Mad
anne Parepa and the orchestra. must have remarked
more idealiZed sentiment than belongs to any COM
Ill n