The Portland daily press., 1868-05-11


The Musical Festiyal-- Beethogen's Ninth Sym
pOnu PdreDa Rosq-C Carl ZeTrditf-1he Mu-
Seotn-The 81. James Hotel
Boston, May 8, 1868
| To the Editor Of the Press:
| A grand orchestral and vocal concert was
| given yesterday afternoon On this, as on
every other occasion during this festival, the
| hall was filled, The overture to Tunnhauser,
by wagner, was rendered by one hundred IN
strumentalists. The music of this overture is
full of beautiful passages, to which the per-
formers gave every shade and cOloring which
the author had in his mind when he composed
it. / have heard it before, but never so fully
appreciated it as on this occasion.
The grand scena from Oberon, by Won We
Der, beginning with the words "Ocean, thou
mighty. monster was sung by Madame Pa
repa-Rosa with skill aud power which are all
her own. The music itself has many peculiar
characteristics, and Parepa gave each one its
true expression, task which but few IN this
world can accomplish with like ease and grace.
Beethoven's ninth symphony Cd minor) was
also performed. This is very difficult piece
of music and severely tries the singers and
the instrumentalists, but they succeeded in
giving it a true rendering. The grand finale
for orchestra, with quartet of soil, was per-
formed as it was never performed before on
this continent. That is saying much, am
aware, but it is nevertheless true. The solo
passages, which are hard to render in true
tone and time, were delivered by Madame
Parepa-Rosa, Miss Phillips, Mr.. Rudolphsen
and MIR. Simpson with great skill and accura-
Snrna of ha i,,D DorarNn,c .o1o
electrifying, and almost took the audience
from their seats. All the chorus singers were
present and took part, and such chorus! L
can't describe it. To be appreciated it must be
heard and then one must have we'll cultivated
ears to understand it, The words are from
Schiller's "Hymn to JOY" Tie first verse I
give the readers of the Press, and they can
judge what the music must be in order that
the sound should correspond to the sense:
"Joy thou spark of heavenly brightness,
Daughter from Elysium!
Hearts on fire, with step of lightness,
On thy holy ground We come.
Thou canst bind all, each to other,
Custom sternly rends apart;
All mankind are friend and brother
When thy soft wing fans the heart.'
very much question whether the audience
fully appreciated the music And yet they
are not like Chicago hearers who are repre-
sented as not Knowing symphony from
sardine," The truth is, such music must be
heard many times before it can be understood
1t is so with all music of a high order, and
especially it is so with this symphony
Before L close this short letter, let me say
word about Carl Zerrahn, the able conductor
of this festival. believe have never seen
his equal. There he stands, cool, calm, col
lected, watching every movement and bringing
every one of the hundred instrumentalists and
all the host Of singers square up to time. He
seems to exercise a sort of magnetic power
over them, and single flourish of his baton
infuses new life and vigor into any portion of
the orchestra to which he directs it, and the
motion Of his open left hand will soften down
any instrument which is inclined to be too
loud. His control is complete. He is tall,
we'll formed man, and all his motions are
graceful and dull of music. So much for Carl
Zerrhan. vsI
That grand old comedy "The Road to RUM
was performed last night at the Museum be-
fore large audience. Warren as Goldfinch
was capital, and Mrs. Vincent appeared as the
fascinating widow in the play.
In speaking of the St. James Hotel in a
former letter, forgot to allude to the vertical
railway, "or passenger elevator, which is an ad-
mirable arrangement for fatigued or lazy
guests. Of course it goes by steam as almost
everything does in this house. All one has to
do is to take seat in neat little parlor, hand
somely carpeted and richly furnished, and
slowly and safely he ascends to the upper
floors. As each story is passed the door is
opened by machinery and closed again. 1t is
the business of one young man to tend it, who
is always at his post ready to wait upon those
who wish to go up to their rooms In this no.
tel are 500 large and well ventilated and we'll
furnished rooms. B.