New-York tribune., 1868-03-23
MUSIC.
rnoMAs's FIFTH SYMPHONY sorREE.

TUOMASS FIFTH SYMPHONY SOiKEE'
The fifth symphony soiree at Stenway Hall
on Saturday evening closed the present season OF series
~ concerts which deserve much liberal patronage
nan they have ever received believe, however that
the taste for Instrumental music in ts higher and mora
scientific forms is gradually being developed In New"
York md by next we trust that Mr. Thomass en-
erprse viii be rewarded not only by the thanks OF tho
educated few but by the dollars Of the many His pro-
grame the last concert upon the whole an inter
esng one though hardly udclous TO give us both
Beroz and Llszt the evening. The overture TO
"BenyenutO Cein Ivy the former composer, was played
for the first time in this country though the wla|a
opera has not only been known In EuropeTtr
thirty years but In some parts OF Germany has
been represented with success. We cannot like the
overture It a strange aggOmeiaton Of sensational
effects without Ineligible form and without real beauty
Often the composers conceptions narrowly miss being
beautiful but they always do miss It. He has remark
able mastery the Of the orchestra and In
genuity in producing original effects with lis nsru
ments but his music utterly without grace ana OF the
highest power Of his arthe power to touch the feelings
and inspire the heart-he shows here understanding
Isz has some OF the fauts Beroz, but he has
merits to which Beroz has attained In his Wild
est vagares there Is apt to be charm which no eccen
tricity can quite destroy. The selection from MS
"Faust symphony given on Saturday Is an illustration
OF the character and story Of Margaret and deficient MS
IL certainly is in the simplicity and delcacy with which
Gounod has painted the poem, ii has great deal OF
dramatic and descriptive force which We cannot help
sdmrng though little OF Il is really pretty fantastic
passage for the reeds. running into clarinet SOLO win
violin accompaniment, may he understood as picture
Of the happiness OF Margares youth before tho
tenpter appears upon the scene; dreamy pianlssimo
movement for all the Instruments followed by success
sion Of broken reveres may take as representation
OF the sweet but troubled dream Of love, and swelling
halfrapturous crescendo its elimination This ereS
cendo ike Of the music Of Berioz is almost beauh
full but does not rise to Of those grand ema1es IN
which List is superb and the graceful and tender
movement which closes the mournfu story mpresses us
with OF relief IL through umut OF fragmen
tary fancies we had at last upon something with
definite form and substance. The third orchestral soeo-
ton Beethovens Heroic symphony-not only one OF
the greatest but also OF tho most pleasing OF all the
great masters works. II is well known here that
need only remark that the performance Of IT, though NOS
excellent was correct and spirited. There lack OF
delicacy playing defect Of inspiration. Thebest
movements the cer-o and the allegro moo fnndeJ
After the overture Madame Rosa sang scena and aria
OF Rubenstens for the first time The scena effective.
and the aria especially andane movement In it, very
beautiful and expressive. After the Lszt symphony she
gave cavatina from Der freyschutz" AS usual she
was superb IN both
ITALIAN OPERA.
The last night of Mr.. StrakOsch's season OF
italian opera was sgnazed by the performance OF Lu
creta Borga," and the introduction Of brief bit OF
entitled In the bills 1.-THE Sailors Dream" Between the
opera and the symphony-so-caled-th Academy OBJ
tanned rather O brilliant audience, though II may bo
doubted whether the attendance could be computed as
very paying quantity. OF "Lucretla as given on
Friday night, not anxious TO furnish re-
minscences. Those who prepared TO sup on nor
ought not TO have complained on the score
of any sufciencv thereof either historically or mu
scay speaking. But, though the orchestra was Wild.
and susni became yocally befogged at an early Pc
riod and Mass imian did less violence To the
of and the chorus contributed nsty 20
the promotion OF an unmistakably dls0rdery epreses
ton the musical sense, there some CLEAN OF hght
amid the prevailing shadows Madame LaGrange bore up
nOby against strong odds. and maintained her prestige
admirably. Mdlle. Stella Bonheur also appeared WIN
credit and although immature Ia method, her voice told
effectively in the various scenes aud her "
segreto" was a marked success. signor Brig
noli conducted his symphonic poem in per-
son, and upon its conclusion was presented with
a floral ship almost large enough 10 carry him In any
navgabe waters and which the lobby loungers lost no
time In christening the Brig Nolia The symphony
fluent and mel0Gous not very happily Instrumental aud
rather boisterous and caprcious It might with equal
point have been named the "Taor's Dream" or the
"Poiceman's Reverie." But IL found much favor VITA
the audience, and at the popular suggeston ouy
repeated This week the company resolves lselt INTO
concert party and goes everywhere.