New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-08
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
MUSIC.

ocana and aria, fldelO beethoven,
Madame La Grange.
IAederkranz and Aron Societies.
PARTu
overture. "Melusina "............... Mendelssohn.
Madame La Grange.
symphony No A. ID minor .schumann.
The Suite of Bachslls the same Gin d. which Mr. Theo-
dore Thomas has recently made familiar to New-YOrk
audiences lie played the whole OF it last season. and
hs year has given parts OF it at his Sunday concerts
The overture is in the style of Handel and Handel III
his coolest and dryest vein. The beginning and
ending are singularly suggestive Of the over
ure The Messiah :" the middle portion is far richer,
more forcibe, and impressive The heart Of the
composition is tho second mOvement-that solemn air 80
full Of the beauty Of genius aud Of the nameless
charm which fascinates cultivated intellect and
cha unlearned popular ear The gayOtte-well to
Diano yirtuosi-is lively and becoming close TO most
jovey composition. MANY win object that this move
mani as well indeed nearly every part of the concert
ss taken too slow; but Mr. Bergmanns habit is 70 be
more deliberate than the generality Of conductors, and
.n mint Is one about which tastes may fairly differ 1t
ronld fat any rate be impossible to find any other
emit with the performance The overture Of
s.yelusina' we think was given perfectly Men
delssohn himself had great affection Tor this
1rork and threw into its weird, faryhke
s,o all the wealth Of his inspired soul The schumann
svmpbony is well known in New-York, and the beau
,it andante movement never fails to produce deep
aFaot The whole composition was interpreted Win
nirit and delioaoy Madame LAGRANGE richly deserved
che compliments received from both the audience and
tbe Society for her artistic delivery Of the arias from
rfdeoo and Don Giovanni" but the day is long past,
when she could appear advantage on the concert plat
,orro where abe has no opportunity to conceal by
dramatic sk the ravages Of time. The double chorus
from Ohengrn" was Of the finest pieces OF ohorus
singing we ever heard. sThe music is not mueh 10 our
taste for 1t is unsympathete; but
wonderfully forcibe, and contains passages IN
Tln fanQ owl
Societies numbered sixty eighty voices each ana were
vellbalanced firm, and Intelligent in their delivery
notwithstanding the length Of this elaborate chorus the
audience seemed disposed to demand its repeuuon put
In this they not grsthed.
We are happy to perceive that the dsredtable prae
tice of admitting favored individuals before the doors
Gre opened to the public has been measuraby aDsted
Not more than twenty or thirty were admitted IN tnS
way on Saturday evening theswere not permitted TO
nonopoze the boxes. There seems TO have Deen now
ever an objectionable oyer-issue Of tickets We under
stand that 500 free tickets distributed at every con-
cert and at the last one large number In ADDITION
were given away the members Of the chorus This is
an infringement upon the rights Of the subscribers The
Academy is not large enough hold Gil who want TO at
tend and those who pay ought have the preference
Mr.. RITTERs HISTORICAL RECITALs.
There was q small audience at Steinway's
smaller hall Saturday afternoon to hear the first Of the
series Of HISTORICAL Recitas Of Vocal and Panoforte
MUSIC arranged Dy hlIleT Auo sim dtltuuduCt
however ought TO be taken encouragement, for
the day was stormy and Miss Kellogg was singing in
"Faust" OF the Academy Of Music. We have already
given an explanation Of Mr. Rtters plan In these
tanment The idea Of illustrating the history Of the art
and the characteristics Of different national schools by
selections from the works of comparatively unknown
masters was worthy Of the cultivated musician from
whom 1t emanated and 1t has been successfully carried
cut We say successfully, because the programme has
been carefully and methodicay arranged and the
lions are generally judieous; but the execution on
Saturday was only half good The piano music
interpreted by Mr. s. B. Mills. and was
all done admirablyi the songs were
given by Mrs. Ritter, and were unexceptionably
bad. voice is strong and rich but true and her
method Of singing is voeferous. worse method for
most OF the music she attempted this occasion
especially the specimens Of the Old E1glsh School, such
as "The Captive Crusader" Of Orlando Gibbons. aud
Henry Caroy's ballad, "Say our Alley" could hardly
be imagined The concert began with the Old English
School, the best examples Of which were unfortunately
in song tAlr. Mills having nothing but Prelude and
"The Carman's Whistle" by William Byrde u59 and an
arrangement Of the Hundredth Psalm, by DR.. Henry
Blow Q6SO The Old Italian School Jared better; and be-
sdes that intrinsic richness and freedom Of expression
are incomparaby greater Mr.. Mills made
decided impression by his excellent perform
ance OF "The Cats Fugue," By Dornenico
scarattl; and even the Fourteenth or Fifteenth
century oanticle Ala THA beaia" the dramatic aud
and MarceIos di che lode" enjoyable although
tho singing Of them a sample OF everything that
singing ought The third part consisted Of Folk
Songs Of different times and natiOns-Engsh, French,
Swiss. Spanish, suabian &C.. several OF which
highly curious and interesting both for their form and
their venerable age-and mazurka, waltz, and pdon-
asa Of Chopin's, which, being founded popular
national melodies were not. it might at first appear
out Of place in such company. Nj Ritters first expert
doubt kinded public desire to hear more OF
lis archaic treasures, and shall await his second
nhree three weeks hence with impotence.
Mr. PRUME, THE yIoLINIsT.
Mr. F. j. Prume, the viOlinist, who played
or twice in NewYork some four years ago, but
hoagh bad management, some other cause, hardly
made the impression which his merit gave him right to
expect tried again for the favors OF this tickle city,
asa last night was the leading attraction a the stenway
Hal concert VIC make no doubt that be has secured
this time recognition. Not warmer, however.
than he deserves In respects Of the most
Ieuarkable players have heard. His style is broad
ard effective His touch IS fI1n clear, and sympathetic
aud hs technique superb. His Grst piece.
Of bis own, played with the orchestra, gave opportunity
Tort display OF his legitimate characteristics
A artist and moreover a pleasing and melodious com
position. II led TO a recall, and In this Mr.. Prume ex
hsed bis contempt for difficulties and bis fertility Of
Resource In q TO awaken The lyeliest demonsra
u1rs approval Among other feas OF musical leger
esoan be plays an air with tho bow and at the
ene executes rapid pizzcatO accompaniment with tho
SovAaad. and finally with both hands. The effect
Is hae peculiar than pretty, AID tie bog said
Nhen he got to the end Of the alphabet, IL
aS not worth while 10 80 through
vash Tor the sake Of so little; bat it "a certainly very
NOUS Tho rest Of the concert last night good
r sEual Mr Letseh played very well on the trombone
iencortO Of Felicien Dayids; Miss Jenny HoA6 sang
S'era pieces, among others the Robert! ot qe Faoe"
sheh she ought not 10 have attempted; and the or