The New York herald., 1869-04-04
AMU S z N e N rs.


GERMAN DRAMA.--'The Germans merit a good
lecture. one and all Of them and they should be
severely held up to their own inspection" This was
the general judgment expressed by Americans who
witnessed the representation OF "Marianna" by Mile.
Fanny Jsnsuschek at the Academy. better Web
be designed by highest arr, and yet the Germans
whys Al the Stadt theatre Herr Friedrich Haase
had full house. and he delighted his audience as
rendered to perfection. Looking al the full house IN
the Bowery and at the empty benches In the
Academy It Is quite riddle to discover the reason
why the one B crowded and the other not though at
both places the legitimate German drama has Its
most worthy representatives.
STENwAY HALL-FIFrH SYMPHONY SoIREE.-Mr.
Theodore Thomas brought his season OF symphony
soirees to brilliant close last night The hail looked
brighter and more beautiful than ever. with thor
oughly fashionable and appreciative audience, ON
whose ears fell gratefully the strains OF the well train
ed orchestra. The programme contained three novel
ties and two standard works, the 1l4th Psalm, by
Mendelssohn, and Beetnovens Pastoral Symphony
The novelties were, test overture by volkmann-a
rather heavy, severe, eaborately worked piece,
which seemed Of too sombre character for festi-
val-a fantasia for orchestra and piano obiigato by
Otto Singer. and symphonic poem. "Prometheus," +"
by liszt The fantasia Is large, bold work, well
orchestrated, and abOunding In striking effects.
Although rather long and, we might say, un-
necessarily 80, there is unity OF idea about
COMPOSER The on,y fault thai might ne found with
1t by pianist Is that the individuality OF the piano
Is not sufficiently preserved In IT, IL becomes mere
adjunct to the orchestra Mr.. Singer Is remarkable
player. To the crisp, clear touch OF Mills he adds
spirit, fire, expression and sympathy entirely his
the superb grand rang out distinct and brilliant as
diamond points. The changes from forte to piano
were given with niceness and Just degree OF pro-
gression as with The swell of an organ. We have
seldom heard pianist who unites clearness Of
touch with such soul and expression. We did not
think much OF the rendering OF Mendelssohn'S work
by the Mendelssohn Union. The composer, were he
alive would disOwn his nameSakes. There was
want or promptness, and we may term it inte.
gibhity about some of the parts which completely
destroyed the sense OF che composer. Besides, 1t
seemed to US as If not half the number OF singers on
the stage made themselves heard. for the body OF
sound was very weak. The distribution OF voices
was also uneven, the ladies completely Overbalanc-
except when he gets all the instruments OF the or
ches6ra at lOggerheads There Is method In his mad
ness to be sure, but that method entirely ignores
such thing as melody. In "PrOmetheus" he in
dulges In that programme music which has made
the reputation and fortune Of Hector Berlioz in
Europe. There are certainly some very remarkable
effects In it. The waing OF the unhappy
chained to the rock and torn by the vulture's claws
and beak and his frantic struggles for freedom are
lifelike and startling. A cleverly worked nt1ue oc
ours In the middle OF the symphony. followed by a
remarkable passage in double octaves for the brass
players, for theirs was no easy task. The ''poem''
wound up with the inevitable march with
winch LBLJ closes all MS WORKS VI an entlrely
different character was the lovely pastoral Sym
phony" one OF the most beautiful creations Of the
king Of orchestral music There is air OF SIM
pliclty about Beeth0ven'S works. even in producing
the grandest effects, which contrasts strikngiy with
the mad eforts Of LsZt, Wagner and other apostles
OF the Emusic OF the future" The Pastoral SYM
phony, however, by the very simplicity Of the mate
riais used IN 1t, Is extremely difficult, and few
orctestras can do 1t justice. 1t was splendidly
played throughout last night, and the lovely
dante IN which melody after melody is poured forth
with no nfggard hand, the dance OF the peasants,
the wonderful description of the storm ana the
prayer following It, were limncd as II by the hand OF
painter There was no mistaking the character OF
the work and the rural portrayed In 1t. Thus
closes the season OF symphony sorees, which, like
Its twin brother, the philharmonic concerts, has
borne through prosperity and adversely the banner
OF true music, with the motto ''EXcelsorn inscribed
upon IL.