The Portland daily press., 1869-11-05
The 7 heodorc Thomas Concert


Portland people have been called cold and
apathetic when at concert or public perform
ance of any kind. But last night they we're
thoroughly aroused and made no attempt to
repress their enthusiasm. At the conclusion
OF the Tannhauser Overture the rapport be-
tween audience and orchestra was fully estab-
lished and continued throughout the evening
We think our readers will fully coincide in
tn, opinion we expressed in our yesterday
mornings edition that such orchestral music
never heard before in our city. We hope that
Mr.. Thomas will visit us again, although we
hardly know whether the pecuniary results of
this venture were such as to warrant such an
undertaking. But we can assure him that
there was present in tnat hall last evening an
audience which, for intelligence and love of
music, is never called out more than once or
twice year in this city, and, although it was
MT large enough to pack the room. still it was
vary respectable in size. And we feel all the
more gratified at this fact when we are aware
That ia proportion to the size of the two cities
tie Boston audiences have not been larger.
What ID there for us to say about the con-
cert? We can only repeat the unanimous YER
dict of the press of other cities. We NAV be
allowed to select from the bouquet of melodies
two or three rare flowers which were especially
beautiful and lay our little tribute of admir-
alton upon the hundreds of others that have
preceded it, ...
One OF the most enjoyable things to .us on
the programme was the Fantasia from Men
delsshon's Mid summer Night Dream with
Its grand Wedding Mirch, which, suddenly
terminating, is succeeded by the wierd music
descriptive of the tripping of the fairies, fol-
lowed In turn by the midnight bell and the
rich, mellow tones of full organ, as it were
breathing forth blessing over all the earth.
Artistically, perhaps, the Tannh@ user over
cure and the Trseumerei' were much more
exquisite performances, displaying the abili-
ties of the orchestra more perfectly, but the
Mendelsshon' called up memories that endear-
cd it to us. The 'Tramerei" was wonderful.
especially in the pianissimo and in response to
an encore they rendered delicious serepade
by Haydn, most exquisitely. We think their
pianissimo playing is perfectly wonderful. The
overture to "Robespierre" we rather fancied.
despite the opinion of some other critics, for
we must remember that it is founded on the
events Of the French Revolution. From the
turbulant murmurs of the mob to the shrieks of
pain and cries of anger, from the thud of the
falling heads to the expressive boom of the
drum announcing the death of the Dictator,
with the Marsellaise striving to make itself
heard above the sea of discordB, all is a pic
ture Of history. The solo for trombone and
serenade for flute and French horn were of
ravishing sweetness, particularly the serenade.
The Strauss waltz and polkas were charming
ly rendered, and the .'Fackeltanz," BY Meyer
beer, odd though brassy. made fitting con-
clusion to an evenings enjoyment which we
think will always be remembered by those who
were SO fortunate as to be present.
The musicians were rather cramped for room
and the stage should have been built out so
that the violins could have all occupied the
floor with the cellos in the centre, the double
BASES back of them, and the brass instru-
ments in the rear.