The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-27
FIRST PHILHARMONIC CONCERT.

inere IL not probably, o society In America
winch occupies such prominent art position. re-
quires so much ecturlng and Is SO stilfnecked ana
obstinate as the Philharmonic. The members OF
the ORCHESTRA who also make up the society. com
prise our finest orchestral performers, and are as
Mhoceht or the Importance OF their mission
ana position AZ the Khan OF Tar,ary Is about
the Mc6arrahan claim. This is principally
SHOWN III the arrangement Of their programmes, the
selection oil their solo artists ana the business man
asemeh' oil each season. First, the programme IA
either repetition OF score OF others or novelty
Is Introduced IN the form OF eartorturing phantas
maBoria from some insane apostle OF the music OF
the lntnre. Then the best artists at hand in the
CITY are often passed over aud either superannuated
performers or bashful tyros are brought out and
sanawiched between symphonies to make their de-
lects uie more giaring. Lastly, the dis
sans'aonoh on the part OF the public
III re2aru 10 seats grew to such proper
lions mat u was found necessary this season
10 make sale OF the boxes. Stlll owing to mis-
management in this respect, many enthusiastic
patrons OF music steady uphelders OF the Philhar-
nonic society," were obliged last night to constitute
themselves human wall flowers against the walls or
stahd on uptoe IN the oDbies trying in vain TO
catch glimpse OF the stage. This il insuaerabe,
ana should be remedicd at once The
programme last night was az follows-
Symphony No. 8, op. 90, Bccthoven--lst, Alleg 70
Vivace con brio; I'd. Allegretto Scherzandc; Sd,
Tempo al Minnetto; 4th Allegro Vivace, Arla from
the opera LA Clemenza Oh Tito" (Parto, parto. ma
III ben MOI, Neutrality-suspicious. obligato by Edward
Boehm, Madame Rosa Czillag. Concerto second,
Tor the piano, Liszt-W!th orchestral acconpani.
ment, Mr.. s. B. Minis. symphony "un-
finished" schubert-.lst, Allegro moderate;
3D. Andante con moto. Aria. from the opera "The
Prophet" "Ah mon fills ~ Meycrbeer- Madame
Rosa Cziliag. Overture 'TannhaIser," Wagner
We have spoken 80 often OF both symphonies that
1t Is only necessary here to refer to the in
which they were performed. The magnilcent work
of Beethoven received full Justice Schubert was
far better treated by Theodore Thomas al previons
concerts IN this city thsa BY Mr. bcrgmann and his
hundred assistants. The conductor mslook the con-
slant Injunction Of the composer IN marking ofauis.
sino Tor lameness and thereby gave an entirely sub
dued ldea OF The work. As may he observed from tho
programme, udlcrous elect is produced by giving
the symphony the TUE 'unGn,shed." We doubt
very much II Schubert could have gone further with
il. The usual ate0rO Haais does nos exhibit iscf
as necessary sequence 10 the mosaic foundation of
melodies completed iu The WORK. At All events the
title, "Unin,sicd,n is rather an unfortunate one
Madame Czlllag, IN her selections exhibited enough
talent 70 SATISFY tier hearers That she was ONCE n
great artst Her dramatic delivery OF the m0rceaLX
from Mozart and Meyerbeer showed tnat nut us
concert singer she cannot please. Her voice has
That yibratory tone which may please IN opera. but
sintolerabie IN concert, ana In very many measures
it did not sound In accord with the orchestra. BY
listen
to more unsatisfactory orchestral accompaniment
Mr.. Bergmann must look 80 this or his reputation
WI. vanish Ike the leaves OF autumn.
The LisZt concerto was undoubtedly the feature or
tne evening, and, II we except Mr. Mills nmitable
playing, II deserves the same criticism as we passed
on thai climax OF absurdty, the legend. oratorio
or, properly speaking, deriu.n tremens OF "D,e
Heillge Elisabeth One great objection To this work
y 9as n ss' son% nap % Ts s nes
Astounding In difficulties which are unnecessary
for the piano and not effective Nothing
TO our mind Is more disagreeabe than This constant
suspension OF an idea or even the sembance OF one.
List makes the piano not q solo instrument, but
part or the orchestra. His work, therefore, taking
into account his bizarre Instrumentation, Is pr0ba-
bly, as difficult composition ever written for
the piano. Mills fairly surpassed himself, and
before in this city were the glorious tones OF the
Steinway grand heard with such erect as part OF
the orchestra. There were cadenzas in which the
fingers underwent an operation in comparison to
which the thumb screw or the Inqusltion were a
mercy. In the last movement, stretto, motto
dcceterdttdo the four trtpets IN each bar and semi
quaver Octaves IN qua brere time rang out WITH a
dslncness and finish which to one who has studied
the score seemed perfectly marvellous. On page 10,
coasy Of uenselt. Ne T have haara, eilSer
his fdros great Ger or his eaes
out in the same manner. lille further on IL
Wagnerian passage In the treble, interwoyen with
osity, but we emphatically deny It's claim to be
called music. II is hign time that this intruder
pressed. This ultra Germanic school is an intoler-
abe nuisance and has already dane world Of
HaiLH. IL seLS al naEgnL tue most vital
principles of art, and can only lead to chaos.
Once more In the name OF an outraged public
we call upon the Philharmonic Society drop Liszt
from their programmes. As eminent musician
said last night abont his concerts, There was too
much good paying wasted upon too little mrlsic.n
what purpose can such compositions server Not
the cause OF music certainly for tnev are hdcous
excrescences on the body Of art. But the phiihar-
NOME Society are too blind and stirnecEed TO listen
to common They only be approac he'd by the
public. Let their dividends at the end OF the season
once dwindie down, and there Will be such shak.
N ha lfG %
heard Of before. concert will be given by the
society on December IL III honor OF the anniversary
OF the birth OF the immortal Ludwig Won Beethoven.
very commendable thing indeed; but why do
they announce Miss Marie KreDs, the soloist as "a
renowned pianist and distinguished tragedan9,