The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-19
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
The Beethoven socletx,a Concert.


The concert given on Saturday evening at the
Academy Of Music by the Beethoven Society in
honor OF the centennial anniversary OF Beethoven's
birthday, was worthy OF the occasion. The pro-
gramme was admirably arranged as an exhibit of
the varieties OF the composers STYLE and the differ
ent selections were rendered In such excellent style
that we have little but praise to utter In regard to
the whole performance. The Beethoven Society is
composed OF some OF the most talented and accom-
plished amateurs in the city. The chorus singing
on Saturday was very much above the average,
both in accuracy and expression; and it credit
able both to the society and Mr.. Carl Wolfsohn,
the musical director The chorus, "The
Heavens Proclaim" the famous quartette
from Fidelio, arranged chorus,
and the "Iaelujah Chorus, were all given in very
superior style. The quartette encored, as 1t
deserved to be, but beautiful the result the
propriety OF arranging this number as a chorus is
doubtful as much of its value depends upon the
characterization OF the different parts and its dra-
matte expression, which are OF course lost when t
IS sung by than the four voices for which 1t is
intended. The overture to Egnont which appro-
prately opened the performance, was finely per-
formed by the orchestra, and the orchestral accom-
paniBeut to the other numbers In the programme
was more than usually excellent, Mr.. William
ston, Jr., who has been steadily making a fine
reputation as yiolinst, performed the first move
ment, the concerto for the violn-the only work of
this class that Beethoven ever produced-
in very superior manner. This is
much the most difficult and elaborte composition
that Mr. Stoll has yet attempted In public, aud the
excellence of the performance snch that it will
do much TO advance his reputation. The scena and
aria, "Ah Perfdo," was sung by Mrs. Gibson Pea
cock with fine dramatic expression. This lady(hasa
rich and powerful voice and an admirable method
and slight nervousness alone interfered with the
entire success OF her performance. Few singers
unaccustomed to appearing in public, however,
could have executed such a difficult composition in
an equally brilliant STYLE The trio "Tremate
empJ Tremate" was very finely given by Miss
Clara Lauderbach and Messrs. E. Dill
lingham and G. A. Comfy Miss Lauderbach
has very sweet, sympathetic, and cultivated voice.
which was heard with admirable effect, and both in
style and execution her singing was very far above
the average. Messrs Dillingham; and Comfy are both
gifted with fine voices and performed their parts In
the trio in excellent STYLE The "Chorale Fantasie"
was fairly rendered by Mr.. Wofsohn. The orches-
ira and the chorus, and the "Andante" and
"Flnale" Of the mnor symphony were performed
with unusual precision and accuracy. The whole
entertainment was decidedly one Of the most sue
cessu of its class ever given in this city, and Mr.
Wofsohn, who has labored an,Ore, is entitled to
great credit for the high state OF discipline to which
he has brought his forces. With such a beginning
as it has made the success of the Beethoven Society
may he considered as assured, and it will undoubt-
edy do much to cultivate taste in this city for the
higher forms Of musical composition.