New-York tribune., 1870-12-19
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE BEETHOVEN CENTENNIAL.
THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.


pleasing recognition Of the occasion given by tn,
enthusiasm with which the artists, and ALL ints,
prcted the following exceIlen. programme:
PART l.
scena and ara P,delio. 80. Beet6oysn
Madame Lichtmay.
Concerto Tor The piano; IN y fat .Beethoycn
PART H.
The Songs by Madame Lcbtnlay; Illustrative PoA,
read by Mr.. George VandenhOf
1t would have been hard to arrange better seocto.
OF works for such festival, unless indeed. We could
have had the Ninth Symphony that Of course wa.
out of the question. The Seventh Is Of the mos,
varied, the most pleasing. and the most thoughtfnla
the SERIES II its all moods with its wonderfu,
changes OF sentiment, from the tender melancholy 81
the allegretto to tho nsprng oyousness OF the na,
allegro 1t well illustrates the universally Of the com.
posers sympathies II given with unusual decacy
and spirit IL every IN the orchestra felt the nGu
enee OF the anniversary and wanted TO do his best Then
the other selections were wisely chosen 10 exempty
various forms Of Beethovens genius The recatye and
air from " Fidelo (the famous "A6seheheher' anc
homm Ho1nung1 among the best OF bis voca
compositions; the concerto in fiat Is marvel Of piano
forte music ad "Esmont"i Is dramatic conception
the very highest character II was rather curious u
contrast the effect produced by Madame Lichtmay
concert platform with her OF the soma
the operate stage the night before when sans
In character as Leonore she carried her audience
feeling and intelligence OF the whole personaon; and
when she delivers the music in the cold atmosphere
OF the concert room, the faults OF her vocazatlon i'm
press rather than the dignity OF her style
made o much ambitious effort with ths
magnificent concerto than she has eye
made before in New-York and she may
safely De congratulated upon the with which she
has passed trying ordeal The work is we'll know
our audiences. and the performance Of the young LADY
had TO be tested by high standards which the very boi
pianists have hitherto set up for II would be
praise say that Miss Krebs did not dsappOnt and
that the excellent opinion had already formed Of hf
abilities not at all lowered by the manner In which
she acquitted herself Of this very serious task. But
can say than that: her performance OF this con
certo has materially raised her position ertt and
shown ncontestably that she Is not merely young Lady
OF brilliant talents and still more brilliant promise bui
already an accomplished yirtuoso. She has carried
technical proficiency so far that her playing "a
almost without blemsh. Her touch il certain.
delicate, forcible, and clear bell. Her facility
is something marvellous, and, said on former
cason she has thoroughly musical organization. We
do say course that she has sounded the depths "
Beethovens music do not believe that performer
can give outward shape to all the beauties which
braced in those wonderful works. any more than the
most consummate Of actors can exhaust the wealth Of
Shakespeare New artists perpetually discovering
in both a new meaning and beauty. Moreoyer.N
very young performer express the delicate shades
OF feeling the indescribabe spirituality In which Becbe
ID far above all other composers 1t Is not fa
bright happy, hearty girls to interpret the proioundet
sentiment Of the great master; and IL we miss Ia Mis-
Krebss playing Of the delicate which Ought
to exhae from such music this fat concerto Il ID
only because she has not yet reached the maturity
years, of experience and perhaps We should say Of sr
rows, which Is needed to perfect the highest artistic
nature.
The music of "Egnont" has never before
been performed by the Philharmonic Society, bu
parts of 1t pretty well known. II VIA
written accompaniment TO Goethes drama
and consists of overture, two songs for
soprano a march, four interudes, and few meodrs
matte and miscellaneous movements. To fit 1t for the
concert room short poeca synopsis OF the drama was
prepared in Germany by Mosengel and Bemays, and
this translated into English blank verse fof
the Philharmonic Society by Mr. J. ii. Cor
nell, and read by Mr. George Vandenhof The
music of course divested of its proper dramatic
ries, for which reading even by Mr. VandenLon,
imperfect substitute loses great deal it, effect bui
the performance was most successful and true lover
of art can have remained insensble TO the thringy
sensational character OF the close OF the tragedy. The
overture-a superb work-was beautifully played, and
the second Of the songs, Freud0oH aud ieidroH e. Bsd
and tearful1 was given by Madame Ii htmay vita
sweetness and feeling The other-a trying yivaoc. Die
Trounee gerihrt e. The drum is resounding taxed her
ability In rapid vocalization rather too much.
THE LRDERKRANz.
The concert by the NewYork Liederkranz last night
at their rooms in Fourth-st, an interesting
memoration partly from the excellence Of the music
selected for performance, partly from the enthusiasm Of
both the audience and the Society but more than all
from the fact that most OF the performers amateurs
and yet cutivatOrs OF art in its highest forms. What
Of task 1t vsA which these ladies and gentlemen
undertook may ss3pts48 nrDm the programme which
there appears ~ Tzns ~ only one professional e.
ecHtant: -
Male chorus, Die HimmeI r1ahmen Beethoven
Miss Dungeon
Miss Krebs.
PART III.
Selections from FdelO."
Tho grand symphony, the most impressive with os
exception Of all the nine, very crcditaby rendered
by the orchestra under Mr. Paurs direction. and whes
consider that only few OF the players were pe
fessional musicians, may well feel surprise that tbe
was no more conspicuous defect than lack OF smooA.
The chorus also In the first part was effective. ni
we have heard the Liederkranz sing much better n
other occasions The selections from f1deho " c'n-
sisted OF the great Leonore overture No hequartes
Mir isfs ,ctnder6ar (Mrs Werner. Miss Dungeon, M.
STEMS and Mr. Nllsen) the Prisoners Chorus antts
sestett and chorus with which the opera closes. the
sestett Mr. Candldus and Mr. Weibusch sdCtd 70
the four whom we have already mentioned To tel he
truth this finale not very good, both the adie aud
sometimes Mr. Candidus, singing out OF tune nf was
tho chorus as solid and true 1t is wont
to be. Despite all these defects, ho'eY1.
many passages were rendered in o most spirlbd and
admirable manner and the Society deserves our hanks
for Its jealous and intelligent work Miss kcbs on 81
the honors OF the evening She plays the sonaa "n
warmth as well brilliancy; but We Ia"
already expressed opinion OF her abilities fnD
that we may spare further comment upon her eSolleH
performance. For encore she gave polacca 100
thoven's-s delicate peee-and she played 1t iharnS
ingy
THE DRAMA.