The Portland daily press., 1871-01-21

There was not sogle selection on the pro-
gramme for last evening that was not feast in
itself, from the Pastoral Symphony OF Beetbov-
en-, with which the concert opened, to the bold,
snowy overture TO "Massaniello" with which it
ended.
The Pastoral Symphony was something to
dream over in the future. 1t is a representation
of country life, in which the very essence of
rural existence is portrayed in movements so
full of melody, so emotional rather than pic
toriaf in character, we do not wonder that
spite Of the verdict of the most severe critics
who claim that it has greater defects than any
OF the other symphonies Especially in the An.
dante movement with its repetitions) it is the
most popular with the general musical public
What more delightful and si;very than the
seeming plash of little waterfalls in the brook
scene, as the stream winds its way with gentle
murmurings through smiling meadows, Dor
dered with the fragrant Jaeur de lis, or more me-
iodous than the twttering of the birds and
the notes of the cuckoo as the night draws on;
how perfect the representation of the disturb
ance OF the elements in the thunder storm, and
nnally, how beautiful the prayer of thanksgv-
ing at the close. Such rendering of the great
masters works as is given by this splendid or.
chestra does more 10 inculcate love of CLASH
cal music than the finest orators greatest eff
fort in their behalf. The Polonaise Brilliante
OF Weber's, with Instrumentation by Lszt, is
one of the most brilliant and beautiful wet al
most as eccentric SO composition OF Wag-
ner's) of that favorite composers works, and
to its execution the distinguished pianist
hrOuUhf
nique, fluency and piquancy that afforded
a delicious Interpretation of the author. The
time OF both orchestra and pianist was some.
thing wonderful, it was SO perfect. The audi
ence were reused to such pitch of enthusiasm
that bow would not satisfy, and in response
to the encore, Miss Mehlig played Nocturne
by Chopin.
In the second part the quartette by the string
ed orchestra on the Austrian National Hymn
was equisitely sweet and tender and proved the
feature of this part of the programme. The
touch Of the musicians was light almost as a
feather in the pian;ssimo movement, and might
be said to breathe out the melody in prayer
The overture to midsummer Nights Dream
charmed as it always does, with its delicate
fairy-lIke melodies, and with its grand patbet-
ic, prayerful ending, while the "Raphsodie
H0ngrose" enabled Miss Mehlig to show how
much superior she stands to even such excel
lent musicians as Aide Topp and Alice Dut-
ton, both of whom have presented the same
composition in this city. Her rendering of this
difficult work was masterpiece of execution.
The dance music Of Strauss possessed all TIE
liveliness and animation, combined with melo-
dy, TO please, and the iavorite overture to Mas.
sanielio which introduces the air "Come DER
the Moonlight Sea- also introduced into The
List "Tarantella," played by Miss Mehlg the
evening previous closed the evenings enter
tainment
While we extremely regret that the audi
ences have not been quite as large as on a for
per occasion. yet we are pleased to know that
Mr.. Thomas hopes to visit US again during the
year. and we trust that Miss Mehlig will &C.
company him and his magnificent orchestra,
for the agreeable impressions she made here on
her first visit, have deepened into a strong re-
gard on the part of our citizens, and great
admiration for her unsurpassed abilities as
musician.