New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-30
MUSIC.

THEODORE THOMAs's SECOND SYMPHONY CON-
CERT.
A very large and, as usual, discriminating
audience assembled Steinway Hall Oh Saturday even
ing for the second Of the series OF Mr. Thomass sym
| phony concerts. The following was the programme:
symphony No G. Pastorale Op. 65 Beethoven
Concerto FOR Violin, Op 6.. MAX bruoh
Mr.. 5. L. Jacobsohn. p..,,o,
symptom poem, Die Huanensciiacht "Tho
Battle Of dne en hu Finale Tristan nnd Wagner
Der RIFT der walkueren cThe Ride OF the u,..uo.
Wakyrias wagner
II was for oncesrefrcshlng to leave the snow-bounh
streets and avenues and ushered in the presence OF
Beethoven's charming Pastoral Symphony And then
s,lch rendering The scene by the Brook hndante)
was never before so beautiful u.s. with the decacy Of
its orchestral execution; the Thunderstorm taleSro)
never before was impressive and grand as at THIS per-
formance The yions did hard work. and the syncopa-
tons in this movement given with an elan alto
gether unusual And the Shepherds Song (nael never
before sounded so pastoral. Mr.. Thomas's Orchestra
has played this frequently elsewhere that the per
lection attained ia the fruit of frequent recitals He
and his magnificent orchestra to be congratulated
upon such an auspcious result We know or persons
who came great distances hear this Pastoral Sym
phony and they must have been amply repaid Tor tme
and trouble taken. Mr. Thomas also deserves thanks
and it should be mentioned that the placing OF the
fundamentally which the brass was brought from the
usually elevated place down TO the platorm-on level
with the Dged Instruments wonderful improve
ment II brought out the effects of the strings with
lavshness seldom attained.
The violin concerto by Bruch ipayed for the first
time in this country by Mr. sarasate at Of the Phil
harmonic sOcetys concerts. 1t is most poetic work.
and does credit TO the author Of LOreey'-a most
beautiful and romantic opera as yet unknown on our
boards. Mr.. JacobsOhn COnzerDieiSter IN Bremen
until Mr. Thomas secured him for his orchestra. His
playing osthe concerto artistic his reading good
Mr. Thomas should be proud of two such superior von
lists as Mr. Listemann ana Mr. JacobsOhn The orches-
traton Of tue concerto is broad and the admirable or
ehestra played hney. Berloz TO the minds OF some
IN IDEAS, ana the Lear" overture Illus
trates that deficiency. BerliOzs great strength lies in
theboldness with which he treats the stringed nsru
meuis In this oyertureor, as.Liszt would call it, SYM
phonic poem--he opens with bold theme-a unison
movement tcoutrabass cell, and yolas which is the
main burden OF the work. The allegro abounds in novel
effects but by no means original ideas. Mr.. Thomas
gave this intelligent reading and his orchestra
particularly the string band "a most magnificent
Interpretation. The second part Of the CON
cert opened with OF LISTS latest sym
phonlc poems. Die HinHensehtoch" I" The Bat
tie Of the Huns"l, founded upon and suggested by
one OF six fresco paintings in the Imperial Museum at
Berlin by KauDach. Mr.. Thomas played t once before
in this city the Central Park Garden Concerts last
summer 1t need be said that the performance OF
such a WORK; heard In good concert hall, produces
schIdch improves vastly BY repeated hearings and may
be cassed as perhaps OF the most easily understood
Of Lszt's poems The picture and poem represent the
wars OF the barbarian the early Christians, the
struggle OF Christianity against IdOatry and the final
triumph Of Christianity List through the phases Of his
latter life is enabledsto do justice to such sublime sub
Iect The Christian choral lGregorian tone) in this
symphony is gloriousy worked, and the very
appropriate introduction by Liszt OF the organ
as an orchestral sginstrument negatives Berlioz's
theory or what should be called, perhaps,
his prejudice, that organ Is an Instrument not To DE
introduced in orchestral writing The choral is first
gwen out boldly by the brass-trumpets horns, etc.
When finally Christianity Is the yctor,at organ takes
up the chant beautifully harmOnized the orchestra rep
resenting anphona between choir and the great
CATION The listener is not prepared for the
derful effects. The usually asthmatic organ at Stein
ways behaved quite well, enabling Mr. Cdryl Floro, the
organst to play his part smoothly. What can be said
Of the Introduction and Finale from Wagners opera OF
tristan ind Isolde Z" We have heard these again and
again. and at each repetition they gave Increased delight.
When shall this opera in Amercai such clnac
terc effects as Wagner introduces the Finale have
never before been attained by him. And such real
poetic thOughts We clip the very excellent translation
CWagner's own words from the programme:
From faines sigh OF ceaseless longing from the
tenderest thrill 70 the ercest Ouburst OF the CONSCIOUS
OF hopeless love, the emotions run through all the
phases rutess struggle against the tide OF passion,
exIngulshed in death.
bat that which fate separated for life lives again
transit cured In death. over the body OF Tristan the
dying Isolde feels the most rapturous fument Of her
ardent longing: eternal union in measureess space, IN
fettered, free, inseparable."
Ii seemed. II that possible, that the orchestra
rose 70 higher and loer standard they proceeded
with their grand work through the evening and
not express too much admiration at their performance
Of the Tristan und Isolde" The concert closed with
wagners wild and weird Ria der Walturen e. The Ride
the OPERA Die Wdtkir6, one OF the OF wag-
ner's grand trlogy, Das Lied der NebeunZen to DO
performed at Bayreuth IN the year 1874
"The walkdren or walkyrias we've odin's maidens,
awful and beautiful beings who presided over battles
and rushed through the air marking with their spear
points those who 10 slain. They also admins
Tered Of heroes In Walhaa the palace OF
Immortality where the souls Of heroes dwelt, who were
sam Ia Datte'
The concert felst-a musical festivA-such
be seldom heard In part OF the world And yet all
this is afforded TO us through the bravery aud skin OF
earnest young musician who, amid obstacles aud multi
udinous struggles, Is educating us IN tue different
schools OF music. Can the lovers of art repay
Theodore Thomas for his noble work.
The Third Symphony Concert takes place ut steinway
Ham, the 18th OF January, 1879 The following
programme
Symphony minor (Kgchel, 500 Mozart
Concerto Tor the Piano. No. minor Op S. beethoven
Overture, Manfred" Op u6.. .Schumann
Symphonic Poem, "HuDgaIia Llszt
Mr. Anton Rubnstein will be the interpreter OF
Beethoyens Concerto in G.. and will play solo besides