The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-21

ance and julian nrmy persuaded that she h dssdc
accedes to his mothers wishes, and Is about to
marry the fair Marguerite Langfeldt noble girl
and his chldhOod's friend. The wedding day az
rlves and the ceremony takes place at the rural
church at Linz; but as the bridal party leaves tho
altar another ceremony interrupts themr-a novice
is about to take the veii-a roken-hearted woman,
whose dream OF happiness hasbeen tooshoFt, whose
che e altar am 80 bscome me bde Of
heaven. IT Is Madelein Morel. But she y recog-
more on earth He calls to her. Repentance, re-
igion-al are forgotten at the sound OF his voice
i To-, asserts its mastery-but too iate hS mar
rage with another snaps the silver chord ana the
unhappy Madeleine, awakened from despair to
plunge INTO stil deeper misery, sinks under the
blow Death, more mercifui than humanity, comes
to still her troubled heart
NOW all thus seems innocent to people who only
those who see the piece the story wears AZ entire
~ different aspect Both offended virtue and Of
ein Morel-virtue because society never iorgives
fault IN womaE and vice because It gives tone to
society accordingly we may expect offended VIZ
base creatures on the stage. Every heart, on
the deeply as the sad
ris' powerful acting may AFFECT 1t. Is disposed TO
assent to this verdict. Yet it Is. in truth, true
its bright side But the subject is one which leads
quite as likely to be eagerly canvassed. Religion
Is treated with as much fippancy as In the real
o
~ the processions which close the play The play
onons we nave snd nacas by the
eGntlrely upon the acting for success.
S ras o acting MIA last night was OF very
vivid truth and depth OF feeling which, in higher
class OF dramatic art-we do not say Of dramatic
genius. After her Mr.. Charles Fisher, as the Abbe,
showed more even than his usual fine feeling, good
well sustained. The stage settings were very nne.
finer than. nything which preceded them which
for the piece; for il nobody else iostered It, the
woman suffragists ought to support It, as the
strongest argument yet made in their behalf.
Rubinstein's sixth Recital.
The scene at Steinway Hall yesterday would con.
vince the most sceptical ofthe high appreciation
and esteem in which the New York public hold one
OF the greatest. If not the greatest, ofving pian
lists. For an hour before the recital commenced
hundreds of ladies thr0nged the stairs and Hobbies
at the entrance of the hall, numerous carriages
formed into line on Eogrtsenth street, and by
tnTse 0ci6ck there was Assembled at Steinway
Hall one OF the largest audiences ever
known there at q matinee. Both balconies
as well as the door were crowded. and, although
the programme was OF sufficient length to satisfy
any reasonable mind, yet there were at times in
dications OF encores. which, OF course, were nee
upon the EFFORTS Of the pianist. The concert com.
menced with three little noctu,7aes by the best
pupil OF Clement, the favorlte OF st.
Petersburg for many years, John Field. Ru.
binsteins Interpretation OF these delicious waits
OF musical poesy was more beautiful than ever.
Their very simplicity and delicate grace keep them
out Of the hands OF our pianists, who wish only for
effect and to that end seek the turbulence OF Liszt
They were succeeded by five OF the most character
istic works Of Adolph Heuset, full of that sound
deep feeling, elegant finish and vivid Imagination
peculiar to this much-neglected composer They
were ushered in by the agitated measures
and odd harmonies OF 'sThe Storm" to
which the lovely Cradle Song'' formed an
agreeable foil. The lelt-hand passages OF the
latter as played by Rubinstetn, formed
diaphonous drapery over the tender subject ssThe
Fountain and ''Liebeslied" followed next charm.
ing in their variety and the ever popular III
Were Bird I'd Fly to Theen was an AnacreontiO
sonnet In music, limned in the most delicate shades
OF color. After this Rubinstein seemed to get Oh
an unknown coast sort OF Mars Head where his
genius was entirely at fault. The two works oil
a ina on the programme the minor etud.
given with the power, finish and brillIancy
that might be expected: There is flavor OF the
his delicate sensbility and he seemed only anxious
to rid himself OF a disagreable task. There were
coarseness Of the conception, notably, in the rem.
dering OF the fav0rlte serenade. But those figures
VOL OTnamentaton Win which TnalDerg SO plentt.
fully bedecks his iantaslas. and which so lib
orally copied by modern "transcribers" were flung
by Rubnstein over the main themes with an utter
disregard to the anatomy OF the latter. Perhaps
he wished to cast ridicule on the school Of salon
music to which Thalberg gave BIRTH
Leaving the dangerous coast of ThaIberg the
pianist found himself IN greater peril amid the
maelstrom of Lszt. He commenced with the
"Don Giovanni fantasia Of the eccentric 0bbdte,
work which, we suppose, was never designed to
be played by the present race of men; Tor It's
technical difficulties approach so near the bounds
OF the impossible that 1t is natural to think
that they sometimes step out on the
other side. 1t Is more like work
written for two pianos than within the compass OF
ten fingers. 1t may be called by enthusiasts,
"colossal marvelousl TtanicW but in our
humble Judgment there is superabundance
OF noise and aiming after orchestral Of.
fects such as place IL outside the pale
OF true piano music. Rublnstein Jared no better
with It than have others before him, and it
After this whlrlwind OF noise there followed in
rapid succession number OF Ilszt's lesser works
principally consisting Of transcripuons. Among
them were "Auf dem Wasser" 'Erl King'' and
Evenings at Vienna" Three gems from Schubert
'Soirees Musicales" half dozen bits OF Rsssinian
melody, 'Uujus Animam,n from the 'sStabat
Mater" Lucia" rather nashy setting
OF the beautiful sestettO an impromptu waltz and
'.Rhapsodie Hongreise," in nat major. On Thurs
day evening the final farewell OF Rubinstein will
take place. on which occasion he will perform over
forty OF his own compositions. Here he will find
himself completely at home, and win complete the
greatest work ever accomplished by pianist on
the shores OF America