Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-09
CINCINNATI.


1A0 G9tAAa 1StoI ~ sAAO - DaADAAOOs
CINCINNATI, May S.--This has in all
respects been he great day of the musical
festival. The rain continued at intervals
during the forenoon, but the indications of
clearing up brought a large number who
had not hitherto been in attendance. Full
" 5000 persons were in attendance this
afternoon, and tonight the snCience num-
bered about 1000. Large numbers were
compelled to stand, and were even taken to
the space in the rear Of the chorus and
organ. go
The afternoon was largely devoted to the
chorus from the public schools, and the
Cincinnati orchestra under their leader, M.
Brand, the original orchestra Of Theodore
Thomas not participating, thechildfen who
were to participate with teachers, who also
participated in it, numbering fifteen hum
dred occupied. The seats erected for the
chorus consisted of 500 girls soprano, 300
girls second soprano, 100 boys second So
prano, 400 boys alto and the teachers
and scholars of the high schools numbering
200, constituting mixed chorus. A large
curtain was drawn entirely across the par
quette shutting the children from view un-
til the time for the commencement OF the
exercises. At 2:l5 the curtain was sudden
ly removed, revealing spectacle OF rare
interest. The arrangement was such that
every face could be seen. The girls, clad
In white, wearing either white or blue
sashes, occupied the seats nearest The audi
euce. Ths REVEALING of this spectacle was
the occasion for great applause. The
overture was followed by the Morning
Hymn and See the COnquering Hero
Rxxf 10 otn Y,r,lor tnofdiropfinO of
Chas. Aiken, of the public schools. The
remainder of the exercises were by the
children, interspersed with arias and duets,
in which Mrs. Dexter and Messrs. Whitney
and Valley participated, and by occasional
instrumental pieces. The choruses were
executed IN most credit Die
manner. The children sang in
excellent time. The party was well-bsl-
anced, and the whole was kept in hand
quite equal to the skilled choruses which
had been delighting the audience the day
before. The audience was composed of a
large representation of the friends of the
public schools and the partial hearers readi-
ly became enthusiastic in their applause.
The Triumph Of Theodore Thomas
Tonight the great feature was the ninth
symphony by Beethoven. Its fame and
| highly. classical nature aud the difficulties
| in the way of its successful execution had
awakened great interest and doubtless large
| ly contributed to the immense audience IN
attendance. The liability to failure pro-
| duced anxiety which musicians felt to some
degree, but there was neither failure nor
the semblance of it. There was neither
break nor bslk from first to last, splendid
triumph. 1t is claimed by foreign hmusi-
clans to be the greatest musical achieve
ment in the history of this country. The
interest throughout was intense. A mosi
singular quiet prevailed, at times broken
by applause at the close of each movement
The scene which followed the close battle:
description. The applause exceeded the
most enthusiastic political meeting
Loud cries were made for Thomas who
had disappeared. The whole audience
seemed to demand bis presence. At las
he appeared, first taking position on tint
platform, and finally ascending the conduc
tors stand. This was the signal for cheer
ing, the ladies waving handerchiefs owe
such an ovation as was never before ten
dered by a Cincinnati audience. Mrs
Smith, Miss Cary, Mrs. Narle.
and Mr.. Rudolphsen participated
in the solos and quartettes and receives
compliments, but this and the admirable
rendering of the overture, Aria, and choru
of Osis and Osiris and chorus Of the Priest
which opened the evenings entertainment
together with Schumann's Gipsy chorus
were all overshadowed by the enthusiasm
which the highly successful production o
the great work had awakened.