New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-10
PART T..

were the selections:
Overture. Egmont". Beethoven
Symphony No g. e major Wade" .Raf
| PART II.
Overture FLYING Dutchman" Wagner
| Larghetto and Fnale from the piano-forte con-
certo IN minor. CHOPIN
Mr.. s. b. Mills and Orchestra.
Allegro the concerto for String orchestra...B
March from Athalie," Mendessohn
The performance OF the picturesque Forest Symphony
OF Raj was fresh, bright and braciug Jas Autumn
day III the woods. The charming grace, the fine selt
ment, the mimiabe delcacy OF the Reyery aud Dryads
| Dance exqulstelY as those two movements were
played did hot impress than the rich colorins
and healthy vgor OF the other and ess popular portions
OF the symphony. In the "Egmont overture the
stormy sp endOrs OF Wagners introduction to The Fly
ing Dutchnan" tho fascinating allegro from Bach's
string concerto played OF the recent symphony
concer.s), and the grand March from "Athaie,' We
found repeated for surprise and delight at this
matcbess orchestra, which is not more remarkable Tor
precision refinement than for masculine strength,
and dignity and fire. Mr. Mills completed the attrac
tons of the concert with noble Interpretation Of two
movements of concerto. IN connection with whicn ne
has acquired sort OF special celebrity.
On Saturday Mr. Thomas will give his last matinee OF
the SEASON. .ring a programme OF unusual beauty, in
which the exquisite fragments OF Schuberrs unfinished
symphony IN b minor hold a conspicuous place. On
Saturday evening nc VIII sCasoh
in Brooklyn 10 a close and tn 25th inst. shall
have the last Of the Symphony Concerts in NewYork
! During the musical year which is DOW drawing TO
| an end, It to us that he has laid the public
| under greater obligations than before. Winter
| after Winter, since he began his career, he
has brought richer treasures OF art and taught
new lessons OF aud discernment Thanks TO him.
nearly all the greatest woksfOr orchestra, both
/ Gent and MODERN are rapidly becoming familiar to
There is no good school Of composition which be has not
enabled US to understand There Is possible progress
in the OF music with which we may not hope through
him to he kept well abreast. He has expanded our
capacity for enjoyment, quickened misrepresentation aud
reformed our esthec judgment that every branch Of
music has felt HIS wholesome influence. fresh life
has been eyeA where breathed into the concertroom
| because we have learned, through Theodore Thomas
TO demand better things than used to be fosted upon
Us: and If regeneration OF operate stage Is in
truth at hand many OF us hope, may thank Theo
dore Thomas it, who led to insist upon reform and
inspired discriminate between art and false
II is unquestionaby him that the hearing Of
! wagner's "Loheugrn" under circumstances more
Favorable than most Of the cities OF Europe could ENJOY
and the astonishing popularity OF this noble music,
In community which deTided the composer only two
| or three years as charlatan or mailman,
is the direct fruit of Thomass labors 1t would not
have been played in ew-York IL Thomas had not
created demand for 1t. Opera managers never lead
public taste; they cannot afford TO be guides aud
teachers they must always follow the bent OF the popu
| lar fancy.
We see that the Brooklyn Philharmonic Society pur
poses testyng its especial Indebtedness to Mr. Thomss
| by benefit concert. This Is excellent idea Few
/ OF the audiences at Mr. Thomass admirable concerts
have any conception OF the labor, anxiety and some
times cruel hardship by which the brilliant result Is OBJ
tanned We apt to think OF the life OF the conductor
as one long succession Of triumph and pecunary pros
pery. 1t is anything but that An orchestra OF fifty
virtuosi cannot be kept together without enormous
expense. Busy idle the drain upon the purse
day in the year is terrible. 1t only be met By
rapid series OF performances which involve long
costly journeys TO travel every day aud play every
night is the task to which these artists condemn them
| selves. 1t Is not all glory aud sunshine. What
| they make in one town ithey often lose IN
| the next; and II weather, and panics, and
| other accidents chance to be against them, they
| may home from tour poorer than they
set out. only man OF lofty ambition and
! almost heroic strength OF purpose would face
| this wearing and iil-paid life year after year.
| while he could earn comfortable living in quieter
though less honorable paths OF his profession; and
| when we measure the value OF the work which Mr.
| Thomas has performed ought to count what 1t is
| steadily costing him.