New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-23

understood without previous familiarity with the
written text II does tell. however. the detailed
story Of Goethe's Faust" Its three are Simply
great pictures of the three leading characters OF the
poem aud OF the three phases Of existence which Faus
Gretchen and MephstOphees symbolic. The descrip-
ton of Faust In Goethes Prologue 1--WE quote from Bay
ard Taylor translation gives the key to the 1rst
Characterised
His spirits ferment far asplreth
Hall conscious of his frenzed. crazed unrest
The fairest stars from Heaven he reqnireth,
From earth the highest raptares and the BEST
And all the Near and Far that he deslretn
Fails to snbdne the tumult OF his breast
Here Lszt to have carried out the poetca prn-
cpe in music to its fullest development He cuts loose
from oil the restraints of musical forms following the
impulse OF tho poetic idea through strange and startling
of expression sudden changes Of key aud daring
violations Of the accepted laws Of tonality Vague
aspiration and renzied unrest CRY out from the wonder
full tumult but through ALL like tho upward tendency
which is to Faust at the last the iadehnabe
sentiment OF beauty, trumphing the broken and
discordant phrases In the second part Gretchen we
have milder. genter, moro equabe beauty, tnged
with soft melancholy strains and fragments of pathetic
neutrality-suspicious. OF the "WomanSoul" which
"leadeth us
Upward and on"
And finally in Mephstophees appears the esprit OF
Negston" existing opposition to Truth, Order, aud
Beauty, yet becoming in his despite the means of
accomplishing the Good while he aims at Evil. IL is
impossible to describe the vivid and stirring effects OF
this tremendous movement Snatcbes OF melody re-
peated and transformed from the earlier parts gmpses
OF the struggles and vain endeavors In which Faust has
passed his years. "reminiscences of sorrow from the
story Of Gretchen kerry uproar, contest and final
defeat are brought before with astounding .distinct
The grandeur OF the close is almost awful Tho
inner sentiment of the poem shining through CONNECT
higher aud higher till suddenly out OF the multi
tudnOus sound of tho orchestra surgos the deep roll o
organ. and the solemn chant up. which Goethe
puts the mouths of tho chorus mystcus III heaven
An things transltOry
But as symbols are sent
Earth's Insuffciency
Here grows TO Event.
The Indescribsbe.
Here II il done.
The woman,Soul eadeth us
Upward and on"
The one fault 10 be found with this extraordinary
work its overelaboraton Lzt shows here the rare
poetic perception in which he perhaps the first of
living composers after Wagner; but he does not reach
an adequate expression of his ideal without painful
and constantly conspicuous art Hence the symphony
fatigues tho listener who hears it for the first time
The poem conveyed at once to the sensbiities 1t
taxes the imagination and keeps the intellect at asran
Yet when the performance comes TO an end, and the
final chorus dies away ono sits bewiidered and pro-
foundly moved by the grandeur OF the full result The
and development Of the various parts are
revealed at once and the sentiment which binds the
long work together in the chain Of ono continuous
melody becomes perfectly clear. We should have been
glad OF few moments profound silence just then, to
collect impressions of tone poem which seems
greater and greater the more we reflect upon It.
For the execution of this trying work, Mr. Thomas
had increased his orchestra to nearly 80 pieces Long
and patient preparation had been given to it, for its
difficulties literally tremendous every instrument
particularly the strngs-being tested to the
utmost. No language overpraise the perfect per-
Torrance which rewarded the perseverng zeal OF the
conductor all his men, 1t was more than correct
it was than delicate. refined, graceful. brilliant
aud spirited IL OF those stirring. magnetic per-
fornances which the best orchestras attain only once in
a while, when their members in particularly en-
thusasc mood and the conditions OF time, place and
audience are all IN their favor Nor was their excep
tonay fine work reserved entirely for the List Sym
phony. Ii was avished with most affectonate care
upon the charming Euryanthe" overture which opened
the concert, and upon the great minor symphony OF
Beethoven. which brought the evening to a glorious
climax. Agrander performance OF this noble work we
have certainly never heard
The male chorus In the List Symphony was supplied
by the Turner Ledertafel under the direction Of Mr.
Henry Grener. and the accompanying tenor solo was
sung by Mr. Graf 1t praise enough to say that both
solo and chorus we're worthy of the occasion The audi
ence opinions the character OF LISTS work
differed widely, unusually excited by the surpass-
ing excellence the performance, and Mr. Thomas was
called out after the first part with every demonstration
of enthusIasm-a tribute which he acknowledged with
characteristic modesty by transferring the compliment
to his orchestra.
A GRAND CHARITY CONCERT.
A remarkable concert is to be given at the
Academy Of Music next Saturday for the Joint benefit OF
the charities under the Of St. Johns Guild and the
Society OF ST. Vincent de Paul The affair will be under
the management OF Mr. Strakosch, and will enlist the
services of Mesdames Lucca. Kellogg, Torriani, ana
Cary Messrs. Campanin, Del Puente. Nannett Vie
niawsk, Pattison. and Colby. Gimores Band and the
New-YOrk Lederkranz.
MUSICAL NOTES.
Mr.. George F. BrstOw's opera of Grip Van
Wrinkle" is about be performed by an Italian company
Ami"
The programme for the second concert of
the Union next Thursday includes six selections
from WagneT's compositions, and BeethOvens Heroic
Symphony, TO be played in honor of the late Senator
Sumner.
Mr.. eyes opera season at Covent Garden is
TO open the 31st OF March. His company includes
Mesdames Patti, Aban, Marimon, Vida. (Frau Wilt OF
Vienna Scalchi, SlnicO and Saar and Messrs NcOni,
Bettin Manfredi, Marine, Grazan COtogni BagaglOo,
Maure and Faure. Madame Lucca Ia also engaged, but
the that unfortunately her arrival In
London is not considered certain"
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