New-York tribune., 1875-05-15
MUSIC IN CINCINNATI
CLOSING DAY OF 1HE MAY FESTIVAL.

THAN ANY PREVIOUS MUSICAL CkLbbNAfioN IN
AMREIca-M.rrNrE AND EVENING coNcERT-
TWO kXCxIIKNr PROGRAMMES WILL PERFORMED
-iARaE ASp ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCES.
fSv fnLs0KArH FROM A srAHf coKREsroSDxNf OF
THE TRIBUSRi
CINCINNATI, May 14.-The festival closed
this evening sud Cincinnati will long reuiember IL
bright chapter the history of Western culture 1t has
accomplished than any previous musical ceebra-
tiou America and though It hardly be denied that
the principal sicciions have been rather above the
prh nson of the majority OF the audiences. and that tho
public zeal has been inspired sometimes by local pride
ruch more than by musical appreciation. yet one csn
hardly give too much credit 10 this beautiful and cnthu
sastc city for the noble work which has done In such
. noble manner. II Il 10 tho high honor OF tho
Festival Committee anJ of Theodore Thomas that
they did choose works like the Song OF
Triumph aad Bachs "Nsgniiicat." which are
yet far above tho apprehension OF the public; and
n honor OF the people that, though tbey did not
pretend 10 relish all these things. they never allowed
their interst 10 flag in tho slightest degree. The
gsthctic development Of such population this will 20
on VITA q rapidity which mast astonsh the world
Fortunately there Il circle OF highly cultivated and
putic-spirited people In Cincinnati. who making
much better cf their money aud time than the
spending social class in New-YOrk.
The matinee tLis afternoon tho best of the week
The principal selections were Bec.hOvens overture,
"Consecration Of the House" the superb Mcsersngor
selections In which Mr. BscioT made brilliant success
with his "Waltber's Prize Song" and the orchestral
OF Ltszts second Hungarian Rhapsody.
by whca the vast audience almost carried away.
Mr.. whitney sang Boethovcns (" In Qnesta Tomba,"
with Thomass Arrangement OF accompaniment for
wind Instruments. beautifully than ever before
heard him
The programme tonight was as follows;
PAGT
Symphony No o. in Schubert
We,Gli'- Farewell and Magic Fire Scene, from -,
VocaI part b, Nj. Franz il. nlmoftz
H..
evrnphnni, P,Dem ProIue ,heus .Iiszt
Muslt lIc rdcr's PromCtIc1IS llSH
Solo voices chorus, aud orchestra
Tho only novelty in this line proerainna lcnst TO
New -YoiAcris Ia the second part Liszts symphonic
poem o; "Picmethous" ~ known by our audiences,
but the vocal music which ho wrote for Uerers poem
the subject is yet sealed book to MS IN its
complete form, though the IicdcrkrGnz has SING some
extracts from it, The programme calls 1t a csntas bat
Ii IL not caltta II is series OF musical Illustrations
OF the poem, mostly cIoIses with d few solo passages
interSpcrscd. intended to accompany recitation Of the
text, ~ SchuInann's written TO accompany
and relieve "a reading of Byron's "Msnrr~d." Nor il
there any connection between the vocal composition and
the mphOnic poem except the identity OF subject They
were written many years apart but their conOcauon Is
OF natural and logical and the earlier work serves
very properly and effectively overture 10 he later
one To those who know List only by his Instrumental
works the sweetness of this mcodious. vocal compo-
sitiOn great surprise. The most delicate vein Of
poetry all through iE, mparting 10 the whole an ap
pearancc Of grace and refinement quite remarkable a.
Its strong dramatic character The poetic basis
Is always conspicuous in LISTS and
chOruses hut here the union between the melody and
the poem be particularly ciOse One beautiful
conception follows another with the rapid ser but
each perfect and distinct The dvinitics OF the ocean
and the ny phs OF the grave the bhihe ieaers ana tue
oval cultivators OF the vne the spirits OF the Under
World. and the Olympus, all have their appro-
IL oil
before like the living figures in drama The soprano
and alto solos are short tact little than fsg
mems OF sweet mclOdic phrases. The malo sOl"s-two
tenors and more important aud III the
latter part Of tho work ntrusied with a no6e
quartet 1t Is In the varying and always fascinating
choruse however that the principal charm of the
position ncs The orchestra only cDbrOilers the
vocal parts with rich and delicate ornament but com
bnes with them form compact AMI carefully planned
texture and carries beautifully The spirit. II not
the musical motves of the symphonic poem which las
been adopted the introduction. that we can hardly
realize thnt We listen ~ independent positions.
The performance OF the entire Prometheus music was
directed by Mr. Singer and when he took bis place
the desk there curious scene. Ii seems thnt
nearly all the chorus signers had small bouquets
concealed about their persons, and Mr. Singers appear
aDce the signal for rain of flowers which was pro
iOngrd for some tine They abundant reason
for their partially toward the accomplished musician I'M
der whom they learned the " PrOmetheus" " for their exc
cuon OF tho under his sympathetic hand was one
of the most glorious Of the festival The tone
was magnificent tho shallng and expression were ex-
trenlely nce the cvcrchangin nuanccs from which
IAszts music derives much of s effect, we're observed
with PERFECTION; the singing equally admirable for
technical precision and for fine intelligence The solo
parts were all exoellenily rendered by Mrs Smith, Miss
Cary Mir Winch, Ar. Bsclof. Mr. Remmortz. and Mr..
Whitney.
Tie first part Of the concert OF directed by
Nj TbOmns in person I have said that II offered
nothing actually novel, but perhaps am wrOng The
great Schubert symphony Was novelty In one sense
for such "a performance OF it las probably never 0oen
heard in country, and do not believe better one
f possible anywhere 1t fairly blazcd with spiendor ana
the tremendous finale given with q mignh-
cence which reused tho whole house 40 that
at the close tho audience rose In their
places and chcercd The music Of the "WdkIeic which
supposed he almost unknown Ia Cincinnati. was also
presented with unusual brinancy, and made a very
sro npressiOn. 1t better AMI better played
than ever heard 1t In NewYork Mr. RenInertz being at
his very best while the increase IL the orchestra added
much more 10 the effect tau should have expectcd
The attendance tonight was cVerwhemnS-ncariy as
great In fact It last night and the festival broke
up In the midst OF ndescrbabe scene OF entLuSia~
singers and audience oil harrabiug together ana loud
shouts ior Thomas rising above the din.