New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-08
MUSIC.
THE CINCINNATI FESTIVAL.


The coming Musical Festival in Cincinnati,
rnder inc direction Theodore Thomas, has aroused
greatest all through the West, and promises to
fiji the week with a plessuTabe excitement. The city
putting a gala dress. and giving itself up for the
time to the unrcstraDed enjoyment Of music. fact
which hoars remarkable testimony to the Intelligence OF
the people since the programmes contain Of those
cheap sensational devices for catching the pOpu-
lace upon which the Boston Jubnees relied
for their success. Tho first Cincinnati Festival
In Is73 remarkable affair not only
on account OF the briGncy OF the performance the ex
oepioua OF the newly organized chorus. aud the
enthusiasm of the public but also for the elevated char
acter Of the programmes which embraced large pro
portion Of music commonly but errOneOusly supposed
20 be adapted only 10 the tastes OF the most highly
cultivated communities. How the performance or
this Spring VIII compare with that OF two years
ago, of course shall not venture to predict;
but the advance in the programme beyond question
For the st festival Cincinnati Lad on the opening night
Handels Dettingen TIE Deum; BeethOvens 9th gym
phOny an aria OF MOZart5 and chorus from the Crc
tiou," and this year it vii have Brahms "Hong OF
Triumph" Beethovens eth Symphony and the long and
gorgeous choruses and instrumental selections fTOln
"Lohcnin" For the second evening in 1873 there was
miscellaneous classical concert, and this time there
IA the complete OratoriO Of Elijah" The great
Choral Symphony Of beethoven came on the third night
in 1873 does also iii 1875 but then 1t was preceded
by uiscellaneous concert while Is prcfaced by
voted 10 miscellaneous selections at the first festival and
II includes at the seoonl Schuberts greatest sym
phony, Iiszt's promotions tOOth tho eau
tata socaed and the symphonic poem), and
the selections from Wagner's "Walkurc," which
Thomas has made popular in New-YOrR. Thus
il will be that the directors have done his year
what they did not to do before, and made up
their evening programmes entirely OF the most serious
choral and instrumental works. excluding solos for ind
yidua display altogether. 1t is true that all the ar1as
and other detached pieces admitted the previous Oc
eason were excellent of their kind and many of them
we've highly Interesting; but it is great Improvement
To an their place important works of Grander d
mensions and loftier spirit The change indicates both
wise management and a cultivated public taste.
Tho niatn6es remain this year, they were before,
huge popular concerts Of the best class in which cass
cal Over;urcs and movements from symphonies are inter-
ypersed with operato selections, and even little
dance music But hero also discern marked i'm
provemeut The matinee programmes include this year
two overture trio. and aria Of Boo,hOvens; Las
sons Festival overture; the Overture and quartet
rrom ObeYou:" the magnificent series Of vocal and
instrumental selections from Waencrs "MosteI-
singer the orchestral arrangement Of Liszs Second
Hungarian Rhapsody the Overture and Romance OF the
Evening star from "1annhauser," and songs, &c, by
Haydn Mozart, Giuck blendelssoEn, and Handel MIR
Whtney will sing "Oh ruGdier than the cherry" and
IA curious fact that this is the only bit OF Handles
music which will be heard during the whole festival.
What pity Israel in Egypt could not have been sub
s,ituted for Elijah" But the young festival chorus
has had enough to do without attempting that worry
tough work and Moudesohns OT1tOriO Is always beau
tlful and always welcome.