The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-07
A NJ y S E M E N T S.
THEODORE THOMAS FIFTH SYMPHONY CON-

THEODORE THOMAS FIFTH SYMPHONY CON-
That New York is musical city and that large
proportion OF its amusement pubic are earnest,
Intelligent admirers OF tue divine arr might be
seen last night in the immense audience That
nled Steinway Hall and the warm welcome ex-
tended 70 Mr.. Thomas and his orchestra and the
soiost oil the OCCASION. MISS Drasdil. Apart from
the well known excellence OF the performers, such
an audience served as additional stimulus 10
them. The new symphony IN ID minor by Rubin
stein was the Distinguishing feature OF the con-
cert 1t was meet for TO wnom we are In
debted for the first hearing OF the greatest modern
works. as well as some exhumed from the
archives OF the past, to introduce what may be
justly termed a colossal tone poem. an orchestral
epic One wonid he inclined TO lear that
long career OF triumph would tend
to relax Mr.. Thomas efforts to make
America acquainted with the grand structures
OF Instrumentation that are constantly
being created by the favored children OF genius
across the Atlantic, and TO relax also the stern
discipline tnat has made mis- band the frst IN this
country and second to none IN Europe. But he
never aters In his noble task and there is always
something new to be admired in the playing OF
these sixty men each concert, something
gained. somethlng or closer communion OF ideas.
lHcy dCQuiTcu u res interest Win LnelI UedIcTS
last night in the performance OF one Of the most
marvellous instrumental works which has been
written Tor nalf century. The symphony OF
RuDlnsten marks a new epoch in the life OF the
composer, and considering that he Is out iOrty
five years OF age. we may look TO him Tor many an
enduring monument OF musical genius. The leVer-
ish, nervous spirit and impetnous style OF writing
tnat marred many OF his earlier works, making
carefully considered thoughts arranged to-
gether on cohesive plan, mas been
composition there Is a grandeur OF outline par
taking of the nature OF q Beethoven. His choice
or subjects Is the OFFSPRING OF q NOBLE elevated
mind, to which vulgar themes are unknown. The
strangeness OF the forms and treatment OF this
work at once arrest attention at the very opening
OF this gigantlc work, and the way ward genius OF
the composer constantly seeking unknown paths
and Introducing AT the most unexpected time
strange episodes and eccentric Effects renoers
the task OF the conductor one Deset with almost
nnsurmountable dimcutles. This task Mr..
Thomas accomplished last night with remark
able success. the symphony Is extremely
long, It's performance lasting nearly seventy MN
ures; but 1t is 50 rlch varied imaginative that
II can never tire musician who listens to It, The
four movements INTO which II is divided. Lento.
Allegro moderato; 2, Presto. Allegro non troppo;
SO many SUBDIVISIONS that each may
be almost cOnsidereA complete work in itself
4 he composer is lavish OF nlOtiDi, pouring them
forth with an exuberauce that renders 1T dinicult
at first hearing TO note the wonderful skill with
which ne afterward combines them, exhibits
them In new and beautiful forms and adorns them
with that rich oriental oVOuterie OF effect that Is
SO characteristic OF him. In the TWO last move
ments the climax OF grandeur Is reached, There
Is sublime quality about the Adaglo that re-
minds one OF the ocean AZ rest, and the Nndte OF
the symphony ls as II the ''mlgnty monster" was
dashed into fury by hurricane. But there Is
something to admire In every part OF the work,
and Mr. Thomas will undoubtedly crafty his
numerous patrons by an early repetition OF II.
The technical difficulties are enormous, and the
thorough manner III which they were vanquished
was q grand triumph Tor the orchestra
The "OXOrd" symphony, one OF the six last
symphonies written by Haydn during his resi-
dencc In London, for the Hanover Square Con-
certs, In compliment to the University tnat one red
him the degree OF Musical Doctor, and the Sec
oud .LeOnOra" overture OF Beethoven, were
given at TINS concert. What contrast between
the sweet and tranquil charm that Papa HadYn's
music brings with II In it's artess beauty, and the
1erce turbulence of the Russian composer. And
yet the orchestra that could grasp the thunders OF
the latter plped as sweetly su0 te0,nine Jdgi and
wOoed the muse OF Haydn with the utmost tender
ness. Tie great overture. sturdy and picturesque,
was also rendered to q charm. Miss Anna Dras-
dii's noble cOntralto voice was heard IN JunOs
recItative and air, awake, Saturnia," from the
second act OF Handefs dramatic cantata,
"Semele," as CHARACTERISTIC WORK OF the Colossus
as the CyclOpean love song IN "AclS ana Galatea."
The fair cantatrice sang it like an accomplished
ARTIST although the air Is not calculated TO display
the beauty Of her voice to the same advantage as
q less impetuous movement Mr. Thomas Will
give matinee performance on Saturday next, at
which the admirable pianlste, Mme. Madeline
Schiller, will appear.