New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-18
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
MUSIC.
THOMASB THIRD MATTNER.

l. Allegro moderate con fuOco. a. Aod.no.
8. Scherzo. Finale
Overture. William Tell. .RossinI
Irainerel ocoumabh
In,1onuctlo"' l3f Act of the "MeIstersinger
RR imais.' Won NirnOrrE'.--.-- Wagner
Afew seasons ago any conductor would hsve bees
laughed at for Offering the "HaroId" symphony at
matinee concert Bat Thomlss years OF patient worn
have made the Abstruse music plain to the com
prehen~ion OF audiences that BerOz finds ready
popular acceptance here anywhere in the world
The performance OF tn, Symphony at OF tho eyea
ing concerts early In the aroused great deal Of
Interest and discussion among musicians aud that was
only natural: but tue favor with which ia repcuIoh
was received by tho general public on Saturday sur
passed all reasonable expectation Indeed we are hae
inclined TO believe that persons who kuo" llue OF
nothing Of the science OF music, who oare nothing
about theories OF art, and judge OF com
p,sition only ~ 1. peases their ear or srs
their feelings, reader to applaud IRIS remarK-
able WORK than cOnnOsseurs who Stumble over IS eh-
gauces and recognize ut its bold departure
rom classical models Yct IL 10 ~ far as posOio from
what 4 commonly called popular music. IL almost
barren Of catching meiodios Every phrase has DIS
tinot and deep meaning. 10 which tho deveopmep.W
mere scnsuous tunes Is held strictly subordinate In
word Il makes no concessions" ~ an uniformed puDe
taste: and n the public nevertheless Ike " We may
fairly conclude that contains element OF genuine
poetry The poetca idea is there. although its ezpres
sion rs at times somewhat forced and elaborate
IT was interesting the work OF Boros with
the selections from Wagner's "Mestersinger' Berios
is often spoken Of the precursor II not inc music"
parent Wagner, and though tho ar;prophet OF tns
future has owed much less from the great Freocn
symphonist than Is commonly supposed, we can Ger
tany trace In BeroE the patterns after which wagner
formed his method OF orchestral cOlOring' Yet whas
enormous progress do not perceive In the thirty
years which passed between "Harod" nnd the - Mes
tersinger" BerOz IL In the midst OF struggle
and In listening to his most elegant and poeuoai
creations somehow conscious OF an atmosphere OF
STRIFE tone violent selfassertion. Ia Wagner. ho"
ever. we feel the calm superiority OF master who
knows that his victory has been won VINO mas no
msglyings as TO the permanency OF what no
has accomplished, whose thoughts How easily
and whose facility OF musical expression IA
practically boundless The freedom for which
Berloz fought enjoyed In comfort and tho new
forms which the French composer established. only
alter contention and experiment seem almost to shape
themselves spontaneously uUder the hand OF greater
German and - clotaO themselves with astonishing
beauty and richnoss. II would DO hard 10 find any
iAtricate in structure and severe in soen
thc than these selections from the third Act
OF the Mestersneer" and yet should never think
OF calling them absiruse." The allembracng melody
"a very different thing neD is too fluent and emo
tionsl to suit that adjective
The performance OF these two prominent numbers on
the programme OF course super0,-Mr. Charies
Baetens playing tho viola obbgsto ia the symphony
and Mr. Lockwood tho harp. Equally remarkable 10
point OF execution was the MendeIssohn Octet. TINS
noble work. written before the composer was sixteen
years OF oge displays fertility OF fancy and vgos
OF style which would have been striking IN mature
writer. and simply astonishing in boy 1t ranks
with the very and popular OF MenielssOhns
chamber compositions Written for four vions, two
tenors and two cel 1t Is played by Mr. Thomas with
full string orchestra double BASES erceptedl-that
il with five or Instruments for zach OF the eight
parts. The unsnmlty, the decacy and the foroe OF
the rendering all alike noticeable AMI tae weight
we'll trained strings in tho fortis'lmo passages
can hardiy be praised too highly.
BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.
The programme for the second concert OF
the Brooklyn Philharmonic Society. gwen under the
direction Of Theodore Thomas last Saturday evening
rs follows
suite, in minor (nrsI timeD ................Bach
Flute Obbiigsto by Nr. Carl WedDer.
Aria" In questa tombs o;eura" Beethoven
symphony No. l, b dat Or Ss.....scsumsnn
Overture" LeOnora" ~. a l.. Beethoven
Hungarian Dances (new). .......:.-.....B Brahms
ResItatye and Aria from "Tancreu" po..,,,
Miss Anna Drasdil.
Kaiser March,. wagner
The Suite and tho Symphony have so recently been
played by tho same orchestra IN NewYork that our
readers will want more than general word OF hearty
praise for the spirit and polish OF the Interpretation.
They sounded better in Steinway Hall than they
ever sound In opera house, for in the hall the
acoustic conditions perfect. while in the Academy OF
Music the canvas and hangngs are unfavOrable
TO effect, and the performance consequently loses
little OF its brightness and briancy Tie "Hungsrian
Dances by Brahms quite and very Interesting
They are three in number, Allegro motto, Alio-
gretto, and an Allegto con spirito. AN are dis.
tuguished by the striking rhythm and bold spirit char
acteristlc OF Hungarian national music. and all
tain great deal OF the poetry which belongs
to the best class or dance melodies, though
90 few composers capable OF seHng It. The second
LeonoFa" overture, much neglected by concert
gvers thoroughly enjoy able and the Kaiser March
brought excellent concert a majestic close Mss
Drasd the Beethoven aria with admirable express
siou and showed sufficient facility In the hack eyed
BOSNIAN air. The programme contained some interest
ing information about composer Bra Inns which 10
fresh TO American readers.
MUSICAL NOTES.
Miss Kell0gg's opera season will open next
Monday with tue Trovatore" In English. 90 be fol-
lowed by Maritan0," Faust" aud Ms noD."
The club of English Glee singers, consisting
OF Misses Beebe aud Finch, aud Messrs Bush, Nllseo,
Lockwood, Beckett and Aiken, will gave three concerts
at the Uuion League Iheater, Jan. H. Feb 10, and
March lS
Thomas gives an extra concert at Stelnway
Hall this eyeuius. Introducing new p,anist DIT Coz
Raiiade OF Chopn's The principal selection for the
orchestra is Memberships Scotch symphony'
DRAMATIC NOTES.
Mr.. Ben de Bar is acting FaIstGG, at No
| Ncker's Theater, thicago.
A new theater, called the Adelphi. has beeh
opt>'ed IN Chicago under the management Of Mr. Leoa
ard GI>Ver'
Mr. Barh-'m's catalogue Of amusements at
the Hppodromo l. unusually attractive tnis hls
peculiar audience.