The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-15
THE CINCINNATI MUSICAL FESTIVAL

THE LAST DAY AND THE FINAL PERFORMANCE
scHUBERT's SYMPHONY IN g, SCENE FROM
NIBELUNGEN AND A CANTATA BY LIszT-FI-
NANCIAL RESULT
CINCINNATI, Ohio, May IA, 1875.
The last day OF the festival In this city showed
no abatement OF the highly wrought enthusiasm
OF the people. AT the matinee performance there
was an excellent bill oil miscellaneous character.
The orchestra played Beethoven's overture, "Con-
secration Of the House;i the overture and intro
ducuon TO the third act Of the "Melstersinger or
Nurnberg,n one OF the most massive works OF
Wagner; the ever welcome overture to "Oberonn
and the second Hungarian rhapsody OF Liszt
or the vocal selections those worthy or special
commentator we're Walther's prize song rom
the ''Meistersinger,n niagnlhcenIly rendered by
Mr. Biscnon; the song of sPolypnemus' from
Hande's "Acls and Galatea" rendered in a dash
ing manner by Mr.. whitney; an aria from the
"Propnet,n in when Miss Uary's voice found
worthy meme for its powers, and tue dramatic
quartet from ''Rlgoletto,n sung by Mrs. smith,
Miss Cary, BlschOn and whitney.
THE FAREWELL PERFORMANCE
Inc house was again packed to,nlght lot the
farewell performance Of the festival Ihere were
three orks on tue OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SYM
pnony in CT the fire scene rom tne laird part OF
Maguer's festival opera, the ''Ntbeungen," ana
cantata by LIsZt, founded on heruer's poem,
'.Prometheus.n Tnomas conducted the nrst two
compositions ana otto Singer the last. Tne
bright, genial, poetic soul o schubert gOws IN
every measure Of ms glorious symphony wnIch
Shumann, with true artistic nobility, ex-
numeu rom the mass ul manuscripts lett
by the greatest OF German song writer's
ana gave 10 the world. There IS vein OF
delicious melody running through tie symphony
that at once cnaracterlzes II. IL pas oeen given
In New YORK by AIR. honas, and has always neid
q prominent place In MS extensive repertoire. In
none OF his works with wntcn the American pup
lie have been MADE acquainted does wagner APP
pear 10 grander proportions IMAM In the lection
from the "Nakueren performed Tonight. The
wrath OF the god Wotan is overcome by the en-
treaties OF his daughter Brunhilde ana lne return
Of paternal love IS beautifully eXempiined IN the
baritone 500 In which Mr.. Remmertz alriy sur
passed all MS previous efforts.
The instrumentation IS OF that majestic order
OF fye guards, tue sleeping Brunnilde ana the
dread deity disappear as tie movement dies away
IN the most enchanting strains.
Very different was the symphonic
POEM AND CANTATA OF LIsZT
The subject which HerDer, one OF Germany'5
most gifted poets, furnished the composer IS q
noble one. Inc story Of FrOmetneus, whose love
Tor his race drew down upon nm the
interest. The work consists OF eight
numbers, a chorus OF oceanIdcs chorus OF
tritons, a chorus 81 dryads, chorus OF Cleaners
a chorus OF vnedre-sers, a chorus OF spirits OF the
lower regions, chorus OF lnvislDes Win = solo
quartet ana an Olympian chorus.
There are some pretty effects in the fourth and
fifth choruses, the Instrumentation being striking
and enecuve; but the WORK 10 speak ol 1t gen.
orally. can only be described as n species of
Kdtze1l-JalHDleT in musical composition IL Is for
the most part wlld nconerent ana nonsensical
and the most glarlng absurdItes appear IN It, The
genius OF Wagner Is lndisputaDle, although at
times his peculiar theories read MIN INTO unweT-
rantaOle excesses: but, beyond his acknowledged
ability as pianist ana writer Tor the piano.
Llszt deserves no recognition among modern
composers. Only one OF MS orchestral works
zine PreludeSi-can be listened 10 with any pa
thence. IL Is Idle TO attempt 10 analyse such
chaos OF noises, iuss and Jury, s1gntiyng only mu-
steal insanity, as that which dishgures Ine grand
poem or Herder. IL was sorry ending to
such festival. The most liberal minded advo-
cate OF the school OF the future, possessing grain
OF musical intelligence could scarcely tolerate
such garlng insult the divine art as that con-
veyed IN the "Prometneusn Ui Llszt.
THE FINANCIAL RESULT
OF the festival Is not as natterng as was antici-
pated a day or two since, but the directors are
satisfied that there will be a small surplus left
after ali the bills are paid. Mr.. Thomas and his
orchestra return to New YORK tomorrow morn
ing, ana Mrs. Smith, Miss Cranch, Mr.. Winch and
Mr.. whitney proceed 10 the indianapolis festival,
an humble imitation OF the one which has Just
closed.