New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-07
THE PHILHlRMOyIC CONCERT.

The first concert of the 35th season of tia
Ncw-Y0rk Philharmonic Society took place al tho
Academy Of Music on Saturday evening The programmes
comprised the minor Fifth) symphony Of Beethoven
aud the first act OF Die Walktre" the second part
of Waguers latest work. "The Ring Of tie Nbeungss
Il not only OF itself an interesting concert but had
a peculiar significance for it indicated that tho
society has thrown aside many Of the traditions which
have hitherto hndered its progress and limited s
fulness. Never before has IL given such work tic
Of the Wagner opera one so much in harmony with
the most advanced spirit Of the time and with the de-
mands Of the public. And besides this, and quite as
important there was present life and spirit in the play
ing OF the band with which we have for some time been
unfamiliar and which promises well for the future.
The performance Of the Fifth symphony an I'm.
provelent that Of Friday, but IL was not by any
means perfect The playing was warm and energetic,
ana Dr. Damroschs reading Of the work was in most
spccts ana excellent The first movement which was
taken rather slower than have been accustomed 10
hearing il, was not perhaps, altogether improved
thereby but the last movement which also decidedly
retarded gained greatly dignity, while II may have
lost somewhat force The Andante and the scherzo
were charmfngly played, but in the final Allegro the
strings were not always good and there trouble
among the brass, the trumpcts especially Ii Is pity
that so noble work this Symphony should seem TO
have been sighted in any degree for the Wagner scec-
On and yet this seemed TO be the in contrast with
the superb way in which the latter given
In tie first act Of Die Wallirc," Seguund, weapon
les, and pursued by his enemies, takes refuge In tho
house OF Hundng, not knowing who h. IS He ts given
food and shelter By slcglu0 his twin sister, whom he
does not recognize who has been carried OF in her in
fancy and married against her viii to HunCing. Ia
comes in soon after, Who his guest is, and whe
Offering him hospitality Tor the night tells him that they
tght IN the morning Segmund, left alone by the
fire. bcwaiing his dcfcusclcs condition, when sfg
liudc who has given her husband sleeping
nd taIlZ Of u
the trunk II mighty ash by stranger on her wedding
day None except lie who was worthy OF It might draw
it out and Segmuud recognizes I'm the stranger bis
father, W3tan and IN the sword the weapon which had
been iromi.cd him ga the hour OF his direct need Bus
already sicg1nuud and sicglinde had felt strange
sympathy and he now, learning the secret OF her birth,
claims her as bis vielue careless, apparently, Of the
relationship already existing between them. After =
long love duet be wrcuchcs the sword from the tree AMI
siecIude falls into his the curtain hurredy
lcsccuds.
The music Of this act is one Of the most wonderful
things that has ever been given here. The Introduction
porrays q terrible storm the forest, with the vUlus
Of the wind the sching Of the trees and the rolling Of
thunder The working mp OF the whole OF the part next
succeeding this is superb Siegmunds account Of lls
mstoruues, segiude's pity soon 10 turn 10 love- the
arrival If Huudiug and the story Of Stgmunds birth,
a are marked by distinct and maryeou,ly appropriate
motives. which appear and rcauIear,uow IN the voice
parts now i'm the orchestra always emphasizing the d,a
%, 'lc words The climax OF the whole act o. course,
au1 the most beautiful part OF lt-ihe pay
ou which Wagner has Lyisn,d the greatest
wealth Of gcuWs-is the love duet between
-..-ruud and ~i,.Iudc. NirymuHVs Love Song Is a.
ready familiar Ths d, followed ny delicious response
i.u ~ir-ludc and the interest steadily Increase, from
lar. to the end. The music changing WIN tHc cii,''
tor of fHr words likr the color, ol chameleon OBJ iHe
SHAPES of th, clouds in am evening sky Is now strong
and UoI now cIH.hE ana do. e>r lo lr Iat e" gree 10
love o. .r that SNOW 20 all aFiIO1.-to % n hlr aAd
passion. u tUe Intimate wedding ,t iIr nl~i' % tAi
,.., -r,. of thp words, Al the CLOSE the Wild,
gtiusnl. passion of the music D. almost upp"IlE.
Slime. I.pIculcIE, vino sang t.r part ~ -'.-lhn'.
t.. admirable SH" lid her work with ii' l-.nct a.i
great fru ard Do altogether her best effort OFF us
STAGE so sT Her -iI-E- OF the response Co = guuhot
Love -ut- better than DO, rest. BIin i.n th
ana I-OLON, Huudlng and 81. -mUud, were -"'I Ih3
latter having am especially uyus part ~, orchestra
u.rA a.- very severely taxed, was moi .i-Nf tA''-
..U- U.crd the performance az this Wuh nHy ht I.-
counted % complete pIuWpl for Dr. DanIo-.h, mo
conductor who deserves great credit Jon SHAT Dee las
already accomplished VITA rough ANA almost dsor-
IL - h. M