The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-10
Mr. Edwin Booth as king Richard seeond'
at the Lyceum ThenIrc.

Mr.. Booth played King Richard N. at
the Lyceum Theatre last week to somewhat
diminished houses. The principal reason for
this was. doubtless the fact that THIS historical
play Ia but little known TO large portion OF the
yeople who go 10 theatres. aud that King Rich
ard III. himself is not n well known theatrical
parsonage as IL Richard Ill., for example. He
has not been advertised by stage traditions end
popular talk III even the small boys In the gal
lery recognize him as All old Acquaintance.
Notwithstanding the presum ption which such
comparative ob.cnrtN might suggest, this char
acter presents many Interesting points which
Mr.. Booth brings out effectively. Possibly the
less manly qualities Of the King are somewhat
too much emphasized but on the whole Mr..
Booth. mpersOnatiOn is well formed, consist
ent. and. though open to the charge OF being
too much in monotone, Is. within the limits
which the actor has prescribed for himself, we'll
In this play the actors engaged to help Mr.
Booth for the most part aided effectively. Mr.
Lsylck AZ J9hn y GdunL hr. Frank Pierce 40
DUKE ~ York. and Miss Clara Jennings tue
Qtlctn, deserved commendatory mention.
Tomorrow night THE Moor OF Venice " will
he played at this theatre. Mr. Booth will act
Outlo, aud Mr.. r. Robinson Id9o.
The Philharmonic tocicty's Second Concert.
The second concert OF the Philharmonic
Society, under Its new leader DIR. Damrosch.
cqualled in interest the frst one, and that was
a.
Ion has given OF late years. The intense bitter
! ness Of the night doubtless kept many away. for
the house was but scantily nlIed. The pro
rfamme consisted Of Schumaun's Second svm-
ph"ny, concerto for pisnuforte and Orchest ra
b, SAiDt-Saens. portion OF Wagner's " Goettsr-
darmerunR' and the third "Leonora" over
ture.
The schumsnn symphony has long been re-
cognized as one Of the greatest Of the works OF
that COMPOSER. The tradition regarding the
hrst movement has always been that Il was
composed in time Of sickness aud trouble, and
there are those who aver that they find In IL the
evidences 81 the composers respondent frame
Of mind. But II so, the remaining movements
certainly are clear. healthy, and beaut,flt
enough. being striking Ia their forms, original
massive, and scored with such complete mas
ters ~ counterpont a. to nut its composer at
The head OF tue musicians OF his day.
6Ihe Wagner music was also profoundly inter
e-tlns esneciilly that which illustrated the
death ~ Si,Ofncd which truly belongs to the
seventh heaven OF music. The concerto by
Snint-Saens WAS also "A most pfaiseworthy com
post ton aud most effective aud grateful piece
Tor ~ nist TO ~ y. Sdint-Saens was himself a
gre pianist and naturally, writing with special
reference TO the Instrument, subordlnated the
orchestral p1Tts, and while he Rave to the solo
1T the most varied aud beautiful themes. he
gave TO MIN also nearly oyerv diihculty that a
pi mist can be called upon 20 encounter and
overcome. The piece tiicteiore II brilliant In the
extreme. and certainly u "A great addition 10 the
! itIfftouC Of the cone ert-IOom.
Madnmc E-sipun played II ON Friday even Ing
with the lhomir orchestra az Steinwav Hall IN
Wv that excited her audience TO "A greater
| cnthu 'lasm and admiration than she had AZ any
| previous tlmc r9mmanded. 81 evening the
| piano paTt WA played ~ Mr.. j. 49, Lang, ono Of
most tarned anh reliable OF Hoston resi-
| uenl artitts. and the orcdnist Of tho
llaudei aud Hasdn Society. While he
| dtd not. perheuf. arouse the same en-
| thu-iasm that MADAME EssipoH did, he GER
| iulN prayed the concerto IN manner TO win
the hgncst estcem tor MS inlelhRenrc ard tech.
Meal excellence, gN nS 10 II Gll charming rem
| great dinitu ltirs. Ihe next concert ~ the 30.
| oie'y viii axe place ON the 18Th Of January.