The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-21
An US EN- ENTs.

The Opening Of the Philharmonic season.
When old-established bodies break loose
from the letters OF convention they are apt TO
move last and far.
The recent history Of the Philharmonic Society
would seem To point the same moral. Under
their new conductor the society shows "a desire
TO outstrip the most advanced tendencies to-
ward musical innovation. and from the safe but
rather monotonous classical Is of the Fifth SYM
phoDv and works Of Its cluss has passed az one
bound to the most daring novelties Of the
music Of tho future. The full rehearsal OF this
winter series, given Yesterday ~ the Academy.
was At once an earnest ofthe new direction IN the
tendencies Of the society and q gratifying %.
portunny for realizing some, at least of the
vague surmisss which have aeitstod music i
circles IN America since tae lat M lnentuua
perform nee at BANrcutn. Inc programme fur
this hrst reheaIs oomOtised SIMPLY the hr~t
act Of the SECOND opera VA the Nibelung' fefi.s,
the "Walkure." IL t.ils the tale Of Scgniurd's
arrival at liunding's hut, hi9 en- lensc to NOR
tai combat Nv his hos tie tcco.nI,ion Of his
kinshiU with seclinde, the drawing nut Of the
rtc swuri from tho roof post, and the pas
II forms a small drama In Itself, coherent In
its parts progressive In ia action. end developed
to a MAGNIFICENT climax. IN which some Of the
most efficient elements OF musical and dramatic
composition hnd ample exnfessiuD. nat II IL
In It's dramatic features entirely fresh and novel
to our conventional views 81 opera, will be no
news to these who h We Informed themselves In
afv measure aSout the theme ana story OF the
new tetralogy OF chorus there is none. u
action, technically 80 called, very little, anu the
whole interest Ia found In the development 81
the characters and lations 81 the turec heroic
pefsonHRes 80 strangely brought together.
ANYTHING Ike extended comment. interest OF
the story. or Its dramatic DEVELOPMENT, must
necessarily De lett for other occasions. In re-
sard TO the music simply Us such. II Is probable
that thess rehoarsals and subsequent concert
will be he prelude 20 musical discussion. OF
which we have already mad some premonitions
In he l-tters and CRITICISMS sent over from Bay
reutn by correspondents and amateurs tins
summer
with much OF the controversy our readers
NAV we'll De familiar. The result ~ the prosebt
performance vii Le to set In clearer light the
~iie adv nce-whether for good or il-whch
the compose = methods have made Detw zen
the period Of such works as "Tannhauser'' aud
the Flying Dutchman,' and his last and com
pleted m masterpiece. " ithout entering upon tho
vexed question Of Wigner's theories of operate
compost ion OF his merits In this specific work,
let II sudles nov to say, nat tue gen raj opera
or concert auditor. even with the training OF
Mr.. Ihomaas recent programmes, will md
in II little OF nothing OF what he Is accus-
tome 20 REGARD as music. Distinct melody.
choral effects, constituent or symmetrical de-
velounent of ea,iiy dtstingui- hou themes. even
the baian and contrast Of phrase and rhy hun
to which the older masters have hccustomed Va,
are sing uIaTlv abseut. Ia tbeir stead We have
the most cunning and infinite variety Of modu
l.tion, aud tue most gorgeous richness ana color
OF orunestfation Informed throughout with the
intent to bring the musical expression INTO po-
etic corr-spOnd eDce with tue shifting shades Of
the feeling, aud sometimes rising 70 pi1ch Of
uonM melody, though never the same thing as
We are used TO recognize under that title.
How enjoyable II NAV he under nttinl circum-
stauc "a II might be hard to say. for Wdenets
very cenN ! idea IA Inconsistent with such rep
resentation as that OF yesterday lie desires to
blend Intimately with his music. scene. story.
situation, aud dialogue. that without them the
music ID hardly intelliaiole or effective. The
auditor has only to listen, simply and without
text or score, TO q portion OF the act, aud then
hear the rest with these aids, to appreciate AZ
once how ompletev Wagner has made ms
.llfanN NnA a
drama, how inextriciblv he mas interviewer II
with the organic texture OF tue artistic whole.
In the rsnears i Of yes erday Madame Pappen-
helm a. St,Ntritis, Mr. Renmerz = HuhaitnD,
and Mr.. Bsonon as Siegniuld. did effective
WORK though both Niue Pdppenhcim and Mr.
Bischof how faults Of method which prevent
their realizing the full idea Of these almost CO.
lossal Characters.
The new leader. DR.. Damrosch. will Gle rly
not illustrate the story of King Log. lilo take.
his ofice IN earnest, and the fret rehearsal was
scene u patient and persistent drill winch,
however Involvement to the luomentnry selhsil-
ness Of the auditor, cannnt but bear fruit AT
this and all later concerts of the society.