New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-27
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
PARADISE AND THE PERI.


The Oratorio Society brought out Schu-
mann's Paradise and the Peri" last night at steinway
Hall before crowded house 1t creditable finish
FOR a OF valuable and artistic work The compost
ton complete FORM though not an absolute novelty
in NewYork or it was performed here nearl 80 years
ago. to schumanns great delight, is nearly unknown by
the present generation of amateurs and its difficulties
are serious that it is not likely TO become favor
ito with choral societies. however much 1t may be reshed
by the cultivated public. II is not strictly canata;
agrees with standard form OF composition; IN writing
the author gave loose rein To his poetic feeling both ia
tho structure OF the work whole and In the expires o
Of the musical thought There is eeaseless flow of ex
quiste melody taking the shape OF narrative nov
Of song, aroso, never appearing as formal aria
tho conventional pattern, never dry relative II 10
poem in music, rich In variety brilliant in COLOR
delicate in feeling. the OF Moore which is tn
basis OF the teyt Tho solo parts all charming ana
that OF the Peri especially soprano Is well worth the
study OF the nobest artists. The choruses display
astonshngly fertile Imagination diversified they
in many beautiful ways aud combined with solos.
quartets, and semi-choruses; and the orchestra
part which is not accompaniment but belongs to thu
essence OF the poem in the highest degree expressive
and imposing. Dramatically the work 10 not perfect
because tho action of the text hats In the third part
but adaptation OF the music to the is every
striking and the last two three numbers lead
up ingeniously to fine climax in the finale.
The chorus uLder Dr. Dam "oschs lead gave it's share
of the performance with rrcproachable spirit and In
general with great correctness. The orchestra Theo
dore Thomass and need hardly say that it proved
competent To its important task. The solos given
TO Miss Ida Hubbell, soprano. Miss Annetta
wentz mezzo-soprano, Mlss Antonio Hennc,
tralto, Mr.. George Simpson, tenor, and Mr.. Franz
Remmertz, baritone Miss Hubbe is q novice IN the
concertroom. She has strong. agreeable and sympa-
thetc voice, keen musical and poetic INTEL, gonce, and
apparently artistic feeling and ambition and with
these gifts she hardly fail to win high position.
All her work last night not equally well done in
deed in two numbers it opcn considerable
criticism; but every allowance must be made for q
young lady who appears for the first time in part
which would tax the most accomplished singer living
for schumann's treatment Of tho soprano voice in this
composition is almost cruel Her first air, How blest
seem to me-" was delightfully."- sung She admirable
also n the famous solo with chorus Slcep in visions
of odor, Oh rest" and in that other beautiful number.
Let this be thy gift Miss Wentz did usce to tho solo
for The Maiden In tho second part and 20 the few
cered pieces which fell to her share Miss Hcnnc sang
unusually well all through the evening and Ns Rem
merz good he almost always is. The tenor part
lies rather low for Mr. simpson, and he made
queny great variety OF changes in the text that Ii
often doubtful whether lac singing Sclmoasn's
music his own.