New-York tribune., 1876-10-26
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE THOMAs CONCERTS.

IHE IfOMAS OONCIsAlH'
The Musical Festival at Bayreuth, and the
producton there Of the Ring OF the NibcungS' has
thoroughly aroused the interest Of the public IN "the
music OF the future" 40 that last evening Mr. Thomas
who had devoted his programme TO Wagner was greeted
BY an unusually large and attentive audience 1t would
have been almost impossible 10 have given Withn the
narrow limits OF a single concert series OF selections
better calculated to show the latest development Oi
Wsgners genius OF to have made more icicitous ar
ranzcment Of them. Every number was of the
greatest beauty. aud there was not single
dull moment during the whole evening. The
exquisite Introduction and Finale to tristan
and Isolde" opened the programme. These are so
familiar here that is scarcely worth while TO say any
thing OF the music itself But better rendering ono
more full Of poetry and Of the deepest sentiment has
never been gwen Us. Mr. Thomas's own spirit seemed
here a indeed H did throughout the evening TO pervade
every member OF the orchestra, and the playing was
superb The rest OF the programme, with one exception
consisted OF selections from The Ring oft NheunSs
and first from The Walkre." These consisted Oi the
Introduction TO the first act and Segmunds Love song
sung by Mr.. Bischof This latter was capiiaiiy gwen
and was so warmly received that Mr.. Bschoh was
Obliged to repeat it, IN spite Of the great demands
which were made his voice later In the evening
From the third act given :" The Rido Of the
Walkyries," Wotan's Farewell" and the " Fire In
cantation Scene" the vocal part being 1y Mr. Rem
merit Here again orchestra and singer were at their
best and all three numbers goriouSly rendered
The second part contained one excerpt from the first
act OF "siegried," which is entirely new II II from
that part OF the opera where segfred forgcs himself
sword out the pieces Of his father Siegmunds sword
shattered against the spear Of WOtan The god had said
"Only he who has never known fear SHAH weld Nothing
anew" and all the art Of Mime the dwarf bad failed to
mend IT, sieglred takes the sword and whle heating
and welding together the broken pieces, sngs the go-
GUS song the "Schwcrtled" which was given here Tor
limo. fTtT ri
any ADEQUATE idea of this music. 1t is rich, brilliant
dashing thoroughly harmony with the bold and fear
less character the YOlsung with magnificent orches-
tral accompaniment and 1t Lifts the hearcr ny and car
ries him away with resstless power IL IS easy 10
imagine what the effect must be when IT IL
given with all the adiuncts OF scenery ana act
ing and 10 understand tine enthusiasm which IL pro
duced at Bsyrcuth II Is fitting climax to scene
which has been described as one OF the most extraor
dinary creations Of Wagners genius. The instrumental
part full OF brilliant and original effects, one OF the
most curious OF which is strkingy realistic imitation
Of the cracking Of sparks produced by tapping the
yiOliDs with the wood OF the bow.
1t may be doubted whether we have any tenor able
10 give the song with full effect Mr. Blschon'
whose voice had already been severely tasked
in siegmund's "lOve Song" was not equal to
it last night. He sang with spirit and energy ana
very cOnscientiousy but at times he was quite maud
ibe IL should be remembered however. that at Bay
reuth the orchestra WAS down In the mystic Gulf"
which considerably dampened the sound, ana this ar
rangement was OF course impractcablc in Stcinway
Hall But the rendering was as whole. surprisingly
good and extremely interesting
The Kaiser March ended the concert which it-
ting close Of the most remarkable series OF con
ever heard IN Indeed doubt II three
such concerts as those OF the scandinavian the
Beethoven, aud the Wagner Nights have ever before
Been given in q single week by the same orchestra.