New-York tribune., 1876-10-14
USTC.
THE THOMAS ORCHESTRA.

The career of MendclsSOhn forms one of the
most interesting phenomena of musical history He
not like Mozart. infant prodigy. While he was n
clever boy did not show very early extra
ordinary precOcty. Yet IN some respects he was II
not abnormally precOcious, at least destined 20
obtain his fullest development while most COM
poscrs arc vet forming their styles. He' never
surpassed his "Midsummer Nights Dream" "
music in the sphere Of orchestral composition'
ana yet this composed when lie was scarce 20
No material advance on this was made in his
later works for OTcbcstathc characteristics ana
modes Of treatment always visible, sometimes
almost disareeaby reiterated and II is this which makes
lis music often tcsome Ills personal history is not less
extraordinary. Before his first visit to England he WAS
cons lcred in Germany clever young mposcr but not
a great gcnus-anytbing but the destined successor Ol
Beethoven On bis arrival in London, how
ever. lie became the rage to most eXtraor-
binary degree. Whether conductor, composer or VIZ
tuoso Nnd he played both piano AMI orsan), he was
considered without equal and was predicted that
he would excel the works Of hc grca, master OF the sym
phony In fact, ne became the idol OF the English pub
lic and this public which ia so faithful To lis iaNoftes
still regards him almost he vas regarded thliy years
ago in this country he has bcru too, great hNoie lie
is known chiefly through lis untorios, the Eiia" and
ST. Paul" the works of h.s Upcr years. and by ms
..s songs without words" which have formed, IN some
measure the study Of almost every boadnsschool Miss
in the country
But however popular his works may bt, whole even
ing of them becomes little tires There is always
the same scnsuousnes. the same lack of deep sentiment
the same delicacy Of treatment In fact, MtndclSso
tho viruoso s always conspicuous IN MendclSsohn the
composcr-hc wrote he must have played His nature
docs not seem TO have been very serious onc-hc al
ways bright and graceful, bit very rarely deep.
The programme which Mr. Thomas interpreted last
night had been very carefully prepared, win Inc cN
dcnt intention OF showing many sides OF Men
delssohns musical nature might be IN one concert
The Scotch symphony, which was the opening piece
is a very fair sample OF his orchestral work
II s very finished composition, with the rcquisit"
lights and shades. The themes are delicate, al
mo, airy, as a rule, but there is throughout
very little real passion feeling pcicc?tGe, even III the
Adado IL played To charm Most OF the Work ls
for the string and reed Instruments and the strength o
the Thomas orchestra III these particulars is pgoycral
II is enough TO say that the orchestra was at ITS best
Pretty much the slme criticism might be made oi th'
G Minor Concerto. which given by Mr.. :. B. NJ Is
lie PLAYED the work carefully. consclchtiuuS!' s"he
tunes very bnholtly and as Mr. Thomas Kept the
orchestra thoroughly up to s work. was op The whole
a very satisfactory rendering. Miss Beebo sang the
Infelice" IN excellent taste, though her pcrioi-
nance was sometimes llrrcd by excessive use 81 the
portamento. Miss Drdsih sang " The Voices OF 1oth'
and with Miss Bcebe the duet would that my love-
Both ladies gained warm cnc0rcs The MldShlnmer
Npt's Dream overture which closed the performance
might be received typical Of Mcndess0hns orchestral
work for IL shows all his characteristic faults and merits
II was admirably gwen. Mr. Jacobsohn, who is one OF
the worry best OF our resident yioui,ts gave scholarly
and tasteful rn cIng OF the first movement OF the violin
Concerto
At the matinee to-day, Miss Drasdil and Mr. Mills are
TO be the ,ioss and each viii be heard in Of the
best nu4 Icls Of respective rcpcrtorcs The or
chesra Will play the "Fiugal', Cave" overture. by hen
delssoln the audantc cantabir OF Beethoven, Saint
Sarus's Phaetou," the ObcrOn" overture Bocchcnns
"scicnnc," and the familiar and popular selections
from Lohengrin." The programme is a most attractive