The New York herald., 1877-11-29
AMUSEM ENTS.

srE1NwAY HAIL-THEoDoIE THOMAS. CoNG1]EFTRyT.
Stenway Hall has rarely becn filed with an audi,
encc numerous, critical fashionable thap AAat
which yesterday afternoon attended the second public
rehearsal in the present scrios Of symphony cpncerts
given by Theodore Thomas. Few orchestral leaders
have we'll succeeded in adapting themselves to the
refined tastes oi the musical element OF our com.
munity, and better than this impressaro undor-
stand the art OF selecting and interpreting those
classical programmes which educate and raino the
popular musical sentiment 1t Is TO Thomas and. to
Damrosch that indebted for knowledge OF the
nner artistic Ito OF the great masters, their Dreams
inspirations rhopsodies and intellectual fcrvor.
They have made prosaic and practical people
familiar with tho poetry Of sound, and, aided by
modern improvements In Instrumentation, given TO
US OF the present generation rich and rare
effects At which even the masters themselves would,
had they the opportunity, express admiration. Our
masses have been ndoctrnated with higher and nober
musical ASPIRATIONS aud even the street organs IN
measure represent tho nicer and nobcr taste gon-
Grated AMI disseminated by the performance OF these
The programme yesterday consisted first OF Mozart's
symphony IN Nat composed as far back as 1888, ut
a time when Mozart was ut tho height OF his social
popularity and therefore supposed TO illustrate tho
rs also nolable as having been the occasion Of tho
successful debut oil tho clarinet as u avorite among
the wind portion Of o the orchestra !. opens ms
allegro with graceful theme. after
winch comes rich, warm undan.c effect and finale
talicgro) that exhibits tho frepressble spirit and br
fancy OF this mos, genial OF composers.
Tue next important feature OF tho matinee was the
rendition oil Schumann's symphony in d minor-in-
PRODUCTION, allegro, romance, schorzo ana finale.
Without study ana careful analysis tho listener
apt TO be impressed with the grand effects
which undere the subject, but familiarity develops
a latent power aud beauty in It's treatment, brings
out hidden gems and EXHIBITS breadth aud dignity,
combined with exquisite incubation. Schumann is
always expressive, aud though at timcz he may
harsh there is always compensation for his rough
ness the tenderness with which he shades hts
turcs and, like true artist, makes appreciate
beauty by contrast
Thomas Orchestra yesterday performed these SYM
phonies in that left little occasion, except
/! 10 the most critical observer 10 make complaint.
Both wind and strng instruments, under the dcft
leadership of the mastcr, to them their fullest
meaning. Another feature 0f the afternoon the
appearance vi Miss Mathildo Wilde, soprano, who
sang the scene aud aria t"Aiceste" Act l. bv
Giuck, and sccac and aria from Beetho-
ycn's "Fidelio.n In neither OF thcso seiec-
mcnts OF The fully accomplished artist There is a
lack Of sympahy III her voice and an absence OF mag
netism. she EXHIBITS foir mechanical execution, but
only an ordinary tone. There scores OF
whose natural advantages would enable them to do
well II not better She sang conscicntiousiy, now
over and tue extent OF her ability observes praise
for her cxcrtions. The regular symphony concert
will take place on SATURDAY evening, December ].