New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-08
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
Nrw.yoRK PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

NETWORK PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.
The New-York Philharmonic Society brought
n remarkable season 20 a close on Saturday night by
remarkable concert What change has come over TINS
association within the past year NO longer uoes to
Spectacle old band beg polite consideration iof .e
langud exercises OF company that mas seen oct'er
days-worthy musicians with stlHeninG elbows ana 'ai
ing sight playing their way patheucay to forGetruess
while a steadily diminishing audience listens jim consid
crate silence and thinks Of what the philharmonic So
ciety has done The orchestra has suddenly sIo"n
young again. We look at 1t In SURPRISE anu "oh'el
these men can be the same who SAT at tAoSo
desks in the latter days of unfortunate Carl
Most of the old faces indeed there but there ne"
bloom on them eyes sparkle wrists are linber enthus
asm and ambition fire every breast. Ana the Puo'o ~
fast coming back. The audience Saturday night was
not only the best Of the season, but the best lor many
seasons.
The programme was one OF ThOmas's peculiarly hapy
conceptions. It all grand and consistent III spirit
and yet far from being selected entirely from the com
positions of one school, II represented strong contrasts
and pleased variety Of tastes.
Music GOches EgmOnt
b. song DE Tromme geruhret"
CO. No. 2. LaIghrttO.
0 a., "E symnbony o 10" Iubnstein
i. Allegro macstoso. 1. Adaslo non tanto
selections from the G0tterdammeTung Wagner
g. F FHnit. ""'"
The " Egmont music was interpreted by orchestra
Of 100 and we need hardly say that the large mass OF
the strings-seventytwo instruments playing in perfect
unity-gavc It magnificent effect The two songs were
admirably sung by Madame Pappenheim. The Ocean
symphony is doubtless a popular WORK than
Rubinstein's later dramatic" symphony, and
though it Is inferior to that great composition
in compactuess, elevation of spirit, and strong
passion. il IL noble production, abounding
in rich melody ingenuity OF construction and beauiii Il
Instrumentation, and constantly suggesting the chang
Ing charms. the rrOrs the majesty and the immensely
Of the restless and bundles Mr.. Thomas gave
with the whole six movements Just IL was given here
by Rubinscin himself in 1873. Even thus with the two
supplementary divisions added by the composer rs after
thoughts The symphony Is not 50 long as the Ora
matte" or the Brahms symphony, or tho Eroica oil
Beethoven; and played "a IL was on saturday, win
such technical perfection, and such sympathy and such
warmth OF expression, every bar OF it must have been
enjoyed.
The climax Of the concert the performance Of the
GUttprdimmcrung " selections, the arrangement oi
which mciuding the death OF siegiried the famous
Funeral March, the death OF BruuhiIe. the nstru
mental finale and certain orchestral passages necessary
TO connect the fret and second parts. was the
which Thomas had already given az one Of i, symphony
concerts ss For this music the orchestra was
sul further increased. There four flutes
three obucs, three blssoou three caIucis, English
horn. bass clarinet eight horns. four trumpcts On
Guiding the little known bass trumpet. ION. tromhpA,s
besides tuba. two pairs Of tympaui and two hlris'
altogether 100 men were employed. The sIlcndor OF
the performance was beyond al praise, and Madam"
Pappcuhcn, who delivered the long aud dhicut vocal
rlrt from memory, covered herself with distinction.
This remarkable music Is OF course not 10 be fairly
appreciated without the ard OF dI matte action and
extensive acquaintance with an the previous parts OF
the Boy rrrth Tuoey. For here, IN the closing cata-
trophc the poem. Wagner reviews the entire tragedy
ts.. L.. Iffp ggfrE MIR hV-
mystic significance. plain enough 10 those Who
recognize In the wonderful texture of this stnp'nGou-
finale the interviewer melodies that symbolic fate hero
ISM love- battle the sweet song Of tine Rhine daughters.
the gorgeous palaces ~ Walhall the natural lire,
the triumph through death and suffering An excellent
explanatory pfouamme gave translation % the vocal
text and synopsis Of the previous parts Of the drama
with this and the audience enabled 10 understand
ana enjoy The music: but Is ui grandeur and beauty
AMI ooquenco could not Dee mad-cicAr by any crplani
tiou however detailed, because II Is intended to affect
the tina gua,ion rather Though the memory than the in
fcl'tut.