New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-09
TILE CLNcLNNITI FESTIEAL.

The Triennial Festival of Song in Cincin-
natl, which is TO open on the 18th Of May
will derive unusual brilliancy and interest this
year from the Inauguration of the new Music
Hail. which the generosity of private citizen,
aided by a modest subscription list and
the appropriation of land by the municipal
government has erected for the use OF
the public Mr.. Springer was wise enough
to make his great gift to the city during his
lifetime he is, consequently, honOred ~
munihcent and philosophical man, and his
money is expended according TO his instruc-
tons If he had provided for the Music
Hall by will, n suit at law would have made
him out an idiot, and the estate would have
been eaten mp by litigation. But as it
happens, Cincinnati will probably have the
grandest Music Hall on the American con-
tinent. The great organ, now nearly COM
plcted is said to rank with the five foremost
instruments of the world In point of size, and
in one particular it is certainly to be unique for
the deliberately carved case represents in its or
namented panels not only the gifts 81 the ladies
of Cincinnati but the work of their own fair
hands, which have chiseled in native woods the
leaves and flowers and tendrils of the climb
ing vines, and thus have made permanent
the women of the Ohio metropolis have en-
loved for several years strange prominence
I'm the parlOrs of Cincinnati wOod-caTyng
takes the place of crochet.
The musical exercises of the festival, under
the direction of Theodore Thomas will have
high importance, partly on account of the
large number of distinguished artists engaged
in them, partly because the programmes en-
brace some of the grandcst achievements of
both the classical and the modern schools
Handel, Beethoven, Gluck, Berlioz, List, and
Wagner are represented, each by one or more
masterpiece, and there will be an immense
variety of lesser selections, including the Dedica
ton Cantata composed FOR the occasion by Mr.
Otto Singer. But the special merit OF the Cincin-
natl Festivals is not only in the richness of
the programmes and the excellence of the
individual performers, but in the high artistic
purpose and the spirit of conscientious
endeayor which have characterized them
from the first, and which shine with more
and more brightness in the celebrations as the
wears roll on. In our land of self-satisiied
mediocrity and loud pretenson there is. UNI
fortunately, too little Of this thoroughuess and
pure enthusiasm in any art enterprise, and
where we do find it the attention of connOis-
seurs far and wide is at once aroused.
IL may seem remarkable that a new city like
Cincinnati should be the centre of such an
aesthetic movement as this Triennial Festival,
but those who have studied the character of
the Cincinnati people will find no difficulty
in accounting for it. a strong taste for art in
many forms is widely dIfluscd through that
community. Music, painting, carving, the
decorative arts, ceramics, have long been
cultivated there with distinguished ZEAL
or at least have found there discreet
and liberal patronage. Valuable art collec-
tons and libraries are by no means uncOm-
mon in the private houses and the society
which popular misconception suppOses to be
devoted to the contemplation of the death
struggles of the hog and the frauds
of the distiller, is really permeated by
the spirit of culture and refinement.
Moreover, Cincinnati is fortunate in the pos
session of a number of educated, energetic
and public-spirited citizens who arc willing to
devote large share of their time and money
to enterprises like this. and so bring to a
focus the general enthusiasm. With a sym
pathetic population, vigorous execu-
tive committee, and the magnetic leader