New-York tribune., 1878-04-15
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
SIXTH SYMPHONY CONCERT.

Theodore Thomas finished his season of
symphony concerts his custom is, with an imposing
programme and specially brilliant performance so
that the series Of entertainments upon which our true
conDoisseurs always look with the deepest interest
wound up in blaze Of glory. The selections on satur-
day evening were the following;
Overture tn Sg6s Dream WeSap
PlanofOre concerto, No fat Li'z
IIGaucuOn F8n Tristan und Wagner
Vocal part By Mrs. osgood. r..,-.u
Symphony In G minor No. beethoven
This was strange bill, but it artfuly arranged
and the effect was happy The wide chasm from Men
delssohn to List and Wagner was comfortably
brdged by the music OF Weber The midsummer
Nights Dream" overture played with wonderful
spirit and spendor, with q dashing elegance and
a fine sympathy; and a. for the peaceful finale
of this work, calm in its beauty so fascinating
in its sudden contrast OF sentiment IL to us that
have heard it adequately interpreted except
by the Thomas orchestra. How exqustely In harmony
with these fairy the romantic strains OF
the cavatna from "EuIymthe," GlGckein i'm Thale"
Here pure poetry. Here is melody that is full OF eo
QUencc and fancy that swaycd by true feeling Here Is
a song that sung only by the human voice but by
the whole of voices which nobody better than
Weber knew how find in the moving tones Of the or
chesra. II Mrs OsgOod had charmed us by nothing
else should her applause and thanks at least for
her choice of such gem as this wherewth make her
it tests the feeling of the singer offers chance for
display, and hardly provokes the applause Of the I'M
thinking majority. Yet Mrs. Osgood has her reward in
what SO honest an artist must value most the ap
probation Of competent Judges she showed the
sion of fresh and beautiful voice, trained in good
schools a voice not OF great power, but Of somewhat
penetrating quality in color than the character
stic American soprano, sweet even and sympathetic.
singer SO wel endowed, and ut the same time so sim
pie so perfectly poised, filed with the sentiment OF
her song is a rare delight. Mr.. Pnner played the List
concerto with briancy and spirit as before and was
twice recalled with every demonstration OF enthusiasm.
II is no derogaon ms merit 10 say that the success
of the performance was attributable in large measure 10
the pheuOmenally fne orchestral accompaniment
the Introduction and Finale from " Tristan und
Isolde are well known by the frequenters of the Thomas
concerts but the rendering on Saturday evening sur
passed all our previous experiences. The fmae If he
death song of Isolde over the Of her lover and
the vocal part was gwen this occasion by Mrs Os-
good She delivered the pathetic lament with true ieei
ing as If she saug right out OF her heart 1t mas beei
Objected that voice not heavy enough to cope Win
fbs tremendous orchestra which sWcls IN ths great
climax Of passion That would be fair criticism II lhe
,uusc were an ordinary operate with accom-
panuen Of dddes and horns The voce does not always
succeed IN asserting itself the Instruments But
Wagner dd not mean that should The orchestral part
here is important than the song II Il Ike the
orchestral part in the fnate OF the GOtcrddmmcrunc
a reniniscenCe at times almost Synopsis OF great
scenes that gone before and emotions mat have
been the springs Of IN the drama. The memory
Of love the agony OF DEATH the submc hope aud aspl
ration for reunion beyond the grave. are mingled IN
this symptom wherein It IS the mulutudnous voice OF
the band aud the cry OF ISode, that controls the
expression. q,
The majestic and fiery performance OF Beetovens
minor symphony 10 close Tor CunCcrt Wihth Lul
been steadily rising higher IN sentiment THIS j. one o
the symphonies which gam most by heavy mass oI
strings and Thomas Had baud OF elght'Ee on Satuf-
day night The effect OF The famous passage IoI the
bass strings was tremendous.
The audience WAS unusually large ana enthusiastic,
and Thomas called cut after tue symphony