, 1879-02-09
MUSIC.


THE LEADING EVENT OF THE WEEK
has been the appearance OF the remarkable
| Hungarian violinsr, Rcmenyi lie has played
in three concerts with his own Combination, and
also in the second OF the series Of Mr.. Pratt's
symphony concerts, and has met with the great
est popular success ever achieved By violinist
upon our concert stage, not as measured By the
legitimate standard OF artistic greatness, but
because his style, in its fervor, abandon, eccen-
tricity, and warmth appeals to people more
quickly than the higher forms of art. We have
already gone somewhat into the details OF his
playing, and have Instituted comparison be-
Tween him and his great predecessor, Wilhclmj,
whose yrilc, stalwart style is in striking con-
trasr with the smaller, more brilliant, and more
fascinating style OF the Hungarian. In this in
stance, a comparison is not at all odious as both
players are great genuses in different directions,
and while We are sure that Wilhelmj's art Is the
grandcr and more enduring Of the two, this
need not debar us from according to Remcnyi q
wonderful power Of playing upon human emo
tions and Of exercising fascination and wizard
like spell which not the effects Of the colder,
purcr, more severe, anu more majestic art Of the
other.
In the Pratt symphony concert au opuortuni-
t. was given Of hearing him with orchestra in
o.
A1r. Quicken having the baton, and welding it
with a composure thdt shows how easy it is
| when you know how. In the slow movement he
played with unusual quictuess, and apparently
| with no intention to do more than to bring out
| the simple beauty Of the score,
and this he did with remarkable
sympathy, and yet without exas-
geration Of the sentiment. His grace and ele-
gauce OF style suited the music. The Rondo,
however, more clearly brought out his quality,
ard was giyen with dash and brilliancy that
| S1endclssohn himself hardly contemplated. In
the latter part of the programme he played a
';Romancc,' written for him BY Quicken, which
was calculated to display not only his sympathy
| and his well-balanced execution, but also his
| marvellous delicacy; and q waltz OF his own,
with peculiarly taking theme, and every char
actcristic ornamentation.
1t was not ar. Fratt's fault, perhaps, that the
rest OF the programme was somewhat in the
shadow Of the violinist, but such WIS the case.
aud the result wns that after one symphony, a
| long movement from second, two concertos,
OF. tle aPreludes." perbans m tIu'-oaI;5 thcv i1;5
not want the Impressions of Remenyi
disturbed; If so, then they were
HAsC ~ OCtIt1uE IElIcILs lOf Inc performance
| the Preludcs was noise ct preterea u:hV, The
| best work BY the orchestra was in tile two
| movements of the " Unfinished Symphony u of
Schubert, and Glr- Pratt conducted it with intel
llscnce ana spirit, bat even In this work the hal-
| ance was niarrcd By the blarc nnd mere noise OF
tue brass. 70 l certain extent the same was
| true OF the Andantc from the Symphony in c OF
| Schubert, in which the long drawn-out themes
depend largely upon the strings for their color
ing. Miss Amy Fay. lady or rare musical
culture and Intelligence. contributed to the pro-
! gramme the Hat major Concerto of Beethoven,
tic first time, ii We remember rightly. that it.
has been given entire III this city. Although
| sue haa to contend with dull and prosy accom-
| pan1menf, iu which the orchestra seemed to get
| no tone, and an uneven instrument, she tplay ed
the work With a large degree OF skill, and in
manner Inat was very scholarly. 1t will be good
news to our musical circles that Miss Fay con-
templates coming to this city to reside Both
she Will bc warmly welcomed. The remaining
nnmbcrs OF the programme were songs, whicn