The New York herald., 1879-10-07

Mr.. Franz Rummel
Mr. Theodore Thomas has reason to feel proud
OF his audience and the welcome 1t extended to him
last evening at his first of the season. The
house was crowded to the doors and the audience
was of quality, socially and artistically. which
would by its presence. distinguish any similar
sion an important musical event; the heartiness
of the welcome to Mr.. Thomas must have been,
therefore. most gratifying to that gentleman.
The first place on the programme was accorded to
Beethovon's Symphony, No. 9. major Top. 3Gl.
which was exquisitely rendered by the orchestra.
The composer, while he claimed for this work no
marked originality of conception. gave in it proof
of his remarkable powers of instrumen combina-
tion he endowed it with beauties varied they
brilliant and infused into it vigor that has
made it capable of eectng grand results in the hands
OF a competent orchestra. The work suffered nothing
last night in the hands OF the Philharmonic Society.
and was SO carefully and thoroughly rendered as to
make it brilliant II there any differ
ence-and it is doubtful-between the rendering Of
part of the symphony and another. the first and
last two. movements most creditably per-
formed. An air of Bach's, the melody OF which
executed by the strings in unison with superb effect
followed the symphony and was given admirably
and with such perfect finish that it redemanded
at once.
Schumanns Concerto in A minor served to in
troduce Mr. Franz Rummel who was most pleas
antly received His selection of Schumanns famous
composition Of ls4l was good test of his present
powers. The mastery proportions Of the concerto.
which is undoubtedly OF the most valuable of
Schumann's works, well suited to betray tho
faults the exsellencies of q pianist. 1t
is more than piano work; it IS symphonic.
form he conceived and based upon
q close study of masterpieces particularly
those of Beethoven The concerto played last night
by Mr.. Eummel is sugularly tree OF the arbitrary
rules adopted in Schumann earlier compositions and
it presents difficulties which require thought and
power TO conquer. Mr. Rummel played the concerto
pA a ~ N
tu Interpretation. In the earlier passages he seemed
to lack somewhat III inspiration. but later there
him to great advantage. He has improved in power
of expression and actual technique since last season.
and serious practice during the summer months is
evident in his playing His right hand seems to
lack trhe in power of force or brillancy in some
passages. but the lack Is hardly apparent.
Part second opened with Dvorak's "Slavonic
Dance Op 46, No. A. quaint composition. stately
i'll form and, perhaps characteristic OF its nation
ality. 1t was charmingly played. though it was
hardly test OF the fine powers of the members of
the philharmonic. 1t was more than creditabe, but
it was hardly OF such quality as to admit of
its accomplishment being triumph. Wagner's
'rSiegfred ldyl, which may almost be called &C.
centric in its composition, but full of harmony and
effort successfully accomplished by the orches-
ira. was thorough success as an exhibit OF the
capabilities OF the members OF the Society in that
class OF music. 1T listened to most attentively
by the audience and rewarded with applause
which was thoroughly com mplimentary but not
thusiastic
Mr.. Rummel concluded the evening with Franz
Liszt's "Fantasia on hungarian Airs" which Won
Bulow has made known to his audiences. Mr.. Bum
mel was quite successful in the selection and
to the Philharmonic Society and enjoyable to crit
cal audience.