New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-19
persons saw the sight through tears and went
away in equal sorrow and wonder.
THE BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY

THE BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.
Brilliant and every way successful was the
first concert for the season of the Brooklyn Phihar
monte Society, the second, which took place
last evening at the Academy of Music in that city.
rivaed it excellence and surpassed II ID interest
The audience was large the programme was admir-
able the orchestra was in perfect form. and the
new chorus Of which so much has been said, sang
with spirit precision and finish which, when II IS
considered that it has been formed only couple OF
months, were altogether surprising. The pro-
gramme was follows:
ode onst. Ceclia's Dav ~.---.. -..-..--;. Handel
fse W"SnS SC Of Il h sword word s:gf-c wagner
Mir. w. c. Tower. Mr.. Max rreumaun.
Symphonic Poem-' Orpheus.-
Ta Turks - Marc s,',". Ruins OF Arrcq,."
Ii may Justly be said that this concert marked the
beginning of a new era in the history of the Phil
harmonic Society. 1t has done a spen I'd work III
the past, and the results which 1t has accomplished
cannot be TOO highly valued. The greatest com
pos tons of the older masters have been gFeu ie-
peatcdly at these concerts. whose audiences nave
been made thoroughly familiar with the most I'M
portaut symphonic works OF the classical repe'"T''
Thanks a 50, to the energy of Mr. Thomas Ieost el
the symphonies OF contemporary composers nave
been heard ut them almost immediately after they
in many cas- 5 before they had received hearing
outside OF the cities in when they were first pro-
duced The Brooklyn pubhc. therefore, IKE
that of New York has been made faini ''aT
with many OF the symphonic works OF m''
Raft and Ruhinsteln, ard oth" modern
masters. long before they were paved ~ az J"
London. Vienna other great musical ee"'i
abroad Moreover, through the generous p'I'cV oil
the Board OF Directors nearly ali OF the great VIZ
tuosos who have VISITED Tbs country oi iai" years
have performed the concerts oi th" socieiY W so
that there has been nothing Left 10 he desired III
this respect.
But TIE formation Of permanent chorus
as an adjunct to the society, and working
together with 1t undcr the direction OF 20 COM
petent chorus trainer as Mr.. Thomas has ,lo"n
himself to De- opens the way an almost irexhausi-
IDLE field which, 80 far as tbs city and brooklyn
are conc -rned has not been explored rs al. or at
best only very incomDlctey. NJ of the great
composers have left behind hem compositions ior
Chorus and orchestra when oiteItiInes contain
much of their most characteristic ana Y'lna'e
work but are not sufficiently large 70 Suit me par
poses of such ORGANIZATIONS as toe Handel ana
HAYDN Society OF Boston, and the O atorio society
of this city, when have, exc pi 10 rare Cases.
entirely neglected them. To TINS c.ass belong
Bich's cantaas which are OF the hiRhe-'
value. and those of Handel and other German COM
posers and there Is. indeed, 30 school Wich iS h''
rich in them. These works would seem IL he
espec,alv IN the province OF such chorus as this,
and as MI Thomas has chose ;wo OF them III VIM
10 make hs choru. first heard. shall Dot be left
much longer IN ignorance OF their beauties, while
we may at the same time hone tor The performance
of WORKS of greater magnTu1e ~ which Mr..
Thomas VIII pr badly find no flculiy IA uniting
the forces of his New-YorE aid Brook choru'es.
The advantages which the Society Will reap from
the formation of this choru are great. Tor not 0i'y
Will its power for educating the public be increased
hut the general interest felt IN the Society wlil De
mucb stimulated and the programmes or the con-
certs will be made vast more varied ana attr'c-
tive through the addition of choral work.
Last nights programme WIS arranged with the
utmost tact and wisdom. HandeFs Ode o. -.
Cecl1a's Dav is one of those WORK which have the
gift OF clearing the atmosphere, as il were ana put
ting everybody IN good bumor Ii Is vigorous. -plr-
tied and prominently healthy, marked by Handles
strongest characteristics, pure and graceful melody,
rich harnones learned cOntrapuntal treatment. ana
that splendid swing, unfdgglng as the stride
of giant, which makes so many OF ms choius's
unapproachaby grand. Mr.. Thomas made one OF
two cuts. but they were not of any moment. and al
the important numbers were retained, save one
soprano solo Miss Beebe, who had the soprano
pnrt did IL in a most praiseworthy way. she sang
her airs in a smooth graceful and iiuIshed style.
with inst expression and perfect dignity
and simplicity One could not have
asked for better rendering of mem. Mr.. Tower
sang the tenor air he trumpets loud canCor"
in 4 strong manly fashion, and with intelligence
and plepty of voice Schumanns Fourth symphony,
which Is one of his brightest, most melOdIous and
most genial works led up admirably to the Wagner
SELECTION which superbly z ven, Mr. Tower
singing the tenor part with quite as much energy
and power as on last Saturday. Listzs poetic
"Orpheus was delightfully."- played, and The closing
numbers. from tie Ruins of Athens" were brill
iantiv done both the cnorus and orchestra signaliy
distinguishing themselves
rhe chorus deserves the highest praise for the cx-
cellepce or It's work Where chorus has been Iii
existence only some two months, ike TINS one,
and where 1t can have had at the outside only some
e,cht or ten rehearsals no matter now great uIgnt
ha tho zeal or enthusiasm of the individual MEN,
,ers one coud not expect 10 find much firmness.
,recIsion or finish in their singing, and even me-
diocre performance last right would have been
greatly to the credit of the Brooklyn singers bat
that which the chorus gave last night was nothing
of the sort Its attack prompt and firm, the
whole body of voices coming III squareiy on the
first note. The singing was full and spirited
without being rough or bolster0us. there was
no evidence of tlmClty and the shaulhs was e4cei-
lent. Ii was performance which would have done
credit to a veteran organization, anu IL gave the
manifest promise for the fuuure. There were about
900 IN the chorus last night, and the quality OF the
voices was remarkably good and so far as could be
told from the front. of an unusually even degree
of exceIleuce The addition of few tenors
and basses would do no harm but now
that the success of the enterprise mas been assured
there will doubtless be plenty OF additions 10 THESE
,rts before long and then the chorus will be the
L,,broad To perfection. The male chorus deserves
a word of praise for Its excellent Singing oil TN.
Charms of DerVIsnes III the " kuins OF Athens