New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-13
THE PHILHARMONIC CONCERT


Society achieved at It's last concert has evidently
served to greatly increase the interest of the public
in Its work. This was shown clearly enough at the
rehearsal OH Friday afternoon and it again APP
parent at the concert last evening, when an audi
ence assembled in the Academy Of Music which, IN
spite of the bad weather, rivaed the best of the
season. This was the programme:
Overture e Soalers DSmetrius op TO- RheinberseE
w. . sir69 Orchestra '"'"'
Concerto Minor o. o.; So; schumann
Fantasia Romeo Juliet Op. INSTRUMENTATION.
Symphony No g. PastOrale Op Beethoven
IL was no easy task to select programme for this
concert. The effect of the superb performance of
last month overwhelming that it seemed inn
possible that any programme which followed it
should not seem tame and undressing 1t was
useless to try to surpass it. Two more such works
as the Bach Cantsta and the Choral Symphony could
not be found: rand if they had been, there time
for their preparation. But one thing possible
to select programme so entirely the opposite of
last months and in such striking contrast to it,
that no one should any more think of comparing
them than of comparing the placid beauty OF
smiling country landscape with the awful majesty
Of Mont Blanc This course the directors of
the society followed. and with the happiest re-
suits. The programme which was chosen
with sound Judgment and arranged with
month ago was grandiOse and exciting and the
cert left behind it delightful sense of repose and
tranquility.
Two of the numbers. the Rheinberger Overture
and Svendsen's Romeo and Juliet Fantasia, were
entirely new to this public. The production of a
modern work of any Importance which shows no
traces of the influence of the new school of music
but is modelled strictly the forms Of half CEN
fury ago. is something of rarity in these days This
however, is precisely what RhelnbergeTs overture
Is Purely classical in FORM conservative to the last
degree in the development of it's themes and IN the
mode of employing the orchestra. Berlioz Wagner
and Liszt might never have lived at ALL for all the
effect their progressive ideas have had on it. In this
employment of a single motive which runs through
the whole work, and which recalls though it does
not resemble, the lovely motive of the "COriOlanus
overture. and in general treatment and effect,
it resembles that great overture of BeethOYen's
closely enough. The themes are graceful aud melo-
dious, the harmony is admirable, the use of the
orchestra is effective, though of the modern
devices used, and the work has certain swing
and sturdy vigor of its own. To the |
musician it is extremely interesting, as a
specimen of thoroughly sound and schol-
arly composition, but it is hardly likely !
to become very popular. With the Svendsen Fan
tasia it is different. 1t Is not programme music"
In the remotest sense. 1t would be idle to look in it
Tor musical picture of the different scenes |
IN Shakespeare tragedy. 1t IS simply |
graceful and effective bit of love music broken
here and there by the influences of the tragic ele-
ment Of the story, and containing occasional |
eminiscences-probably uncOnscious-of Berlioz's
Romeo and Juliet" symphony. 1t is
melOdious. expressive and full of tender
and somewhat melancholy sentiment. and it is we'll
though not very strikinRly scored. 1t is welcome
addition to the repertory of the Society and it
seems likely to be much better liked on further
:, The other pieces which formed the programme.
y tney were not new. at least had all the charm of
freshness. The Bach concerto was first performed
a. one OF the old Symphony Concerts at Stenway
hall 10 1873 and except for that performance IS
STlte unknown here, II consists Of two movements
aho y WAS performed by all the violins the teuOr
1 CEN ana the bassesall the strings of the Soc
baehs. with their quaint but praeefnt form tbeiT
moysoaN, sDlIaS and that restless never ceasing
terlstc. and which has sucb s,rnI A9 9s it
s ,bon one are as fresh to ms now as
fifty years ago. They never loss ,ba;n anu
ness, never grow stale unnteTesiin t. 10
a. AAlegro" OF Handel, which was giv iS0 here
the lighter and more sno rpvy show US
r. genius rn1s WITH VIII whom we most familiar in
closer sympathy with the stately oi1 LILY US ht0
great organ sngues aud OF the "Psssioenr Oh thS
s"noas, raStora symphony which brouGt The
always ono Of the most delightful Of he SCI SloSe IS
Weaes OF the lovely Gllmpses Of the country
through the trees the merry dance Of the ea,hg
the oda little thunderstorm winch has nn,hiGs
SeiIiolo 20 our ears. accustomed TO the Dig
ond strife OF passions and elements Hih
M ni nagner 1as made us familiar and with tbn
suelne OF praise for the return of fair weather.
wa M.n when Lcloses and which contains the pnres
ena highest expression of love and Sratnde 10 t
Sleator aud Of good viii TO men. " 'no
A,,,,Mi. JOseny made deep Impression nv bis |
haiaht reufer1ng OF the Renselt conceP{o A ne =
fs,,. opening concert of the season ~ ~ :
Won. ecapsed 1t, and surpassed all hiS ur no
of d. gssiormances by his superb interpretation
far ~ sssat hchgmann concerto last EVENING IL -
ouaIitie I, calculated aleu- to show the best lest I