New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-13


thorough musicanship and the completest and most
intimate knowledge of the character and powers
Which %Toe s I
organ. which was indicated not at ALL or
only in the most meagre way. and which Bach used
to supply himself at will had to be supplied and
transferred to the orchestra. and finally the in
creased band and host of new instruments had to
be utilized. without sacrificing In any way the
spirit OF Bachs music. to fit the work for perform
ance by largo mass OF singers and instrument
taists This difficult and delicate task Mr. Thomas
has accomplished with most signal success. Great
cantata as nG wa a pef f% % s sHo night
single effect which is not indicated in the original
score, single phrase which is not wholly charac-
terlst1c OF Bach. not single passage IN which the
pure navor OF the original is not preserved with
the most vigorous fidelity. 1t triumph of techni-
cal SKILL pure taste and entire sympathy with the
spirit of Bach's music.
Cantata and of the Choral Symphony, it Is difficult
to speak cooy or to convey any adequate sense of
ITS marvellous periectness and beauty, without
would be strictly within the mark. would
sound like exaggerated and extravagant praise.
70 those OF us who have been fortunate enough to
Cincinnati Festivals have served "a, as
nothing at all comparable to them
has been heard anywhere else, and it may convey
some idea of how good last nights concert was
when we say that il was, taken all ,o IN
Of these '' pSenomenaI " performances. The new
chorus which Mr. homas has been training for the
last four months, and which was composed OF tue
New-York Philharmonic Society and OF that
belonging to the Brooklyn Philharmonic,
which its spurs brilliantly at the second con-
cert of the BROOKLYN season, proved vertabe reye-
lation. and gave startling testimony to what Judg
meht and sound training can accomplish IN
very short time with green singers. 1t sang with
frrnness. precision and conf lcncc in itself ana
its conductor which were absolutely amazing, anu
which appeared incredible in q chorus which had
hnf IN he
attack. the Gelicacy of is shading, the sm2othness
with which the most diihcult rouades and the most
cesr ,'e' fresh, resonant quality Of the
voices. together with their excellent
balance. were absolutely satisfying and delightful
No severer test could be applied to chorus than
the intricate chOruses Of the Bach Cantata and
the difficult finale of the Ninth SYMPHONY; and no
chorus could have come more triumphanty ont of
were under Mr. Thomas's baton last night.
And admirable the work Of tie chorus was; that
are occasions on which everybody concerned IN a
concert seems to be on his mettle; when each
man. from the condue'oF down, down. seems ems
to the nobility of his art aud when lie plays. not
coldly or perfunctorily hut with his whole heart
and soul Ill the work. and gives the best that S IN
him; when the whole bInd is moved with single
ress of purpose and almost religious gal to
give some noble work an ao1Pna,c
man III the Philharmonic orchestra seemed under
the influence of sort OF exaltation and the
result was WHAT ~ awNs II WIFI 'NH .t
and its Incompatible conductor IRE at Their
very best The splendid accomplishments which
Mr. Thomas has supplied TO the Bach Caniata were
gwen with magnificent sorority, and with the vi
most completeness and deilCacy of finish, and the
Beethoven symphony received performance which
was rich, glowing sSmpatheti c and INSPIRED far he-
yond anything that we have known here before :,
The solo singers. who were Miss Iluhbrl.
Miss WInant, Mr. Fritsch and MIR. RcmincIjz
did admirably, and c"ntr ntcd their
lust share. TO the. success Of the evening.
Miss Huhbell made the greatest success. pcTha -
that was gained 10y any of them nv her thoroughly
admirable singing 0f the exquisite AR III
the cautata, "With,n My Heart But it was
no occasion tor the trivial c0mpaTs III OF the merits
OF the singers. or for the picking o. small
flaws in their vocalZ1tIon. lac same Spllt
which INSPIRED the chorus and the or
chestra possessed Them aud they laboird
worthy and sue csH'ry Tor thr pres niaii"a Il
perfect aud sy:!inctrcai ensemble. Ii Is u" ~ al
thing to Their credit. however ttit lur the ii II
time almost, III anybody's recollection, th1c vas
no hitch in the quaItcts i'll the Choral Symphony.