New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-23
MITSIC AND THE DRAMA.

ruvpD BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC CONCEhI
: r,hs third concert for the present season OF the
p.ooL,vu Philharmonic Society took place at tho
Academy of Music in Brooklyn last night. All the
aIaments that enter into rare mnsicai
..'o...s were there. Mr. Thomas con-
auctsd. his forces were admirable in char
.cter and large in number; the programme
vas filed with pieces which almost every taste pro-
uounced thoroughly enjoyable, and an audlehce
brilliant In appearance and enthusiastic IN appre
citation filed the house from top to bottom. ine
scheme had six numbers, beginning with the MINOR
Symphony by Mozart-that work of perennial ir'sh.
ness which Beethoven loved so well that he fescoreu
it from the pianoforte arrangement ana In "h'o,
Schubert said he could hear the angels slng-ano
ending with the first movement proper OF
Rerhoz,s Dramatic Symphony, Romeo and
Jul.et.n Between these numbers. repre-,
sentinr the perfection of the clssscai
symphonic form and of the extremes OF Its deVei
opment in modern days, were scene ana aria iioih
waba,,s onera Euryanthe" ("Wo berg ich mich y;
Waeners Zine Faust Oyerture;' three move
mants from Beethoven's lovely septet (payeG by ali
the in the band Of the seven insru-
ments and Schumann's song. Tho Two Grena-
diersn The vocal numbers were sung by Herr Georg
Hen,chel, who, In responding to most entnns'-
astio recall after the Schumann song. supplemented
Ii with the recltatlve anu 8lr lIoM o'N'"'
/" sroc.p which he has sung several times of late,
There was variety in style of composition as well as
in form In the performance bv Mr.. Thomas and his
hand there was uniformity, but it was the uniform
ity of excellence. The material or mechanical part
of the work did not wait upon the spiritual. nor the
sn,ritual upon the material: each balanced the
other and as a result the audience left the house
feeling the complete satisfaction that can only be
inspired by perfect art work.
In massng his instruments in the sepet Mr..
Thomas did one Of those audacious
things which he was perhaps the
first to introduce in this country, and which re-
ouire not only great excellence in the players, but
also high degree of confidence on the part OF the
conductor. The effect is certainly admirable
when the men play together with the unity and
smoothness that characterized last nights perform
anoe the sonorousness of tone which comes from
uniting all the strings to add dignity
and beauty to the composition. Mr.. Henscheps
singing was as good as the best with which
he has enriched the present season,
and so often has he been praised
for his musciany style. excellent method and sound
understanding that this statement will suffice to
describe his singing last night.
A cap,tal conclusion to the concert, and one well
calculated to serd everybody home liGht-hearted
and Joyous was the Berlioz selection. 1t was more
than was suggested by the title. Ball Scene"
printed on the programme. 1t is, in the dramatic
symphony. tho first scene after the prologue,
which sketches the action of the entire
drama It pictures Romeo aOne at first,
and then the merrymaking in the house
of Capulet The whole design of the
piece is very picturesque and dramatic. There is
in the beginning an infinite sadness, great yearn
ing, the eventual drowning of which is
predicted ct intervals in faint sounds
Of revelry that come from within the house, dis
jointed phrase. here and there, of the ball music,
and o momentary tinkling of the tambourne.
Gradually these sounds increase until they
develop the full swing of the dance movement.
Hero In this selection, the music ends; in the
symphony however. it ushers in the vocal
number in which the effect of the departure of the
jewellers Is realistically presented by two bodies of
singers behind the scenes.