New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-05
MUSIC-DRAMA-ART.

THE BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC soClEii l.
The BROOKLYN Philharmonic Society opens the
season with especial ceremonies In commemorate"
of its twenty-ti fifth anniversary The stage OF tne
Academy was handsomely decorated last night, the
orchestra was raised TO the imposing strength OF
100 pieces and the crowded audience seemed to be
thoroughly in harmony with the fostal moou oi 'ne
occasion. On the back OF the programme
was printed fac-simile of the first Dill Oh the
society presented by Theodore Eis!cld IN Novem-
Der 1857; and those who are interested in watch
ing the advance of culture among our people must
have been struck by the contrast between the two
pages here brought together. AT the first concert
of the society II was thought necessary TO relieve
Beethoven's "Eroica" with conet solos. Last
night we listened to the following symmetrical and
beautiful programme;
Overture. IOdoiska". ..................C hcTubni
Aria, Mia speranzo Adorata.' Mozart
Miss Thursby. ,,.,.o,
fastoial symphony; ;-.-..--........'-'' ct
Miss Tlursby. w.,
Selection from " Parsiial," Act Ili...... wagner
Introduction and finale, "Irlstan uhI 49,
Isolde -..''-'- ""9'
The characteristic of this concert can be eXpresSe"
in one word, and only One-beauty lheouoEo
Thomass adroitness in arranging programmes Is "n
old story but we have seen few more striKihg
Illustrations of it than this, where wide variety OF
able harmony of spirit Every piece there was DIS
tinguished by grace of form, sensuous charm OF
color, loneliness of expression, and (excep' the
Tristan y serenity Of temper. 1t was music
in what is its happiest rather than Its
grandest phase, namely, the realization OF
the purely beautiful. Everybody knows
how perfectly this function of the art is fui-
filed in the Pastoral Symphony; and IL is enough
to say that the sentiment of the other numbers was
in accord with this from the suave dignity of Cher
ubnis mastery overture to the flowing movement
of LISTS poetical song and the outbreak of melody
with which Wagner has interrupted the
solemn strains of "Parsifal." The deep
er intensity of passion i'll Tristan una
Isolde" gave us just enough contrast to complete
the effect.
The Parsfal " selection, rs we remarked the
other day. is one OF the instances in which
Wagner makes elaborate use of clear mclodIc FORMS
The declamatory diologue between PdrsUdl and
Gmnendps explains the phenomenal bright
ness and beauty of nature on Good
Friday morn, when all iDanimate things smile
and give thanks to God for the salvation OF the
world and in the meantime the orchestra develops
that picturesque passage to which has been gwen
the name of The FloweTy Meadow. The tenor and
baritone solos were sung By Mr.. Wcrrenrath and
the new German artist, Mr. Host-Hansen, from
whose fine voice our audiences may expect
much pleasure; but it is in the
instrumental rather than the vocal parts
that we are to look for the value and meaning
of the music. Here Wagner has given n most eX-
ouisi.e Interpretation Of n charming fancy, with
great breadth of expression and richness of tone
The phrases are unusually fluent and clear. The
harmonic devices are fresh and striking The
combinations of Instruments in which he is always
bold and ingenious arc sngularly, happy, resulting
in variety, softness, deicacy and glow OF color
which often seem quite new. The strong feeling
which vtaizes these beautiful pages Is indicated to
some extent by the directions prOfusely scattered
over them; they are not only numerous bnt they
are sometimes minute to the point of oddity. Yet
the Interpretation must depend, after all. upon
the intelligence and sentiment ofthe performers IT
was the glory of last nights that the con-
ceplion was what Wagner would have called so
clairvovant-that the finest as we'll rs the strong |
est shades Of emotion were perfectly produced, |
that the conductor ptOent and the orchestra
so sympathetic. with expression, with ex-
preston" is the exhOrtaton which the com
poser writes all over his score; and most
admirably was the injunction obeyad in perform
ance where every phrase had rs just accent and en-
phasis every instrument it, due prominence and |
balance. The purity of tone, resulting quite as |
much from the method of che conduct III TebcaTs-
ing as from the ability of the individual players;
the reading 1t seemed to us that the superiority |
of this orchestra, both cOlOring aud express |
sion shOne most clearly in the shor. and serious |
passage which precedes the melody of The ilowery |
Meadow, and employs the Faith Motive, etc; the |
scoring here is so light and open that lmpcIlectons
would have been magnihed into great b,cmlshes. |
But after all. when the whole good II is |
difficult single out particular portions for espe-
cial praise.
We have heard many fine performances Of the |
Pastoral symphony bur we remember none 50 Gle |
CANT and spirited that of last |
night; tine Storm not only a |
superb exhibition OF the quality AMI training OF |
this noble band but it afforded very remarkable |
illustration of the conductors power of command. |
One felt that a leader who could manage thai pass
age as Thomas DID, couid DO whatever he leascd |
the evening we had a still more |
impressive proof Of his mastery in tie " Tristan |
selection which brought the concern TO close with |
one OF the nandest pieces % orchestral PLAYING II |
was ever our good fortune TO listen 90.
Mis- huTsby received witt great cOrdiality. !
and gave her beautiful songs 80 sWeety hat she |
was recalled many times al,cr eaclf Of them.