New-York tribune., 1882-03-12
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.
The programme of the fifth concert of the Phil
harmonic Society, at the Academy OF Music last
night, was remarkable one. II had only three
numbers but one of them was of colossal proper
tions-such, indeed as are only possible to society
with practically unlimited resources and Wiling
ness 20 employ them freely TO a worthy end. Ihis
was the scheme.
Overture -"Genoveya,".. ..ScDuhahh
Selections rom . The RhInegod," .....;W Wagner
Rhine between the RhinedGsghteris Es nsslni1g ana
scene H. before walhala-
SYMPHONY No ), C minor, op. 67...... Beethoven
The orchestra was increased to l25 men, and for
ihe performance of the vocal parts of the Wagner
music the assistance was had of Miss Hattie Schell
Miss Amalia Wunnb Miss Antonia Henne
Theodore J. Toedt, Oscar Steins and
Franz Remmcrtz. The stage was crowded
with formidable array of musicians
and under the firm guidance of Mr.. Thomas they
achieved a memorable success.
The interest was centred, naturally, upon the
selections from the prologue to the Nbung drama
which was a novelty in the connected manner in
which II was given.
The fragments had TO close dramatic relationship
the action leaping from the opening in which
AlbeicA accompshcs the rape of the magic gold,
10 the scene i'm which LOge relates to UOtdH the in
cidents of his search through the world for Feids
ransom, and thence TO the creation of the
rainbow bridge reaching over the Val
ley Of the Rhine to the castle of the gods, the
mourning of the RhipeddaghtTs the loss of the
treasure they set TO guard, and the final pro-
cession of the gods the wondrous bridge The
musical relationship was closer, however,
and those familiar with the characteristic
themes of the tetralogv heard some of the leading
,,t,,lt in, thoir haa MI afnUl
eloquent FORM All of those used in the selections
that of the Rhine uDOn which the opening is built
I'D with such astonishing skill /; the melodies
of the RhuedaughterG the Rhinegod; the
ring into which it is aterward shaped :;
the theme of renuuciatiOn: and the
gorgeous Walhal subject-were given an
elementary presentation. and in consequence they
worked more directly upon the sense and fancy of
the audience and were more easily cOmprehended
than they are. rule. when they appear In later
divisions of the cycle. In the extracts from the
"Walkuere," Siegfried and die Goetter-
daemmemng" which we have heard at these con-
certs heretofore the plot has thickened. the melo
dies have become more numerous, their treat
ment necessarily complex, and they
are less often heard in their simple har-
monic aud rhythmical forms than they
were last night. Here they had the freshness
and direct righteousness of creations un-
spoiled by distortions and unhampered by the eth
iCal subtletes which grow with the drama. 1t was
evident from the rapt attention with which the mu-
sic was heard that the brilliant manner in which
Il was performed had compelled appreciation of it.
The magnitude and beauty of the tone which
came from the immense band were impressive, and
the technical perfection of the playing strengthened
the convection, to which expression has frequently
been gwen, that IN city of the world can so fine
body of instrumeutalists be found as in New-iork
The vocal parts were less effective. Mr.
Remmertz comes near the Wagner ideal
siOnaly when III good voice and last night he gave
UotdR's song to Walh lila with a broad and stately
tone that blended beautifully with the
singulaTly grand music of the wind instruments.
Mir 1oedt surpassed most of his recent efforts and
was heard TO good advantage in LOg@s recital
uhe voices of the Misses Schell, Nurmb and Hcnne
blended well and they sang with spirit and always
Correct intOnatIOu