New-York tribune., 1882-03-05
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
me SYMPTOM sOCIETY.


There were fewer people than usual at the concert
of the symphony Society at Steinway Hall last
night but no want either of appreciation attention
OF enthusiasm 1t was the fifth concert Of the iouEth
season, and the programme was as follows
Prelude and finale Tristan und Isolde Wagner SI'
AH'"Funeondospir9i J. Nento, too Ii't1c T@h
Overture. "sakuntaa "...... .........--.'.' ''"'"
rv,, so,c. 6" Ich Grore Nicht. ,,,r,rr scbumann
Two songs Du Rns an MeinGm ,iI,, Finger }
symphony No. g. Ero.ca Beethoven
Til, scheme offered only one nov'ity-the Handel
oir--s,,I IL fell short Of the customary symphony
,o,c.rt standard in the Schumauu songs, with
nianoforte accompaniment, but il was, neverthe-
less interesting and enjoyable, because OF the uni
form excellence of the orcheStras work and the
spirited and poetica reading given to the principal
pieces The two selections from Wagner have been
familiar to our concert rooms for years. and are
nearly all that we have been permitted 10 hear OF
what is by some considered the greatest of Wagner
operas Wonderful pieces of music tney are, epio-
rnizinp i'm Wagner's way the psychological contents
Of the famous old British legend 70 which MI
Swinburne has recent devoted the nerce gladnesS
Of hi, inspiration. The distinction between a nat
ural love and one that resulted from phllre as
differentiated by Wagner in this music has long oc-
cupcd the mind, Of German critic, of the new
school and viii probably t0rna part IN the discus
sion which can be expected TO follow the carly
production of the opera in London; forunatelr,
however ANALYSIS of this sort Is no more
necessary to the enjoyment Of this music
than II is to the appreciation of the
heroic sorrow of the music winch follows the
death of >ej4frjed in " Die GotterIammcrng" 1t
is beautiful music independent of any verbal COM
meutary pulsluug with passion, and sluguIariy
fascinating i'm the cloquence o! its ideas and the
bulancy Of its expression. 1t would be difficult to
raise an objection Iainst the Interpretation which
il received last night The same might he said of
the performance Of GOdmarl's Overture-one OF
the most effective pieces of its species IN recent
musical literature-and the symphony which
brought the concert TO a close
Mis-, Little is young lady who came here, to
study music from New-Or.eans about two years
ago. Sha j. the coutralto of the choir OF the An
thon Memorial Church. and displayed last nigat
voice which though rather light IL quality for the
task set for it. was equable almost. If not quite
unfalteringly true and sufficiently flexible 10 meet
all moderate demands upon 1t. The air
from one Of Hanjefs operas which she
sang is a irving piece, bo,h in It's matter
and its spirit She did not give 1t the
breadth and fire which correct defamation
would exact. but her vocalizauon was clear. such
feeling a- il had was consistently sustained. and
there were evidences in plenty that Miss Little pos
sosse, int..Ii-euc, and taste. The >chumauu songs
were given r. tier lIstlessly By hcr and more by
the accompauiss. After them Miss Little was re-
called almiriui friends sent her many flowers. and
Size sau- = .uumluu's SolueuSnheIn,' but in Eng
u,h translation rs she did DI Ring an msiuen
Finger"
Whythe ori-iual accompaniment to the Handel
Rir, was NOT used. but instead an arrangement em-
ployiuz rn- veod-viujs ve cannot imagine IL
the score published ty TIE German Handel Society
the air Us accompanied only hy yiodus and Dass's,
and this Notwithstanding that other numbers OF th"
opera arc scored for vo.iu- yio.a-, bas-.- haut-
bows. horns and truptts. The wins instruments
yyer. pl 1uf omit. ed Iu This ar Intentionally. AMI
this WOW - strengthened hv the fact that though
was ro7I. e.. by Handel al'eI tac Ir~t performance
Of the opera. the uTs- style OF accompaniment was
preserved. Tine effectiveness OF the air was ecI-
mrIT-.