Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-15
THE MOZART CONCERT.
GOunOd's New OratOriO of the
Redemption, With a Niscel-
laneOus Programme.

grand in the extreme. The colossa
hall, decorated as it was throughout
with evergreens, shrubbery, flags o.
all nations, portraits Of great masters
electric and gas lights, mammoth 10
raj designs, handsome scenery and q
hundred details too numerous to men,
ton, afforded an inspiring scene calcu.
lated to make an indelible impression
upon every visitor. The enlarged and
roomy stage, with more than zoo peo-
pie upon it. including the Mozart's
chorus, and the artists under Thomas,
canopied by the rotund sounding
board of four thousand superficial
feet, built by Architect Cook, was also
a scene of marvellous beauty, long to
be remembered. The audience, one
of the largest and most fashionable
ever collected in this city, was intelh-
& ent and we'll behaved from the open
ing to the close of the concert. The
people entered the hall in good order
were seated without confusion, and
remained quiet until the musicians
under Thomas began to take their
seats on the stage in front Of the
Mozart's choral forces, the latter oc
cupying elevated positions in the rear
The appearance of Mr.. Thomas after
an absence of twelve years, was the sig
nal for round of applause. not bois-
ferrous but earnest, and several times
during the evening there were mani
festations of popular regard for the
distinguished conductor, who has
done 80 much to develop musical taste
and intelligence in this country during
the last fifteen years. AS an orchestra
master he is acknowledged to have nc
superior living, and perhaps not more
than two or three equals, therefore, as
he grew up in this country and began
his musical leadership in a very mod
est way, educating audiences gradu-
ally up to a standard of excellence
necessary to appreciate the quality OF
music which make up his programmes,
it was meet and proper that the great
leader should be received with an
open exhibition of cordiality. The
work of the renowned maestro will be
sure to live long after he has departed,
and the force OF his influence will re-
ceive a fresh impetus; will remain with
US after the hand that gave it is taken
away, and it is repeated again that a
fitting tribute to the admiration and
esteem in which the skillful master is
held, was to express it openly as was
done last evening. The overture to
"Tannhauser," the first number on
the programme, first occupied atten~
ton. An immense battle was fought
over Wagner's "Tannhauser" years
ago. and the light minded Parisians, in
musical matters at least, pronounced
it fat, ana were unable to enjoy it. 1t
was full Of grabbed stuff, and wanting
in symmetrical melodies, they said.
Compared with the Flying Dutch
mar" and "Lohengrin, it is perhaps
the least impressive, but it shows
the strong hand, powerful will
and fertile intelligece Of Richard
Wagner, and all musicians agree that
the overture is an amazing produc.
ton. 1t may be rather tedious and
incomprehensible to the uncultivated
musical ear, but it has great charm
about it for the student Of technical
musical composition, and the Thomas
orchestra interpreted it in a smooth
and taultless manner, as their opening
selection. This was followed by one
Of Beethoven's symphonies, compli>
Gated structure which seemed to in
crease the distraction caused by the
overture. The third number, how.
ever, created a different impression
1t was Weber's Invitation to the
Dance, adapted for orchestra by Hec
tor Berlioz. 1t is a lively structure,
full of vivacious or meritricious pas
Sages, and was much enjoyed by the
entire audience. The succeeding
number, and fourth on the programme
afforded an opportunity to witness the
skill of the accomplished pianiste,
Julia Rive King, a gifted lady whose
rare talent has caused her praise to be
sounded from ocean to ocean. The
number was Saint Saens concerto No 2
in G minor with movement including
Andante, Sustenuto. Allegro, scher-
zando and Presto. The lady treated
the selection most delightfully."- and al
the same time powerfully. ipfusing it
with a life and color calculated to i'm
press one with the belief that Ishe was
a born pianist. The first part OF the
programme closed with LISTS Hun.
garian Rhapsody No. q" a selection
possessing excellent orchestration with
many winning and enduring qualities,
its theme being unusually melodious
and full Of poetical' sentiment. The
intermission which succeeded was we'll
occupied by the audience in convers>
ing about the concert, as far as it had
gone, and What do you think of it2"
was asked by thousand people more
or less. After the Thomas musicians
and the male Mozarts returned to the
stage from little exercise on the out
side, the baton of Mr.. Thomas was
again raised, and Gounod's sacred
trilogy of 1.-THE Redemption" was
commenced. This afforded opportu
nifty for the appearance of Mrs. K.
Humphrey Allen, and Mrs. Annie
Norton Hartdegan, sopranos, Mrs.
Belle. Cole, cOntralto; Mr.. Fred Har-
vey, tenor, and Mr.. Franz Remmertz,
basso, and they sang their solos, duets,
trios, and Rotations in style worthy
Of their reputation. Mrs. Cole has a
rich sympathetic contralto voice, one
Of the best heard here for years. The
sopranos we're in excellent voice,
singing with remarkable beauty and
precision Of phrasing. The ladies
made good impression and were well
received. The rich basso of MT
Remmertz was greatly admired. He
possessed great dramatic power, with
graceful and at the same time admira-
Bile method. The tenor, Mr.. Harvey
alan acouitted himself lilo a truo a.