The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-12-11
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Boaros gYMrRoNY oncHEsraA.

The nfth entertainment Ia the stockbridge
course, given at the City Hall last night, by
the Boston Symphony Orchestrs, drew not only
packed and brilliant audience, but called to-
gether the largest number Of musical people Of
this city and vicinity, seen at concert for at
least year. The orchestra numbered fifty
four musicians on this occasion, and was under
the charge of the new conductor, Herr Will
helm Gericke.
Herr Gercke is rather below the medium
height, bat possesses fine head, we'll poised
on his shoulders, and well-knit frame. He
has dark hair, full beard and moustache, and
keen. quick, glancing eye. He reads intelli-
gently, and conducts In broad, comprehen-
sive manner, that has great weight with his
orchestra. His handling of the baton ia easy
and graceful, and he emphasizes his directions
with his left hand, without undue effort. His
appearance is that OF commander. He ar
ranges his orchestra, after the old fashion, as
Theodore Thomas accustomed us to seeing
them, placed with the contra BASES and brass
la the rear, the 'cellos aud wood-wind massed
together.
The programme was arranged by Herr Ger
ieke himself, and was one of the most admra-
bic ever heard here. IL held the spell-bound
attention OF the great audience to the close.
The concert opened with Won Webers delight
full overture to "Der FreiScbuts," SO familiar
to all our readers, which received as pictur-
esque rendering as has been heard in Port
land for years. The solo for horns was given
with much precision and expression, and all
the phrases OF the composition (the lights and
shadows so to speak), with the charming story
they tell, were most faithfully represented.
The main feature of the evening, the three
movements from the Haydn Symphony No. 2,
in d major, exempt fed in perfection OF form
all the effects of the string qnartette, prodnc-
ing the best results, for which Haydn was not
ed; sometimes sad, sometimes Joyous. and al
others full of grandeur. In the andante the
IegGto playing was admirable, aud the replies
81 the wind Instruments were accurately bai-
anced. The simple melody of Handel's, the
Largo aroused the house to enthusiasm. Ia
this number, Herr Gerlcke grouped the first
violins about his desk in a semi-circle.
The effect was peculiar. The first
violin, Mr.. Listemann, played the melody
with the harp accompanying, ami When the
melody was repeated bs all the first violins in
ubison, with he cond violin an octave lower,
the effect was electrical. his Largo is the
great soprano air from .Xsrx,s Tne Scna-
bert march Ia minor, with It's brilliant Lszt
setting, il oriental in style, and, in general,
was given with the tmoothness that shou d
mark the melodic flow OF this iavorite COM
pos-r the brilliant lie Bal" from the
"FantdstiQue Symphonic" was most spritediy
interpreted By the mUSlciaus, and was fol-
lowed by Brahms Hungarian Dances" sew
eral tines presented here, full of skill in
orchestra,iop, most ingenious in construction,
full of dash, SCI timent, and even pathos and
finely played. But those who heard the Hun
gariaa gypsies play their native dances last
season will feel that that small band could put
more of real frenzy. fervor aud true gYpsey
| spirit into the work than this splendid body of
| educated MUSICIANS. The instrumental mum
| bers closed with the delicious, fairy music
| of Memberships "M dsummer Night
| Dream; the ''1lottur'ao" and "Weduiug
March," The horn in the former, and the
| grand effects in the latter (Which were never
noisy, the general poesy, lighJness, airiuess.
| and delicacy, that marks this most charming
| of compositions, made it one of the most de-
| lighttul features of the evening.
Miss L'zze Webb Cary was the soloist Of the
| evening. 1t had been Intended to have Herr
| Giesse, the celebrated cellist, for soloist, but
he had an engagement in New York under a
| long standing contract. Vocalists at such q
| concert We have always objected to, but there
| are many who like the contrast. Miss Cary is
connection of Mrs. Raymond, and possesses a
large voice, fairly flexible, and at its best in it
| upper and lower register. The middle notes
are not so pleasing. She was heard ia "Drr
| Freischutz," and in two songs, one by Ruben
| stein and the other by GODDARD, satisfying her
| hearers best in the last number She was Cos
| tuned in an elegant white silk, over viii ID al
| Iudia or China Grape shawl was draped.
| Ii is euainently satisfactory to know that an
other concert will soon be given here by THU
| orchestra.
| NOTES.
Dominick Murray will be at Portland Theatre
| next Monday aud Tuesday evenings in ESCAPED
from Slug Sing. He is plat ing to large audiences
at the Howard Athen@um in Boston this week.
Every day so John Mccullough is seen il
| New York walking slowly along. He looks bette
than he has done for years but the want of en-
| pigment seems to weigh up IN his mind.
| Prof, Faulh4 her, the well known German teacher
JIG to give private lec;ur Faust, in German, a
Rosslni Hall, Saturday night, which will be must.
cally illustrated by Chevalier De Kontski.