New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-06
brace i water fowi nas rs way q tGs bona d Ser
tart Endicott,
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE SYMPHONY SOCIETY.

| IHE 81 MfHON1 cOCiEl1.
The second concert of the Symphony Society.
which took place at the Metropolitan Opera House last
night, was sgnazed by the production Of a symphony
! by composer hitherto unknown IN this country and
the singing Of Eloi sylvia, of the German Opera. Tho
! programme was as follows.
symphony IN Minor BrpeEnet
fiA''' i''"' '''''-- Eio sylvia. -'"''
p pest sus fn 9% 1R5FeRe en-
Recatlye and air Faibesse de Ia Race Humane Gounod
Elol sylvia.
Finale "Rhengod Wagner
In this scheme there was much to interest music
lovers though the quality of novelty belonged only to
the symphony and the Gounod air. AS regards tue
vocal pieces proper to that the programme IL
stood p to the public rehearsal Friday afternoon
tcmplated a performance OF an air from Rubinsteins
ohera Nero" and Handeps Sound an Alarm" The
change added to the interest of the entertainment OF
the svmphony more scarcely be said than that ii
as listened to with curiosity by the musicians 10 tho
oudlenee who were able to appreciate the difficulty
which nowadays besets tn composers who aspire to
produce a work In the highest 0finstrumental forms
The COMPOSER Herr Bruckner, ts Known here only
professor of harmony at the Conservatory in Vienna
and IL ia indicative OF tho vast amount otinteilecua
labor which falls of recognition In Germany that though
this ia the sixth symphony composed by man who en-
Joys fine reputation as musical Scholar MS name has
hitherto been unknown to our programmes AID
Herr Bruckner is now, we DeheVe' In his
sixtcth year. Since composing the symphony
/
symphony which performed in the early part Of this
wear in Leipsc and just left the press This COM
positiou which Is in the key of + major, contains
slow movement wbicn evoked loud chorus OF praise
from the critics. some Of whom enthusastcaiiy set 1t
down a. tho finest symphonic movement produced since
Reethoyen though this expression Is prob
abyof piece with that snortsghted and forgetfu syo
OF criticism that overlooks all that was accomplished
between Beethoven and Wagner
Herr Bruckners artistic creed might BIO read In tia
.vmphony performed last night, He attests MS devo'
ton to Beethoven by writing symphony at time when
av would have us believe that In this department the
last word was spoken long ago, and, by borrowing'
consciously unconsclousy much OF the reens OF the
first movement OF the choral symphony Tor DIS hrs'
movement lie then publishes his admiration Tor "ag'
ner by drawing his dramas for much OF the thematc
material worked up In the symphony. That this
| WAS done consciously ia plain enough from the fact
that the work is inscribed to the Bayreuh master Inc
likeness between this symphony and tho ninth OF Bee.
I'm the key OF minor But 1t might DO said here mat
the resemblance stops win the Key ana tne snSecs
emotional power Of BeethOyens GROWING WORK theret
no In the work OF the modern writer; %hicn
sounds pedantc and uninspired. The principal subject
Of the first movement IN ID minor gives character 10 the
nTovcs broad and sounding conclusion to the work
But though treated IN manner that has no Likeness ~
all with its prototype II suggests BeothoVens rst SUP
iect at it's every entrance This fact is unfortunate IN
that the severity OF the judgment Win which
alone makes unqualiedy pleasing impression. IL Is
! fluent fresh and vigorous in its rhythms and
! altogether such piece OF music as can %
heard at any with pleasure. The symphony Is iaa
out on liberal SCALE but is IN no respect as revoulon
airy as might have been expected from so profound
! d.volce OF Wagner Herr Bruckner IL was given q
respectful hearing but the Seher.o alone eaeu OUT "n
emphatic expression OF pleasure from the listeners
Mr. Sylvas operate manner 10 ms concert manner,
Those VINO hoard him last week ia Tho Propnet" can
| fmagnchOw Eo sang tho two selections SET uo"h lor
him In ono respect and far as the nrst air was con-
| ccrned apnreciatOn grew I'm proportion Win ones
| Ignorance OF the German language. me singers
enumeration Of German Is tue reverse OF SATISFACTORY
and his defamation s mODOtOnous AMI llieless HIS
voice has a baritone quality and peculiar h0owress
except high register where IS noble ana beautlu
phrases in which he appears as - tenor In ,nc feh
air from Refine de Saba y he was more artislo
than in the German though cOnld not help admlIlnS
s robust style the free amer he mas or emitting
his tones The ballet music from GIuck was delghttu
! intcrmeZZO.