New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-15
MUSIC-THE DRAMA
rHE First PHILHARMOyiC CONCERT

THE FIRST PHILHARMONIC CONCERT.
Every lover of high-class orchestral music in
this city by virtue OF that fact admirer Of the Phil
harmonic Society," which has behind it forythree years
of noble activity n the OF good art The society
has passed through many vlcssitudes and during the
summer Just past its intimate friends somewhat
apprehensye lest the vast number OF orchestral
projected for this should check the tide OF pop
uarlty which IL has enjoyed in the last few years Mis-
gyngs of this kind set at rest By the attendance
at of the society for this which
took place the Academy Of Music last night and the
preparatory public rehearsal Friday afternoon Tho
circumstance that the audoDce-room was completely
filled each OCCASION seemed to point 10 the operation
OF the rule suggested this journal week ago. namely
the very number OF excellent concerts provided for
20 public this year why they should al 10
successful The list of pieces last night follows:
Sy@p6onic Prologue to shakespearoo
Concer o iof vioin 10 l. o. 20 .........Max * UGH
Miss Mau Powell
SYMPHONY. NO s. in tat e Erolca y. 1885,. beethoven
or new music there Was only piece In this sehoms
tho prologue to shakcspeares tragedy-though
Dyoraks Scherzo was heard for the first time In PILL
harmonic concert Both pieces deserved the honor 40
corded them being placed In Philharmonic scheme.
10 write a musical introduction or commentary
"Otbcllo" task worthy a composer OF the first rank
Why has been neglected 1t Is difficult to comprehend
1t is true that we have Rossinfs opera but that is
ing Of profound musical deneatlon such We
know In Beethoven's "Korioan" overture, wag.
ner's Faust" and LISTS Lear Othello"
Is of all Shskespeare's creations save Romeo and
Julie" the one that is nearest music. The Moors
consuming passions those simple ones for
music has the eloquent oxpressIon-vss love aud
sedestroyng but burdened rage. Berlloz went
to the tragedy to find illustration his analysis OF
the first movement of the minor symphony The
boundless agitation Beethovens fatefu music led him
10 lind in rage OF terrible Ohsio while no lis
tens those venonOus examinations from the
of Iago which convince him OF the guilt OF Desdcmona
Now It is the frenzied OF insanity which dnds
preston In fearful cries. and utter desponiency
which speaks only in OF longing sadness and self
rommseraton Mark the soDbing In the orchestra the
dialogue between tho wind and string instruments.
whose sounds decreasing in power ebb and flow like
the breathing OF dying man. Tut only. in
which kindles the orchestra into a new blaZ
OF rage" The illustration Is happy. but i
would do to accept BerlloZs Interpretation and
then compare Beethoven" Othello music with that
krg Inc latter Son not surys ,ns orieai zen sec
OF kTug which have come under cur Observation
have the modest Held OF small pianOfortc comp
sitions III which he mas uniformly displayed Abundance
OF ihrmt melody evenly maintained between the ex
trenes OF vusarity and the highest nobility II was
most ambitious undertaking, not only to attempt mu
steal pic, of CeO but to attempt the WORK wlthi
tue restrictions the symphonic fOriD for ts feee
music Is what its title implies - npbohic prologue
Without being profoundly impressive, the result Is one
and whose minds not distorted ny narrow
and nage-breakng creeds It's two principal melodies.
character which have referred, are far removed
from commonplace; and IN theIr treatment tue
the passions from their early beginnings 10 their
voiui eudings The Instrumental combinations are
tuphonOns rather than striking OF new, but fine
soorIiy absent 0nd the tone color Is always
which recognize as native to the Instruments
producing H. Inc language u the lSruieniS 10 uo'
The Dyorak "Scherzo" was first brought out by Mr..
1t nf he
cirty Oh November OF last year AT that time we
characterized brilliant trle Interesting because
of the ingenuity shown ia It's n,truUentauiu rather
than ideas out OF whici IL i constructed,
and that had a sort of spendor witch would
make 1t peculiarly apprOp late Tor II barbaric ballet
Further acquaintance ltads US To think more hshy OF
tue piece than We dd yesr agO, yet the former
t"ns. coupled with much grOtesqurnrsS. IN TIE Dsrl
mental effects give the piece gobliIsh hunor which
Is almost unique IN music AMI the composers techni
cal resources as displayed In 1t justify wondering adj
itis seldom that a woman is honored with an invita-
10 play violin solo at a concert OF tue PhihIr
such an Invitation when II Is pi'tined ny tne
performance IS an introduction to the first rank OF in
tcrpratye artists in tins country Ia the case OF Mss
Maud Powell distinction well bestowed Suo Is
sill very yOuuE woman and has her home IN Ihe West
dOuncile Wherever good music Is cuftiva ed she Is
mary ously gifted woman. who In every feature OF
her playing discOsrs the instincts IA slts OF born
artist She reached the heighth of her ability by
any means but her aecOmpli, hments are alr'acy so
standard from who would pass judgment upon eer
che pays with conscious ease and reposefnlness that
she yet EXHIBITS fine Intellectual grasp of her music and
hold the interest OF her listeners FOR every bar
Technically II the bow Is more finished
than her stopping, but the latter Is remarkably
Hrm and correct. Few ViOlnists have been heard
here IN recent years whose information was
As free from fault as Miss Powrrs Her .onal slips
m thi, re, prct uniformly In the hign post or
the q and strings, In dOublc-stOppn& Her t1no Is
not iuly developed md Is wanting IN diEnily anD sHav
ty hut II il ample quantity for all purposes Ii Is de-
gntful To meet yOun- American artist who has ~ hot
the ability give much present psaSure, ana Who
ur misses so much for the she Will 10 htard
again o. Mr. Th0maSs Popular ConcertShnd
at a concert OF the Brooklyn Philharmonic. " sho main
nns tho stanGa she herself last nght. she VIII
win the abb ling favor of the New-lOik public and hef
tuiur, career will be watched with warm interest
The orchestra played with the oi-tiue vgGr aud MAJ
niHceucr OF tone all lines with the flush mat
can be expected at the later concerts.