New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-11
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA
FND OF THE CONCFRT SEASON.

The musical season Oh IOCtNlOOO ID pAdSIi-
cay at an end There only remains to be endured few
struggling concerts of miscellaneous character which
will add nothing to the record of interesting occurrences
In this department OF pdbc social life. On former
occasion this column contained reflections ample IN
scope on the dogs at the opera houses and the present
retrospect needs occupy itself with anything else
than the interesting in the concert rooms
These occurrences unusual in number, the
concert season having been characterized by an activity
which is not matched in the records OF many years
Our leading musical institutions have all given their full
quota Of performances, though the plans OF the SYM
phOny and OratOro Societies were disturbed ana their
efficiency materially impaired, first by the monOpoliza-
ton of Dr. Damroschs services by the German opera at
the Metropolitan Opera House. and then by the death OF
the weked and capable musician. The season saw the
list Of high class orchestral concerts increased by series
of four entertainments devoted to the Introduction OF
musical novelties. These entertainments, to which we
shall recur little made notable artistic sue
eesses by the intelligence enthusiasm and enterprise OF
their protector, Mr. Frank Van der stucken, a young
musician born in this country who was brought back
from Germany assume musical direction OF the Aron
Society The Novelty Concerts rs they were called,
were in number and, like the concerts OF the phil
harmonic Symphony and Oratorio Societies, were pre-
eeied by public rehearsals the number Of entertain
neuts being in this manner doubled The Philharmonic
Society gave concerts, the symphony Society SIX
and the Oratoro Society four Besides the concerts and
rehearsals Of the Philharmonic Society Mr. Theodore
Thomas conducted q series OF Six SohccItS IoL
Young People on Saturday afternoons four con-
cer,s, with programmes of pleasing and easily
comprehended music given by the Peoples
Concert Society for edhcaton Of working people on
Sunday afternoons Steinway Hall the popular and
eight classical concerts Of the Brooklyn Philharmonic
Society, number of other concerts for which his
services and those of his orchestra had been specially
engaged. DIR. Damrosch conducted three of the
Symphony societys concerts and two of the Oratoro
socetys and, dying, succeeded by his son Walter
The Novelty Concerts conducted by Mr.. Van der
stucken who also had small share IN the direction OF
the better class of miscellaneous concerts.
The schemes Of the various of the institutions
which we're existence when the opened showed
no change in scope purpose Each society. however,
put TO the credit of having produced at least
one novelty OF magnitude. The most valuable addition
to the concert list the third symphony of Johannes
Brahms which was on the programme of Mr. Van der
stuckens concert and also of the first concert OF the
Philharmonic Society Counting the two public rehearsals
the public thus given opportunity to hear this
Work Tour tlmes and to form sound opinion OF It's ar
tstc value We are accustomed to hear it denied that
Brahms is man of genius Inc Arguments adauceu i
support OF this position are not without strong OASIS
shin the noble style and the freshness this his latest
symphonic work cannot but conclude that 1t 10 not
cioseS allied to genius would difficult draw
Tie line Of demarkaIiOn separating the two.
The honor of being chosen for
doneert after it had been produced by Mr. Van der
stueken, was shared by this symphony with Dvorak's
concert overture Hutstska," somewhat fanclful but
Interesting work. The Philharmonic society brought
out for the first time in this country symphony IN
minor by Richard Strauss. Mr.. Frederick W. Governs
fourth or Welsh" symphony, and mastery set OF
symphopic variations by Jean Louis NcOde, OF Dresden
The symphony SOcietys contribution to the list consist
Ell of a serenade string orchestra by Tschaikowsky
symphony (NO. 2, I'm major by Felix Draeseke, ana
tribe by saint Saens scarcely worth mentioning Or the
symphonies after that of Brahms Mr.. Governs
was heard with the greatest pleasure and
Draesekes the least interesting. Whether either OF
theu with the possible exception OF Mr.. Governs, VIII
ever appear upon metropolitan programme again we
very much doubt. OF works which while not new are
eeldom heard the Philharmonic Society performed
BerliOz's Symphonic Fantasuque," and the symphony
Society LISTS Dante" symphony. The novelties III
the department of choral works of magnitude We're
LISTS Legend Of St. Elizabeth" and Mr. A. G;
Mackenzie's " Rose of Sharon" both produced
under the direction Of Mr. Thomas. the former
by the Brooklyn Philharmonic Society," the latter
by the New-YOrk Chorus Society. Both
have been so recently and copiousy dicusssed
in this journal tnat further comment is unnecessary
now. The Chorus Society also gave Berliozs "Iustia
but this fact is only worth mention The OratOro SOci-
ETY. performed Memberships st Paul." Handles
messiah and Judas Maccabeus" and Nerdis Man
zoni Requiem"
which we believe Mr. Van der Stucken's novelty con-
eers TO possess, append complete list Of the new
works brought out IN them, as follows:
Name Nationality. Title Of W0rk.
Benoit Pierre . Flemish. Interude from Charlotte
COrday."
Brahms L.......... German symphony in +. No g.