New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-05
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
A SYMPHONY on "MANFRED. y

at the metropolitan Opffd bou-r last hitht WIZ
more en- !oyabie the first though the playing Of
tie band was not up TO the usual Philharmonic mark.
The latter fact is to be explained on Two grounds.
Mr.. Jhomass absence from the city made a sufficient
number Of rehcasals impossible, and the empioyment
OF his orchestra by the National Opera Company took
half hundred members out OF the Philharmonic band
whose places had to be supplied by substitutes That
the concert nevertheless enjoyable was duo
to the interesting character Of the programme. wbic'
| consisted Of the following selectons
Overture. "GeD0yeya" schunann
symphony No 3 major. Beethoven
Finale "GoerdammeTung "................... Wagner
''""'' BrtannhIids Frauen Lehman.
Symphony after ByrOns Manfred. 4 schakowsky
Tie closing number performed for tho first
time in this city; the overture. Beethoven symphony
and Wagncran excerpt familiar and admired COM
rositlons. There much TO admire In Mr. Tbomass
reading OF the first symphony. which brought beau
tfully INTO prominence the light hearted and entirey
Joyous character OF the music. The ms trumenai
part the "Nibelung" music has been heard TO much
better advantage under Mr. Ihomas's direction In
spite OF the beauty and sorority Of the excerpt AMI IN
spite of the fine singing IF Fraucln Lehman (which
did than the playing Of the band TO JUSTIFY
it, the Introduction of the fragment into concert
scheme is to DO regretted The excuse for such cit
handed compliments to wagners art Is vanishing mors
and the music dramas are one after the other
Icing added to the American operate list. Mr..
Thomas made Of the four tubas which he imported
last summer yesterdays performance. Tho hstru-
ments were made under Wagncrs directions. ana
their Characteristic uttcrdnce in the peculiarly dig
niGed phrase which in the "Nibelunc" etralogy tells
OF Wslhalla Their effectiveness did not appear
last night evidently because the horn players. who
put aside their regular instruments to use them. have
not yet become accustomed TO their use.
The descriptive symphony by Tschaikowsky pro-
videl an agreeable surprise. II Is highly magma
tive and beautiful work, quite remarkable for tne
deop poecal feeling pervadine 1t for the Ingenuity
of its in fermentation, which would not be shamei
by comparison with the Test efforts Of Berlioz IN
| I'm ffl "A
dozen or so compositions of the young Russian scnooi
as arguments that the musical sceptre which tho
Teuons welded for long Il In danger OF pass
ing into Slavic hands Such daring and vigor as soo
o kowsky's music, including this new sym
phony This fifty eighth numbered work. displays win
out impairment Of those qualities by obvious har-
monical and other theoretical subeties mean some
thing to student of musical history Look out for
the Muscovie! He's dangerous power In pohucs ale
the musical supremacy Of Germany IL being threatened
Tschaikowsky divides his work into four parts ana
Paws appropriate tribute TO the symphonic form
in each of them His music Is both scenic ana de-
lneative OF moods the first movement ne presents
picture of the gloomy, heart and soul Iacked Man
frelr wandering among the Alps, seeking forge''ui
ness and haunted by the memory OF The loved am
lost "Astarte- the second movement which takes tho
place of the scherIo and has its parts, Is dehnca.
ton OF the witch OF the Alps; the third Il pastoral
movement descriptive Of the life of the mountaneers
finally have delineaton Of the orgies In ,ne nan
Of Armanes.' the Invocation OF phantom A'an,
tie prediction Of "Manfred's" DEATH ana It's iui1r
ment All that Tschaibowsky has composer holn
is undsgui,ediy programme musc,' Dut IL Iuiu.
its mission music by being beautiful innepennen'
of its label The two middle movements would never
he cha enged by the vlrulent opponent OIL pro
grlmme music" If they were Issued separately WIN
Independent titles. The scnerLo Ia more man cleNet
imitation of Berlioz exquisite delineaon OF super
naturam Of the amiable klnd-no wlzenea nag ou'
beautiful spirit like Byrons. with
hair Of light,
Aaa eaTms Of least mortal daughters grow
To an unearthy stature, In an essence
OF purer clements
The pastoral has serenity and simplicity OF moods
Tho tones Of shalms and the drone oil the museeoe
are not forgotten notwithstanding that the composer
gave reins to his fancy The Visible STRIVING n
the work confined TO the first and last NOV
which, it is plain, had to justify tho title OF mo
| composition Their atmosphere is nsZtan, ana IL Is
little discouraging perhaps, that the composer cou
not be content with the ordinary apparatus pus iu
| needs drag In a great drum with two drumstcks, III
addition to three kettedrums), cymbals, triangle tam
| BOURNE and tam, to say nothing OF the pass
clarinet which laments, solo, OF course But "o
must not quarrel with composer because OF MS ap
paratus, so long he produces effects Win IL tnat
| have meaning and could not be produced otherwisc
| There is nothing commonplace In the declamatory
melodies Of the first movement nor In the treatment
| but we cannot put the last movement on the same
plane with the first The bacchanalian music is notso
good as that which pictures "Manfreds" sombre mood
At the close "Manfreds" soul Is carried aoft on the
wings of q broad chorale-lke melody buoyed up by
| swelling chords on the organ This erect suffered
much last night from the fact that the organ was moi
of tunc that several Of It's bass notes ciphere|
and made uncallcd for and unpleasant pedal points
DRAMATIC NOTES
The return of Mrs Langry to the NewYOrk stage win
be effected Monday night December g. at Nblos Gar
den when will be presented for the first time here Mr.
Charles Coghlan's drama Of Enemies "a piece basel
| Ohnef's French d" La Grandc Marniere."
This play successful in London, when Mrs langtry
produced it at the Princess Theatre IL VIII be given
here with and dresses and VIII be cast 10 inc
full strength of Mrs Langtrys dramatic company hr.
Coghan and Mr.. Everill Will act in It
1t Is announced that Miss Rosna Vokes will make her
appearance at the Standard Theatre next Tuesday night
| December7 Her company has been playing there for
some time Miss yOkes has recovered from recent Sc
Mr Pneros comedy OF The school Mistress" which has
not yet been seen in New-fork
Mr. Levy player who, as already announced
intends to make professional journey around the world
will receive farewell benefit at the Academy OF Music
December H. and he will make his last appearance
their services participants in this test
tbs 1pF1e5 Se wilson ssvp
Belle Cole, Camilla Urso Maurice barrymore ana Jolly
| Nash
| Nine Modjeska at the Union Square Theatre, puts
aside the melodrsma Of "The Chouans" and appears
this week as Viola Twelfth Night" The shaKespaeran
comedy be succeeded December l3 by the play Oh
| Daniela never before given In America
Mr. Robert b. Mantell Is begin engagement at tho
Fifth Avenue Theatre December 49, acting in the new
| play OF Tangled LIVES" by Mr.. John W. Keller
Miss Helen Dauyray succeeding Miss FSrtesSae at the
M@ ss IN in th. onsr
acte last season is Of course pleasantly remembered
and no doubt she will be kindly welcomed on the scene OF
her former abors Mr. Howards comedy Is cast as iof
| lows:
1
MT SaSH Gregory Sc seSsTH
Compile Floran do SroOlon Franz & k ssyis
lie Due dc Foachs- Fcn6ianque.....:.....J W pisSts
William E.ysoa
Nine fonolanqne ,,,, ~,
| Julie. i-os.to
| Mr. Bronson Towards comedy, to be produced at
the Lyceum Theatre by Miss Helen Dauyray. will DO
brought about the beginning Of the new year.
| 1887.