New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-12
MUSIC AND THE URIWi.
PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.


Those who attended the public rehearsal On
Friday afternoon wei. tho last Saturday
evening OF the Philharmonic Society enjoyed a most
convincing demonstration OF how vast can DO the differ
euce between two performances OF the same compost.
lions by the same people under the direction Ons
would have been put 10 to find features to commend
warmly from the point Of view fixed by
Philharmonic concert at the rehearsai Neither Mr.
Thomas. the pianist nor the solo singers. nor tho
orchestra the singers seemed either able
sposed TO cope the task b. the programme On
saturday evening different spirit pervaded the forces
and proved to be one Of the most delightful
entertainments of the SEASON. The programme was de-
voted exclusively TO compositions by Beethoven, and
consisted of excerpts from the incidental music com.
posed for Goethc's Egmont the pisnoforte concerts
in G. major and the Ninth symphony. The concert
would, perhaps, have gained by the omission Of SON,
OF the music for the programme WAS excessively long
an the atmos phere tho Academy OF Music uncon-
sconably bad, but 1t is doubtful whether the pablo
would have been wiling that Philharmonic season
should pass without the appearance OF Ma. JoscEy IN
concert, and portion OF the symphony could %
omitted aud the "Egnont" music WAS already dis
WONDERED in manner that deserved feDuke thefo
seemed TO be no help for II.
rhere have been several recently OF change
in public opn on concerning tho performances OF Mr.
Josefy from unqualified and unquesonins aimiratioa
to sensible balancing OF their merits AMI defects. but
he Is still drawing card And he ought to ne, Tor IN GER
tain respects he Is phenomenon ana deserves 70 bo
seen and heard and maryeed at as such. The ma)r
concerto nearer the horizon of his artistic conception
than the majority In which Mr. JOssefy
Is periodically heard, AMI his Interpretation Of s
merits greater praise than we have been aoie 70
give him q rule sui the persstency with which no
the first movement as il 1t we're So
OF saccao scaleplaying Ia au estoppe 10
warm approval There is ample occasion In tie con-
certo for an exhibition OF emotional sanity and maaY
ygor and Mr. Josefy should try to cultivate these qia
tiles and choose audiences to BOWLER with his
futtering and ripping Evidently the public
Friday Saturday thought so too for the player WAS
permitted leave the stage with as little applause az
was consistent with courtesy to admired artist
The portions OF the Egmont music which were given
were the overture the songs OF Cac, the seeoid
entracte onehaf OF the third entrdch and the hnM
trumpbal symphony, which Mr. Thomas Connected with
the third endcts 70 do this lie cut OIL tue character
istic march Ill major and omitted the maryellogsy
poetca arghettO in d minor which tells OF CtyeheHs
death. The omission Of this brief increment The most
beautiful OF the SERIES was much to be re-
gretted also tue taohlng on OK
the finale to the third eet~ac'e, Tor
by this procedure of the features which make tue
Egmont" pieces models in their ned destroyed.
List has claimed that in EgmOnt" Beethoven iur-
OF the earliest examples OF great composer
going TO the work OF great poet for Inspiration Tho
music fuhls the highest purposes OF ipnd accompan'
mems 10 drama In the entdcte IN question Beethoven
recurs melody OF CidrchenS sons Freudyol und
ledyo for the purpose of ecnolns the sentiment Which
is the pal OF the third ac ana hen ests
what will be the mood OF the following By ntrOiuc
lnga march In the fourth act the significant motive
comes the entrance OF the DuEe ~ AIMS p ihsh
troops by cutting of tue mArcD tnIs purpose vas EN-
tirely ignored by connecting Clafchens song "th
| the triumphal symphony (Which Goethe himself pre-
scribed follow EgDOafS death, false anu nea'
ugess relation brought ABOUT Ine songs were sung
by Miss Juch with tue p.thos ana excellent sty,e,
The symphony received on The whoie' an admirap.o
performance. The solo parts OF the chorH moFehVhs
we're I'M The hands OF Miss Emma Juch, Miss Helen
dudley Campbell, Mr. william Canddus and Mr. Aionzo
f. Stoddard. Miss Campbells voice was scarcely
assertIve enough. but tho fonr performed ihelr
| terribly onerous task with conmehl@Dle
especial praise Tor the unfdIterln3 accuracy
and the smootnne-s with |nic ne 5so
tanned MS tones in peculiarly trying attitudes. rns
| orchestra played with animation anu eSceiehI pte-
| csiOn. The absence of the regular hrst OBOE wss
noticeable, though not 50 much IN the symphony 3s N
the "EgmOnt" music. We can fancy more Viriie ana
| dramatic reading OF the first movement than Mr.
Thomas gave u.s. but taking work whole his in
terpreati0n preserves the best traditions OF the Phi
monte society.