New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-27
THE CINCINNATI FESTIVAL ENDED.
A HANDSOME MARGIN OVER ALL EXPENSES.
THE CHORUS NOT WHAT IT WAS IN ITS PALMY
DAYS-PoPULAR ENTHUSIASM MARKED
AND ENCOURAGING.
ny rxLnoRAru TO rrE rnrBu

DAYS-PoPULAR ENTHUSIASM MARKED
AND ENCOURAGING.
rxrnoRArn TRIBUNE
Cincinnati, May e6.-The directors of.the Eighth
Biennial Music Festival tonight enjoying scnsa
ton denied their predecessors Of the festivals OF
1882 1854 and 1896 They contemplating a
satisfactory financial outcome for the enterprise The
seventh festival In 1885, made large deficit that
for the fast time In the history Of tie festivals draft
had to be made the guarantors, cxpcdcnt which
had been avoided in the fifth and SIKH festivals by
rersuadng the creditors OF the association 10 scale
down their bills sufficiently TO make the two sides Of
the ledger balance. Two years ago this
was no longer feasible and the
festivals which had caused such proud swcllings Of
the heart TO al patriotic Cincinnatsns seemed doomed
A combination OF shrewdness and andacity saved the
day Edward Lloyd, the English tenor, was engaged at
cost OF 50 600 that his might be used TO con-
lure with 1t was not q widely known name In
America, but generous Of printers Ink VIII do
much, and those who had heard Mr.. Lloyd In London
or at any one OF the English festivals which are
never complete without him, knew that he would JUS
tfy the most extravagan euloges so long as they did
not present him singer OK the heroic type
The business management has borne its good fruits
but artistic results have not been harvested in equal
abundance. The solo artists have done admirable
work on tho whole, and could scarcely have
been improved on. The orchestra, too
was as capable a band as ever answered TO
W ls
the plane on which its predecessors moved. Judged
By the loosely fitting and adust able standard generally
appEed to choral work here the singing OF the choir
might perhaps, be commended, but not In view either
of past achievements or tho ideals whose measurable
attainment alone justihes so vast an eS-
penditure Of time, energy and money as
the Cincinnati festivals entail The best that can DO
said of in the way Of comparison Is that Is little
more efficient than the 0rasro society, OF New-York,
or the Handel and Haydn OF Boston. MIR. Thomass
device for conceaing the choral shortcomings was
plentiful Of the band and the mighty organ few
humorous harmonies at the close OF each number
satisfied the majority Of the auditors and only the
cocnzant observed the decay in what was doubtless
b few years ago fhe finest choral organization IN tue
United states.
Local amateurs and musicians have not
hcsitnted 10 charge some OF the In
efficiency of the choir on Mr.. Thomas,
but while one might righteously object to his tempt
IN many instances the truth would seem TO be that
the rehearsals under his baton did much toward
bringing the chorlsters to sense of duty and ro-
sponslbliiy.
The last two concerts marked the elimination OF
popular interest and tonight when the programme
was composed exclusively OF excerpts from Wagners
lyric dramas, the enthusiasm was simply boundiess'
Herr Kalisch sang for the first time in tho hrst
scene from "Tanhauscr' with LIN Lenmann
and the finish of his style and vigor Of
his defamation won hearty commentator anu
doubtless made many wish that he had had oppor
tunities 10 he heard ofener and I'm selections which
would lose less from the absence Of scenic surround
fncs In the afternoon Mr. Lloyd won a great oVa
ton by his singing Of Cuius Anlmam' IRON KOS
sinrs stabat Mater" Mr.. Thomas was In his ele
ment In the evening, and did lot Of brilliant distem-
per painting with his magnificent band. H. l. H.