Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-21
THE MUSIC HALL DEDICATED.
Its Opening Signalixed by . Notable
Gathering and a Brilliant Concert.

Gathering and a Brilliant Concert.
A more brilliant and in every way suspicious
dedication to musical uses could not be wished
for any new auditorium than last evening was
given the just completed Lincoln music hall, as
the corner Of 9th and ID streets. The great
Boston symphony orchestra, with its new
conductor, Mr.. Arthur Nikisch. and .
very large list of distinguished artists
united in giving q concert which for
variety and exceeding interest has scarcely
been equaled in Washington. IL was listened
to by an audience that filed the hall with the
best and fairest that Washington culture aud
social distinction can marshal. while over IL all
lowered the benson of sweet charity, for 10
the Childrens hospital are 10 go the receipts
which have accrued from the untring efforts
OF Mrs. Jeanette NJ Thurber and the other
special patronesses, so amply seconded by the
kindly and generous promptings Of Washing
ton society. All these things combined TO
render the occasion not only a pleasure to
those who delight in the brilliancy aud anins-
ton that such gathering last evenings has
for the eye, but refined enjoyment TO those Of
musical sensibilities which touched the hearers
at many new points.
The beauties Of the new auditorium In de-
sign and finish have already been described In
The STAR; so IL is sufficient TO say that the still
more important matter Of the acoustic quail
ties Is equally satisfactory. There is, however,
no accommodation for the orchestra except in
sort OF recess upon the stage formed by .
box scene, which naturally absorbs much Of
the tone and which gives a curious effect Of
distance TO the most sonOrous passages. But
nothing Is blurred in the auditorium and the
most delicate rehnements of the orchestral
playing were clearly brought TO the listeners
Inc soiolsts are even more favored by the ar
chitects success.
The program nj This unioua concar, ras NJ
great length. IL included solos by Miss Marie
Decca OF Nashington-her first concert per-
formance since her return from Europe-and
by distinguished members of the faculty of the
National conservatory of music Of New York;
MIR. Raphael Joseffy, piano; Mr.. Leopold Lich-
tenberg, violin; Mr.. Victor Herbert cello Miss
Adele Margul;es, piano. and Mr.. Theophile
Manoury, the director of the vocal department,
baritone. Itwas his initial appearance in this
country.
Miss Decca brought back to her Washington
friends delightful voice, admirably trained in
the best school of vocalism. as she well showed
in the crucial aria from the Magic Flute" Ii
Is strong, flexible. and in its upper register es-
pecially Of excellent quality. Miss Decca sang
her Torture aria with an abundance OF fiexi-
blllty, grace, and sure command of its diff
culties. She was several times recalled aud
was made recipient of huge basket of roses.
Upon Mr.. Joseffy and his transcendent COM
mand of piano technique there is probably no
more OF praise TO be lavished than he has al
ready received. He played the almost unthink-
able difficulties of the List concerto with
something apparently akin TO ease. and he
put into 1t full measure of poetic fervor and
vitality.
Mr.. Manoury in choosing two Characteristic
arias by the two most distinguished modern
French composers deserves much thanks; they
were both of exceeding interest and beauty.
He himself is possessed of a baritone Of beau
tiful quality, yet somewhat lacking in variety
and color.
Mr.. Lichtenberg gave an extremely satisfac-
tory performance of the last movements of the
great Mendelssohn violin concerto.
Mr.. Herbert, perhaps wisely, omitted the
andante from his suite aud played only the
tarantelle, with an easy, off-hand vigor which
would have brought him encore had he
chosen to take it. Mention ought not TO be
omitted OF the interesting duo for the pianos
by Saint Salus, rare novelty in concert pro-
grams, which was as interesting II well
come at the hands of two SO eminently COM
petent players as Mr.. Joseffy and Miss Mar
gulies.
Tho performance of the orchestra itself
under Its new conductor was Of even more
interest perhaps, than the splendid contribu-
tions of the soloists. Mr.. Nikisch in the brief
time since he has had charge of this remark
| able organization has set il into new courses
| which have raised q storm of discussion in
musical Boston, extending even TO the musical
| people of New York and elsewhere in It's con-
cert tour. There was no number in last even
| ing's program which showed in the plsinest
aspect the revolutionary ideas which Mr..
Nikisch has put into practice in his conducting
lit is in compositions of the classical schools,
Beethovens especially, whore they are most
| evident-and the four orchestral selections
last evening were all distinctivley modern. But
there was, nevertheless abundant opportunity
to observe the attitude Of Mr.. Nikisch toward
the orchestral expression of the musical
composition he has in hand, entirely
different, it may be said, from that
| of Mr.. Gericke, whose services in estab-
| fishing the marvellous technical perfection
of the Boston orchestra have been SO great.
Mr.. Nikisch seeks to bring out the import of
each strongly marked phrase given 10 a special
instrument TO emphasize each touch of char
acteristic tone quality that imparts q passing
color effect. The gorgeous beauties OF Wag-
ner's "Meistersinger" Vorspiel under Mr..
| Nikische's baton were an epitome OF all that 10
best in his conducting. They were given an
exposition afiiuent with poetic fancy as well as
with intellectual vigor. 1t is one of the few
portions Of Wagner's work that tell for as
much on the concert stage as in their proper
place; for its marvellous variety OF orchestral
COLOR Its almost pictorial contrasts of majestic
| dignity, exquisite tenderness aud fiery passion,
and, above all, its rayishing melodic beauty,
| enable II to stand against any overture u
absolute music" ever penned.