New-York tribune., 1890-05-23
SAINT SAENS'S "DELUGE."
THE NOTABLE WORK AT THE THIRD EVEN
ING CONCERT IN CINCINNATI
PERFoRMANCE-oTHER MUSIC OF THE DAY.
tBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE ThIBCSEl

tbf TELEGRAPH THE ThiBCNE.l
Cincinnati. May 2o.-"Afte us the deuge," is a
saying which admirably reflects the philosophy OF
Cincinnati life fhe talk Of the newspapers and the
gossip OF festival week be accepted forming
criterion. 1t is the maxim which is at the bottom
OF the popular attitude toward the performances In
Music Hall OF course, it IS hollow and nobody be-
leves in 1t when the doors are locked but the news
papers affect profound conviction and hence the
singular spectacle which their festival columns dis
close. All this. however is merely by the way. The
saying came 10 mind merely a pendant TO the re
hec;ion that the people OF Cincinnati had to take
their delugc' tonight. when there stlll three
festival concerts TO DO heard Considering that 1t
was only saint Saenss flood OF music which had u
be endured and not food Of water it is not likely
that the visitation Will in any wise change the
current Of popular thought and action.
The French composers Dclugc has not been heard
often in America. Boston heard IL some years ago.
and last year it was produced at a festival in Pitts
burg, under the direction Of Mr.. scidl. This may
have suggested its incorporation in the Cincinnati
scheme, though | fancy there were other circumstances
when operated more directly. one Of these was the
fact that MIR. SAINT had oiciatcd adiudcator
OF the compositions submitted by American p0scrs
in competition for the prize offered 10y the Festival
Association eight years ago. 1t then that lie
helped TO make Mr. Gilchris Of Philadelphia. happy
man, ard by that token also had hand in calling
the Philadelphia chorus into existence Mr.. Thomas
and the festival directors may have thought that il
would be graceful thing To show appreciation, though
tardy, Of the services rendered by Mr. SainSacns in
1oo2.
II is more likely. however. that "Thc Deuge7 was
chosen for performance because on the whole II is
orchestral rather than choral work. 1t Is truc that
the choir frequently used in it, but in the climactc
moments the voices simply float the orchestral sea-
and when the instrumental forces loo>cd and per
mittcd 70 rage with such sonorous fury they did
tonight in depicting the rainstorm which over
whelmcd all the earth. 1t doesn't make much differ
encc whether the nccteS Of choral singing are OBJ
served not Cincinnati being disnclncd to recog
nize any standard Of Judgment in this department,
It will be seen that the choice Of a work Of
this nature was at once ingenious and comforting
The oratoro is a unique composition. more curious
than odfying, interesting for II, strvinss than
its attachments. Its centre OF gravity lies In the
orchestral score, in which may be found some fine
specimens Of descriptive writing. The composer docs
not stray far from conventions in h- musical picture
Of the Flood though his texture shows more mclodc
dignity and beauty than is generally found IN or
ohcstral tcmpcss. For tho rest. chromutic surciug
the crash Of brass shriehlns flutes and deionat
Ing drums do their duty there as they
have often done IT. and Il the manner
which the audience tonight might have paralleicd
in their memories had they but recalled Rubinsten'
Tower Of Babel FAR more suitable AID interest
ing bit Of musical dclincttou. IL seemed 10 me. is e
be found in the instrumental prelude. which is al
niraby designed q give musical expression. first 10
the weight Of sin under which antciuv!an man 'uf
fcrcd and then 70 the promise Of hl, cmancipauon
saint saens i, exceedingly happy 30 the handling o'
rccond.to form, and has projected m, first mood
picture on the canva, through the medium
Of fnghetio which really a gem oi
expressive writing. It's melody IS a real Hi
spraton especially when compared with the themes
which later he uses In vocal polyphony.
violin solo speaks comfort "a the succeeding
division of the prologue. The entire cAt ~ the ""iA
is narrative In character AID ls accompanied hN
dramatic comment in the orchestral part. At times
the music becomes a little Hlawh,k IN iis French
sentimcntalty and The cp.-odcs of the scud
ing forth Of the dove and the CREATION u
tie rainbow are accompanied by halo whose
sweet and shimmcrinC suavlty becomes a htt'
tlresome AZ last The work rSad v..h great ani-
nation and dramatic forccfuncss by Mr. Thomas and
tho pcrforInnncc - Tho glowing portions Il the ''"
Of tie band thrilling. The singing oi me 'A''''
vas uneven II was lest when Nr. IhoWa, per
riiffci least q n 10 Pc holv. one u the fngu"I
numbers WAS decidedly ragged. hut f i mot V0fu lr
Inc solo, were somewhat trAlci-.,tlly sung tF fF-
Corinne Moore Iaw-'u, W., Emily N'n'ht Theodore
T,,.dt and Myrlu IS. whitney.
The remainder of the concert &, Il minor concern
to sew YORK readers. 10 va. uadc up = extract"
from Wagner operas ana dramas. lHc N'''l i'i
being the duo from ID" lNins blichmau, -uh- It
Miss Ucvcic and VT. FlacEr. ana N''tH lar"'''
sung hy Nr. + I.chcr.
In the afternoon a popular matinee was given. a.
which tho -olo PERFORMERS we're Mr, Law Tia !o'
soprano. who s winning many admirers ln inc ~ q,
NJ LLOYD and Mr. whitney. NJ. Lav-,n -hiS,
dainty -ercuade composed hy Victor Heiher'. "
served tribute to a most finished artist. II. +. X.
uor. out y, ,rorlx and those I'm search 81 helper,