Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-20
MUSIC LOVERS DELIGHTED.
The CLIMAX of the season Reached In the :
Boston Symphony Concert-A Varied and
Exquisite Programme Presented TO n
Lnrxe Audience,

with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Quite
| appropriately one of the very largest and most
| representative audiences of the season crowded
OLD City Hall, from the brilliant stage to the
| dingy eock-loft If nearly 1,5OO people will pay
from 81 to s2 for the privilege of climbing up
Ihe steep stairs into that hot, Darn-like hall,
with Its noisy unpleasant surroundings, what
would be the patronage of q like attraction in a
roomy, first floor auditorium, away from the
nolse-some market-place, and large enough to
hold more money at half the prices? At home,
the Boston Symphony Orchestra played this
season before SO. 600 people who paid but from
70 to % cents apiece, in addition to the 75,OO0
VINO bought the higher priced tickets, many OF
them bidding large premiums in the fashion
able rivalry for choice of seats. Plttsburg
would rejoice to have some local Higginson
step forth and sustain such an orchestra; but
Hrst and foremost we need the large and suit
able hall, indispensa BILE to such popular results.
Everyone who endured the discomforts Of
Old City Hall through the lengthy programme
last night will join IN hearty godspeed TO at
least one part of Mr.. Carnegie's munihcent
plans for the public good. Under more favor
able physical conditions. the epithet lengthy as
conveyed the faintest suggestion of WEAKNESS
in the listeners. There was abundant variety
in its several numbers. and a due sense OF ar
. tistic fitness and proportion in their combi-
nation-as glance will show:
PART I.
Weber, Aria from ''Freischuetz',..:
,....::,:.......-.......Mm Nine. Steinbacn-Jahns Is
'iDaybreak. -
.'Ihe Death of Aase.n
'Anitra's Dance.n
Tin the Halls OF the King Of the Dovre Mount
ans"
t1he imps are chasing Peer Gynt.)
PART II.
Mendelssohn's hymn OF praise.
Mrs. M. Henkler. first soprano.
Miss Adah Scandrett second soprano.
Mr II. Il. Brockett Tenor.
Chorus and Boston symphony Orchestra
The Liszt symphonic poem "a work that has
been heard too often to need description)
afforded the writer. from his temporary coigne
of vantage behind the curtain, a good oppor-
tunity to observe the personality OF the con-
ductor, who was called from the Leipzig Opera
House TO rule our country's best orchestra.
All music-loving Americans have right to be
interested in the man at that post; they have
equal reason to rejoice that the pitifully
absurd contract labor law which was blatantly
invoked for the purpose did not avail to de-
priye US OF Mr.. Arthur Nikisch. A short,
slender, wiry frame, cean-limbed and with
a fine reposeful face dominated by wide
brow, lit up by pair of bright, deep
ewes and softened by sensitive mouth-Mr.
Niklsch presents upon the conductors
and sympathy. He conducts wholly from men,
ory, but without seeming to forget a single
entrance OF any instrument or losing the thread
of the most complex passage. His beat while
firm and masterful to degree, is yet singu-
larly eloquent in subtly suggesting to the play
ers all the varying shades Of expression.
THE splendid body of players which had ac-
quired such technical proficiency under
five years of Mr.. Gericke's strict discipline,
seems to have needed only such warm, mag
netic leadership as that of Mr.. Nikisch in order
to approximate absolute perfection very closely
indeed. There has been no falling off on
the technical side IN any department,
and there has been q decided gain
in the yividness and richness Of the
orchestral e,f colors The symphonic poem was in
could not ask for more passionate intensity
than filled the swelling phrases in the allegro
tempestuoso, caught up from the 'cellos by the
were as deliciously pure and cool in their way.
CRIEG is chiefly known here by his songs.
His peer Gynt" suite, while not originally
intended for concert use is eminently charac-
teristic of the man both in its subject matter
extracts from the Incidental music written for
Ibsen's drama of the. same name. The
first movement "Daybreak." with its
Hebades overture tfs Is
graceful and tender moroccan, redolent of
northern climes. 1.-THE Death of Aase' is of a
piece with the pathetic haunting volks-Ieider
of the Scandinavian people; it is given to the
muted strings and is harmonized in style
that suggests Palaesrrina. 'Anitra's Dance
could not be daintier, with its touches
Oriental melody; while the last move move
ment is one of the most grotesque of fancIes,
its weird theme commencing in strongly
marked staccati by the low strings and has,
soon, rising gradually into the higher instru-
ments and working up bit by bit to the most
amazing tutti climax, with cymbals and every
thing else in full blast. The performance of
the suite was superb in all particulars. At its
close the applause was so enthusiastic that
Mr., Nikisch was compelled to repeat the final
section.
Mrs. steinbach-Jahns is blessed with a per-
sonal attractiveness and an ease of manner
that prepossessed her audience in her favor. |
She began the favorite scene from "Frei- |
schuetz" in somewhat reserved mood, that |
soon deeDened. with the "Leise, Leise,"
ing, and in the allegro eliminated |
in triumphant brilliance. Almost
her only fault was disposition to overdo the |
rich, solid soprano, of unusual fexbillty for its
caliber. The audience gave Mrs. Steinbach- |
Jahns quite an ovation, recalling her several |
times.
Through the second half of the programme |
our local forces were in the ascendant. MIR.
McCOlum received a very cordial round of ap-
plause as he stepped forward to conduct Mem
"Syinphonie- -Cantata," one of the |
few successful attempts to initiate Beethoven's
the immortal Ninth-of writing |
\ symphony with n cluster Of vocal numbers
In place OF the last movement IL is pity that
the symphony could not have the most favor
able conditions for performance The orches-
ira aB whole had never played IL before
and tho brief morning rehearsal was
not oil all sufficient for tho men and
The now conductor 10 arrive at perfect under
standing either OF each other or OF the score
Under these circumstances, the symphony was
we'll play0d; that II to say, there
we're no bitches and thoro woro great many
beauties fairly brought out
THE vocal part Of tho "Lobeesang" forms one
of MendoIssohn'a best works. The scene.
'or instance, OF the wntohman eroates an OK
dramatic effect with simple
means, tho reiterated question, "ia tho
light far spontT with its dlaappoint-
ng answer, works mp most effective
y at last 10 tho triumphant declaration
first by tho solo soprano, unhecompanied ana
with only tho change 10 tho major key, and
han by the whole forco Of chorus and Orches-
Ta-"fhe night IL depaTteth. tho day oometh
luIcklyu The strong massive GhOruses. the lofty
Morale, the lovely duet for two sopranos and
he richly varied numbers for tenor solo,
II 20 TO mako up n thoroughly
delightful and inspiring work-sne well worthy
4 mmem Grating the invention Of printing, as
{ was Intended, or any other great event In the
progress of mankind. Z. W. >.
sound Political Advice.
rom the Bloomington Leader.l