Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-03
A GREAT ORCHESTRA.
TIE BOSTON SYMPHONY UNDER NJ
klSCH AT THE ACADEMY.
First Night of the Nav Festival-A Bril-
liant Audience and Fine
Performance.

BY long odds the finest entertainment
ever given under the auspices OF the Mo
zart Association was the concert rendered
OF the Academy last evening by the Boston
Symphony Orchestra under their able di-
rector, Mr.. Arthur Nlkisch. Indeed to our
mind Richmond has never before heard
such perfection in orchestral playing.
About ten minutes after the hour an
nOunced $500 for the concert TO begin
Mr. Nikisch walked upon the stage. and
having acknowledged the applause which
greeted him and gwen an attention" rap
with his tiny baton, stepped upon his
stand aud faced his orchestra OF seventy
odd musicians. There was q brilliant au-
dience present and when the first strains
Of Webers beautiful overture were sound
ed many of the vast assemblage winch
subsequently filed the house were stu
coming in.
THE CONDUCTOR.
The great leader is thoroughly quiet in
his movements and mild-mannered, yet
from the moment he takes his position as
conductor he looks the master spirit. He
directs in a way thoroughly original. The
baton IN his hands is not welded as If a
threatening cudgel with which 10 frlghten
the timid and bring the refractory into
subiection; It is as If very unlmportant
little reed gracefully waved for the
qualification of the conductor, In keep
ing time to the music. as one pats
his foot to inspiring strains. Yet the
work Of that unostentatious baton is
simply immense. II seems electrified with
the genius of its holder and transmits his
spirit TO each Individual performer. Nj
kseh uses his left hand in way that seems
TO speak to the performers. He is rather
ba q he v-orthxr r,ra1apngGor
Gericke who appeared rather more as q
commander: yet the former has conquered
in his way and has made the Boston SYM
phOny as near perfection as we poor NOR
tails in earthly matters can expect to at
tain.
A GREAT PERFORMANCE.
But for the work Of last evening. Never
before have we heard anything tOapproach
the finished rendering gwen the Weber
| Overture. The shading was something de-
| licious. If we might SO express II. J he
last movement (waltz time) OF kubin-
| STEMS BAL Costume" seemed to be the
most taking feature Of the evening, though
as q whole II was beautifully rendered.
Mrs. Steinbach-Jahns. the vocalist OF the
| occasion, received quite an ovation and a
| triple recall, although no encOrts were re-
I spOnded TO. She has voice of power and
excellent quality, and was heard at her
best in the song, Die Quelle.' by Gold
I mark. We thought her rendering OF the
| grand aria from Freyscheutz rather lack
| inc in animation. Yet this may be ac-
| counted Tor from tho fact that she WAS suf-
| fering from very sore throat, and at one
| time IN tho afternoon 1t was feared she
/ would not be able TO sing.
CHARMING ADDITION.
The management very generously made
| q charming addition TO the programme,
| which was announced from the stage. II
/ was the "Peruetuo Motto" of PaCaninl
! played by oil the viollns (twenty-six) in
/ unison end ACCOMPANIED by Mr. Nikisch on
! the piano. This was simply remarkable
performance. It is difficult 70 realize
! how so many yiolins could play "a one
man. very rapid and difficult execution
/ kept up throughout. just a. the name OF
/ the composition has tin perpetual mo-
ton.
When tho Mendelssohn symphony IN A
1talian) was reached the orchestra got
| down 10 It's fine work, though 1t must be
admitted. and is still more wonderful TO
relate. some Of tho audience seemed To
grow wearled "a the simply exquisite rem
dering OF this fine composition progressed.
It was q fitting conclusion TO hne pro-
gramme beautifully rendered.
TuE ORCHESTRA.
! The orchestra is almost faultless IN lts
corposition. Yet from the marvellous per-
I f+stion of the strings and the prominence
| given them we should say they are Nr.
Nikischs pets. Their prominent position
last NIGHT. from the extension OF the stage
ayav out from the proscenium, must have
done their conductors heart good. Yet 1t
! was q matter Of regret to US that the wlnd
/ instrumeuts should have been, as 1t were,
40 thrown into the shade. Upon these lat
ter instruments there are in this orchestra
some of the finest performers III the world.
Heindel. who played with the old Boston
| Ouintette Club" and whom we used to
think the finest Of all 1ute-players, is here
as second flute. Only think OF 1t
pEErTY STAGE SCENE.
The stage sotting was very pretty and
] affective. with a conservatory scene Tor the
background. Only about one half OF the
stage proper was occupied, but with the
staging over OF the footlights and entire
orchestra the perspective was decidedly
effective. Back OF the rear scene as ar
ranged last nightraised tiers OF seats have
beon erected for the festival chorus to-
night. They will seat 2s5 singers, but were
hidden to view last evening.
Tonight Will close the festival" and
fne prorranme will be rendered by the
orchestra. the Festival chorus. and Madame
Steinbach-Jahns. Grieg's Peer Gynt"
will prove an enjoyable feature.
Nikisch is pronounced with accent on
the first syllable.