New-York tribune., 1890-05-21
MUSIC AT CINCINNATI.
THE NINTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OPENS AUS
PICIOUSLY.

FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL SUCCESS ASSURED
u,xnr1,s MESSIAH PERFORMED WEAK.
NESS OF THE CHORAL DEPARTMENT.
,pY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TWBUSE.1
Cincinnati. MAY 2O.-If newspaper correspondent
could ever be forgiven the indulgence OF cohSueroIo
bit Of personal equation in describing and discussing
an affair of the magnitude and artistic sgnlhcance o'
n Cincinnati Music Festival | feel that this were The
proner place and time. \ patient and interested
student Of musical development who has attended
every one Of the festivals since 1873, and seen them
grow from daring experiment based on the "er'nan
Sanecrfcst idea (n which a, most people hh"W'
there is modcum of music ana moh>''o"s
Zeal Of festival to be among the most oeau'lu ana
dignihcd manifestations Of artistic culture IN '"e
world and who heside, chcrshe, multitude OF lovely
,ecolc,ions and cr.onal associations touching every
ma Of the eight preceding gatherings. might easily he
pardoned bit of uncrtca rhapsody AFTER Witnessing
the spectacle at Music Hall tonight when thc ninth
festival began
There have been troublous days Tor the ieS'VaI
since then but the picture tonight recalled the picture
II ton wears ago when the festivals ho'd rca'' "S"
water mark. The noble Music Hail. buln under 'he
superyision of men whose taste, predictions ana
wealth prompted and enabled them Ia labor for The
permanent good Of seemed glorious as on the first
iay. The audience. too. was a. superb as aN uiat
aver filed the room II numbered 4.50o at least and
beautiful women and tasteful gowns would have given
A Metropolitan Opera audience brilliancy that
New Workers never sec. The jewels which gilt
ter in the famous golden hoIse~hoes were pale
in comparison. There more refulgence IN the
bright eyes which sparkled under the inspiration OF
festival happiness than in all of them. Ihe nhth
festival was opened with financial and social success
assured That explained part of the phenomenon
Another factor would scarcely be guessed in the East
Ii the performance Of llanders Messiah Mu-
steal historians have come 10 gauge the GosFce Oh
interest in music the kind Of interest tna Is
manifest in personal participation IN music naklhe
by the number and prosperity of the singing societies
IN a community. II BOston'S devotion 10
choral music which gave her the supremacy for so
long term Of years. Now Hsndels Messiah IS
The foundation upon which American singing socleues
rest. From Maine 10 California they depend on the
christmastde performances of the admired old orat"o
to replenish the excheQuers exhausted by dalhsnce
with newer compositions. The fact that Cincinnati,
in spite Of her reputation. had not heard The Mes
sah" since might be cited proof that musical
matters here not in healthy condition ana
am not prepared to say that there isn't more than n
grain of truth in such contention But what is more
interesting topic Just now j. the delight with which
the singular revival" WAS hailed II was new dem
ons,ration of the potency of Iiandel's masterpiece
The people were - agor hear that they sent OF
the festival IN whir Of enthusiasm. which at one and
the same time guaranteed the %ucce-s Of the ninth
festival and answered the question whether or not there
should he a tenth with an emphatic Affirmative. Inc
question ominous A. It sounds. had been mooted'
and one # the reasons might have been read
IN the pasolmance tonight. II was no
festival performance. If the term means performance
ont Of the ordinary. II was. on the whole werh'"d
down with feeling Of perfunctouneSs which came
near DESTROYING the cheerine-s with which the pubic
cave the festival welcome. great was the contrast
between expectation and realization that one could n"t
helm feeling that on this occasion. AT least critical
obligations were a most unpleasant burden. Possibly
too much reliance placed on the supposed Ia
,niliarty of the choir with the work but Ile
ind cmcnt which j., obliged - look al lH'>.
festival concerts the result oi TWO N"dIs
study can hardly accept the explanation as su'IenIi
II Is certainly not Ju~tlncauon Neie ulal 'H
merit r cn; have been found lr comp. -ai-H- lh''>
,re nm the constitution OF the choaUd there IT vas
inoLed for in vain. Doubles dozen performances
rf The Messiah last winter n cities OF mo- pTc'+ncc
io musical superiority were better M thc chD4d " "
tart-cnt than that Of the famous Clnciunat fcNNdI
Association tonight The quality OF tone emitted by
line choir WAS not beautiful. the attack was hstlcs''
the volume insufficient. ,.,.
The instrumental forces. band OF twelve niusAhs'
mostly tired and true men rom Now ofA' "eIc
superb and the performance OF the Pastoral HNmphOi
was something to be remembered, but the acconlrni
cnts were not a. finished they ought to have been
There wa, something wrong with The magic Of Thomas
lcat The solo singer need no words either O pd>f
or criticism In New York They were Mss D. We're.
Mrs Tpodt Miss Winant. Edward LLOYD and Myron
W Whitney. Franz's additional accompanlmcnt> were
used. IL L. n