The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-10-22
THE SYMPHONY CONCERT.
Last Nights Performance at lnfan-
trv Hall InteIligentIy Reviewed.

The first concert Of the Boston Sym
phony Orchestra was given in Infantry
Hall last evening with the following pro-
gram
Third suite, Op. 55............. ..Tschaikowsky
valse Melancoique
Scherzo.
Theme. with variations.
Aria, for sopranoL"Queen OF sheba". .Gounod
Good Friday Spell" Parsifal "....... Wagner
Pollacca, for Soprano Mignon Thomas
Overture 10 "Benvenuto Cellini" .Berlioz
Nine. Lillian Nordica was the soloist
and Mr.. Nikisch conducted.
IL is wellknown that there have been
several changes in the personnel Of the
orchestra this year, and some of the Bos-
ton critics have affected To notice falling
off i'm its work However that may be,
the playing of last evening was fully up
TO the standard of the orchestra here last
season. III one wished 10 find fault there
were now and then occasions, as for in
stance In the too loud playing of the wood
wind in the ending of the Vdlsc Nolan
cOltque, or the false intonation OF the
brass at a conspicuous place in the over
ture. But such defects are only spots on
the sun, and of no particular significance.
The Suite by the Russian composer
proved TO be n work of extraordinary inge-
nuity and beauty. Wagner said that Ber-
lioz was ''diabolically clever" and the
same remark might be made of Tschai-
"
nal rhythms, brilliant and poetic orches-
tration, great contrapuntal skill and
melodic invention are striking features.
The briefest mention only can be made OF
the Suite. The Elegie is quiet snowy
movement in the major, with a strongly
marked theme in the triple rhythm. The
VdlSe meldncoliquc can be best descriped
as Tschaikowsky-ish. IL has queer
rhythms queerer harmonies not always
beautiful and generally bizarre
atmosphere. The Scherzo, a movement of
immense difficulty, is all that the name
implies. From the beginning of rapidly
repeated chords tossed about from wood
wind TO strings TO the sudden bang by full
orchestra at the end, il is IA constant sue
cession of surprises. 1t was played with
immense dash and fire. The theme tcith
tlCclUe Udridtions was also magnificently
PLAYED and displayed the composers mar
velous versatility and technique to the
fullest degree. Mr. Nikisch took great
pains TO keep the orceestra up TO the mark
and the result was great credit TO them
both.
Wagner strongly objected TO perform
ances of excerpts from his operas on the
concert stage. There are several arrange
ments, however, such as the isoldcS Licb-
CStOd from Tristan UHd Isolde the fire
scene and W'dlkUerenriu from Die Walk
acre which have materially assisted in
popularizng the Bayreuth MASTER
WORKS. In tnat class we CainoJ place the
Good FTiddu Spell: IL has not point
enough TO make it interesting divorced
from stage effects. The BeneUcntO Ccllint
overture made great impression 10y its
beautiful orchestration aud fine musical
power.
Nine. Nordica was recalled several times
after each of her numbers and gave vocal
exhibition of great brilliancy. Her selec-
tions were wisely chosen with regard 10
effectiveness and the exhibition of her
voice and execution. The audience were
delighted and would have been glad if the
encores so strongly demanded had been
granted.
1t is matter of qualification to those
having the musical interests of Providence
at heart that the public are awakening To
the true value of these concerts as an
educational and refining influence of great
power. The large and intelligent audience
of last season was direct testimony TO
that effect