The Critic and record., 1891-03-26
AMUsEMENTs.
rhe noston symrhony orehe.lrn.

Ihe boston symphony Orchestra
Every seat in the Academy of Music
from pit to dome was occupied last night
and there was standing room only, forthc
belated. II was the largest and most
fashionable audience of the season. The
uppermost gallery was filled with refined
and enthusiastic lovers of music.
The programme was as follows and COM
prised selections from the best works of
Wagner:
Overture and Bacchanale from 'fann-
baeuser" paris version); lohengrin's le-
gend from "Lohengrin;n Mr. Dippel.
Walweben from "Siegfried" duet, "ln
Neuen Thaten," from "Die Goetterdaem-
merung," Mrs Mielke, Mr.. Dippcl. Sicg-
fried's Passage to Brunnhildc's Rock,
Morning Dawn, and Rhine Journey from
"Die Goctterdaemmerung," (Richter's ar
rangement.) Prelude and Closing Scene
from Tristan und ISOLDE Isolde, Mrs.
Mielke. Suloists Mrs. Autonia Miclke,
Mr.. Andreas Dippel.
The orchestra, under the direction of
Mr.. Arthur NikisCh, was i'm great form,
each member an artist, and all in the full
est sympathy with the composer and the
conductor. Those who sneer ut Wagner
and predicted thin and ignorant audi
ence were doubtless disappointed to see
such an array of the elite of Washington.
Although this is Passion week, and many
stayed away, there has rarely been such an
assembly of society people on any similar
occasion.
IL Is not our purpose To enter into any
discussion of the merits or defects of
Wagner and his peculiar and original
school Of Emusic Of the future" Wagner
has certainly fought his way to the front
in spite of the bitterest opposition in every
capitol in Europe, outside of Germany.
There can be no question as TO the mag
nilicence, wealth and originality of his
ideas, Instrumentation and harmonies.
There is nothing thin or commonplace.
Breadth, power and an almost super
natural use of all the multifarious re-
sources of each instrument as a unit, and
all as q whole, mark his orchcstration.
His music Is a succession of wierd and
wonderful surprises. harmony and not n
succession of melodies being the chief
characteristics. Under the magic wand of
his genius the orchestra gives forth a
tempest of harmony, always changing
from the most delicate and fairy-likc
movements tO storm of the deepest and
most passionate chords. The music of
Wagner is as variable and restless as the
OCean-One moment all calmness, subtle
sweetness and ethereal in its daintiness,
the next hurricane OF harmony and
chromatique cyclone. II is purely an in
telleCtual school and appeals more TO the
ing at times when the composer permits
feeling and notintellectual vanity to sway
his mood.
Where every number was given with
cUnsunmate taste and in the highest
form of musical Interpretation it is inn
| possible to say that any one number of
the programme was better given than
another.
Mrs. Antonia Mielkc achieved distinct
art success by her superb singing i'm the
| "Neuen Thaten' duet with Mr.. Andreas
| Dippel and i'm the closing scene from
| Tristan uud lsolde.n Mrs Mieke has a
remarkably fine voice, clear, fresh aud
| sympathetic, and of course eXquisitely
| cultivated. Mr.. Dippel gave Lohengrin's s
| Legend with fine effect. He is an artist,
| indeed, young, and with voice of great
| purity, sweetness, and strength. The APP
! Vlausc was enthusiastic and the audience
charmed one.
Lieutenant Harries' Lecture.
Lieutenant George II. Harries of the
District National Guard and other institu-
tions is going to break out like the mea-
sles upon the community. Lieutenant
llarries is going to lecture. When the
Lieutenant lectures there will be erudition
and flow Of words. The Lieutenant is
going to orate at lIamline Chulch, Ninth
and p streets, and he will his tale unfold
tomorrow evening. His subject will be
"rhe Indian ON and off the Warpath
With Incidental and Personal Expert.
ences." He was out Northwest during
the recent trouble and he will give hls
hearers good talk. The only mistake
that the Lieutenant makes is in subscrib
ing himself as "staff correspondent of the
EccniRg Star at Pine Ridge" If folks die
not know that Lieutenant Harries is
newspaper man they would think from
that subscription that,he is journalist.