New-York tribune., 1896-03-30
MUSICAL COMMENT.
THE VISIT OF MIR. THOMAs-WALTEH
DAMROsCH AND GERMAN OPERA.

THE VISIT OF MIX. Al AIA~
DAMROsCH AND GERMAN OPERA.
1t is feature Of the which has It's spec'ai
significance that the visit Of Theodore Thonas Win
bis Chicago Orchestra to New-York was mace tne
occasion of tribute more personal than artstc 'o
the conductor. He would be churl who, having
the interest Of good music at heart, would not oe-
light to do honor 10 Mr. Thomas. There are few
among the real music-lovers OF New-York who are
dead to gratitude. His name Is boldly ana deepy
impressed upon the history OF musical culture, not
only here, but throughout the land. His influence
does not go quite far back as his personal de-
votees have made themselves believe, however nor
was he the first conductor TO introduce Beethoven
and Wagner 10 the Americans. There were kings
before Agamemnon. 1t Is always pity wneh
adulaon goes to the extent that II did last Saturuay
evening when the spokesman chosen to present a
gift to the distinguished visitor spoke OF his as
ISOLATION with Maiibran. who died when MI Thomas
was ono year old and caused litter TO run through
a house full Of personal admirers by reference 10
yourself and Beethoven" Nothing was more be-
coming to Mr. Thomas than the obvious embarrass-
ment which he suffered while undergoing ths Or
deal He is a strong man. and no true friend wou'd
think OF hatterirg him by ignoring the men VINO
were his inspiration and his models while ne was
preparing to take the leadership which they have
been obliged In the course OF nature one after
another to lay down.
Next week the Philharmonic Society will celebrate
the hftieth anniversary Of It's first performance OF
Beethoven's ninth symphony. which was also the
first performance OF the colossal work In the United
States If music dawned with the coming OF Mr..
Thomas to the conductors desk. what were the
occult forces that participated In that performance
In Castle Garden on March 7, 1s6. when the fn'i-
harmonic Society already four years old, was 80
proud Of itself that II wanted music hall OF It's
own and gave the for the purpose OF raising
dcS ne Was
Mr. Thomas joined the society. and many years De-
fore he took leading position IN It, II Is not pleas
ant 10 nterject criticisms OF this nature INTO
period of amiabe rejoicing. but the veriiies OF MS
tory should be conserved and It Is much better to
honor a good man for what he has done than 10
praise him for things he never dad- MT ihomas
suffered from these follies when ne went to Chicago
and his friends tried to convince themselves that
music had forever departed from tho metropolis
but unwlingly enough. his fatterers were coi"-
PEELED 10 do what the poet OF reform FELT tempted
once TO do "to let the Lord alone, and the result
was that music continued 10 wax ana hourish IL"
the METROPOLIS and so nightly too, that when MT
Thomas came with his orchestra ten days ago IL
was possible for the judcious weigh his offerings
against those of Boston and New-fork withou'
twinge OF conscience or single throp oi envy vi.
might think that this was cause for grau'uue anu
nride within the bounds OF decornm II the attempt
had not been made again TO create the belief that
tho announcement akin 10 that OF the seer oi
pstmos and that every tutti OF the Chicago pahd
was like the voice OF a great multitude and as the
voice OF many waters and as the voice Oh ms"'s
thunderings saying Aiieuia"' In the race OF such
Efforts II Is wei TO be just even " the ac' i''o'es
,anse from conventional poi;eness. or even rude
maze Mr. Thomnss Teutonlc nature would nave
stood the truth and might even have FOUND a cause
Gov ,rIde IN the thought that the field which he had
nlanted and water-d so faithfully was bearing so
bountifully
TIL. seven concerts given by Mr.. Thomas and his
ch,,a~, orchestra wer. we'll attended. but perhaps
no, we'll enough 10 pay their cost, This was scarcely
10 have been expected. New-fork mas ho' SUI
fered from a lack of orchestral music, ana al 'ne
cIo.. OF a season 40 crowded with entertainments
n. this has been 4, remarkable that 80 many
persons were found who were willing to go 10 AT
o-cbestra concert every day for week the fact
tha, the audience OF the same constitution nSh'
after night, and that the outburs's OF hPP'a"~'
which amounted 10 demand for repetition were
confined 10 pieces orcheetrnted by Mr.. Thomas Tex
cen, IN the cases OF Messrs Joseny and Davies. the
solo attraction.) demonstrated the personal char
ac;er OF the tribute. The orchestra sounded better
IN the last concert than the first, for which fact
there Is two-fold explanation. In the FIRST place
the men PLAYED better Mr Thomas having them
in better control after ne had overcome an inds-
nos,.on which weighed him down when he opened
tho series next. familiarity with the tone OF the
hand made IT'S crnssness and crudencss less notice
abe Had not the series been interrupted rlght IN
the middle by the concert OF tho Boston symphony
Orchestra II is not improbable that those who were
rr,evouslv disappointed at the first concert would
at the last have been willing 10 accer the orches-
ira ut nearly the fun valuation which Chicago has
nlsced upon IT, But an evening with tho Boston men
made such consummation impossible The tone
of the managers announcements. combined with
various circumstances. made an avoidance OF com
parisons impossible, and against the sensuous charm
with which the OF The Boston band is sat
urated and which never leaves IT, even in the mo
rnents OF most passionate dynamic stress. the tone
OF the men from Chicago cannot prevail. Neither
did Mr. Thomass readings carry the conviction
which they were wont do. ether times. other
manners live In the Interpretation OF symphonic
music. Du.ness is as little to be extenuated as ex-
aggerat.on carried 10 the extent OF carcature We
seemed in danger from the latter source once. but
the danger Is past and orchestral music still lives
in New-York and will continue to 1--we no matter
who goes stays. 1t would be thousand pities
II music were form the one exception to the laws
Of nature.
Except so far as he chooses to make II public or
do st for him. the financial result OF Wal
ter Damroschs second venture IN opera manage
ment will not be generally known. In u brief speech.
however at the Academy OF Music on Saturday af-
ternoon when he concluded his New-York season
with a repetition OF DIE Mestersnger." ne init
mated that his managerial days were not yet over.
He has compelled praise from every honest mouth
this season by tho pluck displayed IN planning and
carrying a costly and dangerous enterprise. and
admirable features OF his representations. 1t
would not be right to say that they met the de-
mands Of German opera In its best estate. but they
disclosed a improvement on last years effort.
and In respects bore comparison admirably
we'll with some OF the Metropolitan performances.
Mr. Damrosch had unbounded confidence In German
opera when he launched his undertaking Evidently
he Is not discouraged BY the reverses which he met
in the early part OF the II he can not compel
New-York TO estimate him as highly as II does the
institution housed In upper Broadway, he VIII PROB
ably look for his chief support outside OF New.