New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-24
THE CINCINNATI FESTIVAL.
A SUCCESS FINANCIALLY. IF NOT ARTS
TICALLY.
SERIOUS QUESTIONS RAISED BY TEE QUALITY OF
THE PERFORMANCES AND THE MANNER OF
THEIR RECEPTION Fly THE LOCAL
SERIOUS QUESTION:


TIE PERFORMANCES AND THE MANNER OF
THEIR RECEPTION Fly THE LOCAL
PUBLIC AND NEWSPAPERS.
[RY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
Cincinnati, May 23.-The twelfth biennial May
Music Festival came to end here this evening. 1t
has left more serious questions in the minds OF
music-lovers than any of its predecessors. but 1t
has brought in money enough to pay all the eX-
penses and leave a comfortable surplus in the ex
chequer Of the Festival Association and in so far
as its leaders sway public opinion ian easy thing
II do in this community Of would-be lotus-eaters
so You play on the string OF municipal pride and
local patriOtism) 1t will be written down as an
other success. vast if little vague. The
festival MANAGEMENT 4, not confie in the people
who support them 20 any appreciate extent ana
it is impossible II discuss the details Of the inan-
cial outcome which. after all, in the opinion OF Mr.
Thomas and the small cotcrie of his thick
thin brokers' concerns no ore but themselves.
This is one of the anomalous AMI amusing feat
ures Of the festival situation. which Is protected
from the criticisms " the serious music-loVers
only by the fact that they recognize that without
the help Of these friends the existence OF the les
rivals would long ago have become prohlematcal.
They, at least whatever their intelligence IN the
case and whatever thei: motives. have been Will
ing 10 york and that Is much. To them Cincin-
natl ought to pay the most fragrant Of tributes
81 long as the present Indifference to worthy ar
tistic results endures Therefore let them be men,
toned in a review which. while in the nature OF
things il can only he concerned critically with
artistic results must a,'. take note ot things
which have news value They William y
Hobart president. and Lawrence Maxwell. vice
president Of the Festival Association.
tun ou Asst
festival! one in the afternoon devoted 10 miscel-
laneouG programme and one in the evening. in
which excerpts from Wagner's lyric dramas hlIed
the first part OF the programme and Beethovens
Ninth symphony the second. Under the c.rcum-
stances The Tribune has little concern with the
details Of these concerts The compositions on
the programme were all extremely familiar IN
New-York concert rooms and 80 were all the per
formers. except the choir that sang in the Ninth
symphony; and word on tina, can he reserved
for the end. \ feature Of some intcres; wac the
"Amercan" symphony by Or Dvorak. ~ which 1t
may possibly be permitted to reviewer who
knows the composers mind on the subject l. say
Ohe Federal ami State Constitutions being silent
on the subject. and the Penal code providing no
punishment for such an offence-this should be
looked into that IT'S first two movements are
sadly misconccivcd IS 10 tempo and poetcal con-
tents by Mr.. Thomas.
What is NOR important 10 current musical his-
tory is the question Of the status which the cir
cinrati festivals do and ought 70 occupy in
American musical lfe Tho most difficult in
deed seemingly Impossible. thing In connection
with the May festivals t. t. convince C.ncin-
atians who pride themselves on their local
patriotism that there can be 0ny difference be
~ cen promise and performance In ther biennial
meetings or that II any discrepancy exists it
is the privilege Of visiting newspaper CORR.
spondent TO point Il out. gay privilege. ana
lot duty. for the highest conception ~ duty In
some quarters here seems t. be t. shut ones
ewes and ears t. every fat Ire recognition %
which nigh: disturb the sense q superiority
which has been developed hy the festivals.
There have ben innumcrable Instances within
the last ten years In which common honesty
would be no more than conceived II the conduct x
Mr. Thomas and the festival directors were char
acterized az nothing better than n confidence
game yet t. judge By the comrnotion win which
a simple statement of the fact has been r.
ceiveI it appears tina. duty 10 the city requires
that the gold brick extended with the usual
b,andness be accepted with a. much gratitude
as If It were accompanied hy certificate II
scnuineness from the Assay Office Under such
circumstances Il /. worse than idl" t. expect an
improve rncnt I'm affairs fr IN artistic point OF
View admit that this Is peculiarly harsh
statemen, II the case. but II Is the only one l"ft
To- an observer Of musical affairs who places
himself or is placed by circumstances. upon an
other platform Of observation than that rails I'd
By the personal equation Of the Cincinnati peo-
pie
Tho significance % the festivals as affairs Of
National Importance depends upon the character
Of the programmes and the forces employed. ana
the superior excellence Of the performances. 50
far as the orchestra and the solo singers are
concerned the festivals are not unique. and do
not call for attention outside the territory di-
rec:ly affected. or the principals whh have sung
here this week Mines Nordica, K!afsky and
Brema 60 straight to the festival in lndianapo-
lis and they have been singing in festivals Of
greater or lesser magnitude ever since the opera
season came to "A close indianapolis has
chorus as large as Cincinnati, yet Cincinnati
would stand aghast II anybody were to compare
her biennial meetings with the annual AFFAIR In
Indiana's capital. shall not make such a, com
parison. for In the scope and dignity Of It's pro-
gramne the festival just ended is In very diff
ferent class from the indianapolis festival
This very fact II is. however, which sets the
standard OF judgment which an hor est critic.
free from personal prejudice ard familiar by ex-
nerience with musical activities beyond the con-
fines of Cincinnati, must adopt in discussing
these meetings. Mr. Thomas and the festival d.
rectors set this standard. If 1t is once conceded
that there Is no ambition to do more than t.
provide an agreeable local irritation, the mis-
sion Of the Cincinnati festivals and their value to
musical culture in America will be at an end.
They will concern the readers OF The New YORK
Tribune less than concerts OF the New-fork
Oratorio Society concern the readers OF The
Cincinnati Penny Post They VIII concern
musical students not at all To that complexion
are they come Immediately the choral factor Is
permitted to become subordinated TO the orches-
trail and solo features or fails below the standard
maintained In the other cities Of the country.