New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-05
MUSIC.


There can be little doubt that the needs Of lovers
Of orchestral music in New-York will be fully met
this winter. The series OF concerts projected and
promised numerous enough to satisfy even the
most voracious public. end even to threaten a
musical dyspepsia IL everything that Is promised
is realized. One Of the widely heralded Of the new
undertakings set in motion last evening at
the Astoria, when Mr. Seidl and his orches-
ira gave the first OF series OF subscription
concerts In the ballroom Of that magnificent
new edihce. The surroundings were OF the most
luxurious and splendid sort. The audience was a
feast TO the eye I'm its briliancy and distinguished
in It's quality. 1t brave sight and one that
augured we'll for the success OF the series BY
every means II was signihed that the occasion was
one OF high social import
Mr. Seidl and his men did their share to make
IT also Of artistic weight and dignity. He had a
large orchestra under his baton last evening, OF
which considerable number OF his old players
formed the nucleus. and they were admir-
ably drilled body OF men, productive OF an admir-
able body Of tone. The hall proved 10 be an ex-
cellent one for music. There some dlspropor.
ton between the size Of the auditorium and Of the
orchestra, but the effect Is OF great sorority. the
strings especially sounding extremely brilliant and
while the body OF tone Is homogeneous the differ
ent instrumental voices are clearly distinguish
able when a melody is TO be made prominent This
state OF things has its advantageous SIDE In
that the least roughness crudity has an equal
prominence, but Mr. Sedrs hearers were not
greatly troubled thereat last evening. The or
chestra played Beethoven's "Ieoncre" overture
No. g. the prelude and finale from Tristan and
Isode'-a reading Of splendid eloquence. with n
soul-racking climax; transcription OF a song by
Grieg and an andante from one Of Tschakowsky's
string quartets, both for strings alone, and LISTS
symphonic poem Les Preludes."
Nine Marcella Sembrich sang, very nearly re-
peating the performance she gave at her opening
concert few nights tO-w!t, the "Cagta Diva
aria from Norma" TO which. as then. In COM
pliance with unmistakable demand. she added
the aria from La Sonnembula." "Ah. non GiunGe';
also three German Liedcr-MoZarts "Velchcn."
Brahmss delicious "Vergebliches Standchen."
with its folksong navete and Bccker's "Frihllngs-
zeit," afterward adding a waltz song. with orches-
trail accompaniment. 1t Is needless 10 rehearso
again the perfection OF Nine. Sembrch's art the
vitalizing fire that she puts into even the outworn
Italian operate airs the purity OF style she shows
In such n piece "Casta Diva" Her norltura Is
not always perfect but is less than brilliant,
and the warmth and beauty OF her voice never
failing The German songs she sang with all the
charm that is native TO them
warm greeting was extended to Leo Stern.
celllst. who made highly favorable an impress
sion at his first appearance here last spring. when
he played for the first time Dvoraks beautiful con-
certo. He showed himself then to be artist OF
high aims and a fine musical feeling and thor
oughly accomplished In the technical means OF ex-
pressing them He very properly played nothing
powers unon the attention Of the audience ms
the great concerto he first exploited before the
Philharmonic audiences: but his nnc artistic quail
ties still In evidence lie played two compo-
sitions of his own "A Romantic Melody, In which
his hearers may have recognized not inconsider
Sravura piece S Called S fumoresauc also Pop
per's Elves Dance" lie supplemented this with
a transcription OF portion Of one OF chopin ms $
strument with genuine passion.
The audience was most brilliant one, and many
women. nearly AL OF whom were N fu!I evening
dress Mrs. William Astor with Mr. and Mrs.
welt Roosevelt, occupied OF the floor boxes on
the side OF the ballroom. In box directly op,
poslie were Mr.. and Mrs. Oliver Il. +. Belmont and
l. j. BeTwind. . -,
Some of the others present were NJ and Mrs.
Henry Payne Whitney. who bad with them IN IN ,Helr
Morton: Mr.. and Mrs. Almeric Hugh Pnget. Mrs.
pmock Miss Dimoek. Mr. a nr3 Mrs km.hGT
{. Gnrnce. Mr. ana Mrs John f. Cowdn. Mr.. and
Ms Edmund Bayes who had Win In i aNg u4 ne
Charles A Post a4 Aes sfRsfn ii on ana Mr HHD
& H2%dsn Mr. M nnd H mr. Oscar
ne Misses Weber, Mrs isrrinonn D 0ehlT Rr,
mr. ana N po M5: colonel and 9 M2a Rob. @
soil, Mr. and Mrs. I,anedon schroedsr MISS Cnnr
lotte Pe. Frank Polk Albert f. TWXiord MI r.
Kelly Mr. and Mrs. Reginald II. Jarray. Mr.. and
Mrs walter Ldspenard sgydam , MI ane r ME
rbba annse9 Dua' pe lS'" IT, Miss Annie Pagdqs
Miss Eloise Breese Miss Day. Mr. and Mrs Charlc:
Russell None and Ge Mgs f M1Tcf M cSnh John
Davis Mrs George l.. Rives. Mr.. and Mrs Charles
A. Chllds. A. Murray. Young. Mr. and Mrs T. NJ
collier Mr.. and Mrs Albert Shattuck, sherman
Day. Mrs George c. Bodt Miss Jessie McN2mce
R Raf Mr. and Mrs f. Tiffany Dyer and Mau-
rice Grau.