The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-04
THE THOMAS ORCHESTRA
A LARGE AUDIENCE HEARS 1T AT
ENGLISHS OPERA HOUSE.
The Programme So Arranged to
Meet All Requirements of
Artistic Taste.

Those unfamiliar with the strong hold
which Theodore Thomas has the In
dianapolis music-loving public might have
been surprised at the great audience which
turned out TO greet the distinguished con-
ductor and his splendid Chicago Orchestra
at English's Opera House last night-espe-
cially in view of the brilliant social func-
ton in progress not so very far away.
When Mr.. Thomas comes to indianapolis,
however there is always an adjustment
of other engagements to that particular
event. The hearing of such exquisite mel
ody as that of last night is indeed an event
In anybody's life. Just to watch the per-
feet grace and marvellous ease of the d.
rector's movements is a satisfaction and a
joy. He does not draw out melody. He
simply commands it. just as the immoble
idols of heather lands are believed by de-
voices TO command them to a variety OF
frenzied acts. The conductors arms and
hands-and occasionally his impressive
head-are all the parts of his body that
move. The secret of his wonderful con-
troll over his musicians must, then, lie
in his expressive countenance Looking
into it, as do the dervishes into the face
of their craven deity, they catch the need
ed inspiration.
A delightful feature of Mr.. Thomas's
conducting is that he does not allow him.
self to yield to the modern inclination to
haste, which spells so many pieces that
would otherwise be dignifed. stately and
beautiful All there is of melody. of sweet
ness, of subtle witchery and of uplifting
power in selection. he brings forth to
the uttermost. An evening with Thomas
and his orchestra, therefore, is an evening
of soul-lifting. Of strengthening to the
better part of ones nature.
HIGHER MUSIC.
Theodore Thomas deals solely with tho
higher class of music, and yet he is sucn
a consummate master of the art of pro-
gramme making that he produces the ef-
feet of popular programme by an artfal
grouping of the better known and more
easily understood classics. The overture
Jubilee from Wagner, for instance, is a
severe classic, and yet who could fail to
catch its spirit of unrestrained exultation,
or to be touched into patriotic fervor by
it's triumphant close with the air known
in this country under the title America, >
in England as God Save the Queen" and
III Germany as Hell Dir i'm Siegerkranz.
This was succeeded by the brilliant tone
poem. ION the Shores Of Sorrento" by
Richard Strauss, one of the younger COM
versification; it is music painting, with
the divided strings furnishing the deep
tinted background and the scintillations
of brighter colors supplied by the remain
ing instruments. 1t has been aptly de-
scribed thus: 1.-The simmer of the strings
might easily be interpreted as de-
scription of the restlessnesS of the sea,
over which the melodies of the wind In
struments play like glintings of the sun
light" The first part of the concert was
brought to a climax by the everpopular
and enjoyable Beethoven Fifth Symphony
(No. 5. c minor. Opus CD This marvellous
composition has been a puzzle to all who
have ever heard ii. Some have suggested
movement to be typical of Fate knocking
at the gate" but he is said to have denied
this. Nevertheless, the piece is strongly
suggestive of a life story, with all its
sorrow naturally predominating, though
often relieved with tinge of JOY, and
occasionally obscured entirely in burst
of triumphant ecstasy, notably at the close
which is a creScendo note or victory.
A PLEASING VARIATION.
Smetana's beautiful descriptive symphony
"Vysehrad' was a pleasing variation from
the previous numbers. Here the orchestra
had its first opportunities to sound notes
of knightly chivalry. utter martial hymns
OF praise and give glimpses Of actual. dead
ly, ruinous warfare. A series of dream pic
lures of olden times is evoked by this COM
position. One sees the castle of Vysehrad
rise again in all its pristine glory; its
courts resound once more with the hurried
tramping of knights, eager for the tourney,
which is heralded by the trumpets and
cymbals: the warriors range themselves In
hot fra ed q
umphs; the castle shakes to its foundations
with songs of exultation. The picture
changes. The vision takes on another phase
Vysehrad is the scene of fearful carnage
instead of unrestrained rejoicing. The con-
f1ict RACES until the splendid castle is only
a silent ruin, a mere memory of splendor
past and gone. Through the ruins rises
family the sweet song OF the singer prince
Lumir.
The greatest enthusiasm Of the evening
was aroused by the mastery rendition OF
Edouard Lalos Norwegian Rhapsody
known in Paris as the Swedish Rhap-
sody," dedicated to the distinguished
French conductor, Edouard Colonne. The
tempo in this number undergoesF several
changes and there is a delicious freedom
from restraint through 1t all that makes
the piece particularly acceptable to the pop
ular ear. AT times it seems as though the
instruments have decided to take holiday
and are INDUCING in gay frolic or revel
So greatly did the audience enjoy the Sc
expression of their pleasure in the midst OF
the playing-a compliment which the con
ductors sense of artistic fitness did not
prevent him from appreciating. The las
number on the programme was a group OF
selections from Wagner's opera Tam
haeuser," arranged so as to epitomze the
dramatic action of the third act of the
opera. This was rendered with consum
mate art. the contrasting expressions Of
despair and hope being given perfect enun
citation. The introduction. as given las
night, is from a manuscript copy OF tn,
original composition that has not yet beer
printed.
The presence in the orchestra Of Bruce
Steindcl, the brilliant 'cellist, who wa:
heard here in solo last year, was noted
with pleasure. 1t is hoped that Mr.. Steinde
will be given another opportunity later In
the present season 20 charm an audience
as he did on the occasion of his former ap
pearance. A delightful feature of the con
cert was the splendid work Of the harpists
one of whom is a woman. Mr.. John III. Stem
makes the announcement that the city is Il
have Conductor Thomas and his orchestra
for another concert, the date OF which /:
fixed for Feb. T.
Religious Services for Deaf-Mutes.