New-York tribune., 1902-05-19
MUSIC.
CINCINNATI FESTIVAL ENDED - CLOS
ING DAYS PROGRAMME.
fpY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE

Try TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.1
Cincinnati May ls-The fifteenth May music
festival came Il al end last night with two
certs-one Of a miscellaneous character IN the
afternoon and one devoted chiefly to a perform
ance the second the history Of the festivals. OF
BerlioZ's Mass for The Dead" As might have
been expected from past experiences. the evening
concert marked the elimination Of the popular en-
thusiasm. The attention which the audience gave
10 the Bach on Friday evening pleas
ing manifestation which told Of the good breed
ing Of the Cincinnati people. and also the sound
musical culture which many-very many. indeed
# them possess.
There is, however. also a large element in the
population which counts the social function above
the artistic ana this element a closing concert
with the circus features which most of the music
Of Berlioz offers IS peculiarly potent attraction
II has been in the past, IL was again so last
night. when for the first time the large music hall
was crowded and the audience INDUCED in great
demonstrations Of delight. The concert was also
Characteristic Of Theodore Thomas. In that il
abled him to exploit his orchestra in the in
which he delights. 1t brought all his instrumental
forces TO the fore. and he opened the orchestral
food gates again and again. and enjoyed the tri-
umph Of dozen Sousas.
In the mass he had orchestra Of about one
hundred and seventy men, and with them created
q more thrilling effect IN the French composers
claptrap delineation Of the Day OF Judgment than
did the 251 whom Dr. Damrosch commanded
when ne gave the work its first American per
-
due 10 the smaller concert room, but also some
what TO the excellent constitution OF the orchestra
So far as the singing Of the chorus con-
cerned. Il q line with the performances
hich the composition has had AT the hands Of the
New-York Oratorio Society. This viii 70
characterize the work Of the choir far the
music lovers Of New-York are concerned. Here it
will mean nothing. for Cincinnati fixes her own
standard. based on a profound conviction that. her
offerings chief in the musical world.
there have festivals with choral
performances in several cities of the South and
West IN the last fortnight. and Grand Rapids Sag
inag and Ann Arbor in Michigan. preparing
for similar enjoyments in the fortnight that is
coming.
The climaxes Of the performance were reached
IN the 'Lacrymosa" and the "sanctus." in which
latter number Ben Davies made his finest popular
success In the afternoon Andrew Black. DR.. Da-
viess British compatriot, who has been at a dis
advantage from the beginning, succeeded I'm win
ming his way the popular heart In air from
HandeIs Orlando" and ingeniousiy Orches-
trated song by the Englishman Elgar. entitled
The Pipes OF Pan" Mr.. Blacks vocal outfit IS
not impressive. and tasks have been put upon him
which outside his field, but his coming has
served a good purpose in maintaining the best
traditions Of the English school Of concert singing,
q school whose influence never needed SO
much as now. when music Is threatened with a
domination Of the dramatic style in perverted
form.
After the mass in the evening the orchestra
played Richard Strausss Don Juan" and the ex-
cerpts familiar in the concert room from the third
act of Die Meistersinger' were given by the or
chestra, chorus. Mrs Zimmerman. Mrs. Stein. Ben
Davies Ellison Van Hooso and Mr.. Black. The
latter two and Mrs Zimmerman also sang in
The afternoon. and the orchestra played Brahns's
'SeTeuade IN D. Mr.. Cigars "Cockaigne Over
ture," SUks suite. a Fairy Tale" the concert
arrangement Of the final scene IN the 'G0tterdam-
rnerung and the love scene from Richard Strauss's
FeuersnOth," with its unspeakably dramatic pro-
gramme. The festival though less expensive.
probably. than OF its predecessors for a dozen
years las resulted IN q financial loss II. Z. K.