New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-13
MUSIC.
Second Day of the Cincinnati Nay
FestiUal.
IBv TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BuNz.I

IBv TELEGRAPH TO THE rKrBUNE.I
Cincinnati. May Theodore Thomas taught the
patrons OF the May Music Festival. ar the second
concert. which took place this afternoon that
whatever their notions Of the proper character OF
an afternoon festival concert might be. his We're
this year turned in the direction Of uncompromisue
severity. Once. when there were two concerts
every DAY he did not object to bit OF frivolty
MS afternoons. Between the solemn evening fun
ions they We're periods OF rest and refreshment.
To-day MS programme must have appeared almost
penltentlal 10 some who now looking forward
Win Hllsglvlngs and dubiosity to the last day os
the feast, which should be the most brilliant 90
carry out Biblical precedent After symphony and
some Richard Strauss things in the afternoon they
are expected 10 hurry into their pretty gowns and
uS 20 ma seraphic delight in BeethOven's solemn
mass in D and the choral symphony. II is To be
feared that they forget that the making OF record
or the writing. perhaps. OF n concluding chapter
or American musical history is OF more Importance
than mere entertainment, no matter how II NAV
seek to disguise itself with the habiIirnents OF
artistic culture. Besides 1t is time that people
VINO are content to take all their choral music
within one week every two years should learn that
Ihey cannot expect TO have the choral programme
cheapened by too rapid and great descent from its
plane in the afternoons
mere were two symphonies IN this afternoons
scLeIre-Mozart's in Z fat belonging 10 the COM
poser tripartite symphonic swan song) and
beethovens eighth; two buthesone works written
when the musical skies still sereneIy radiant.
the grasses lush and when fairies stu tripped II
merriIy with no. no hOr TX ought not TO be DIFF
hcult to listen 70 two such lovely works when
played By such superb band IS Nj Thomas
controls now
Let 1t De said that the Chicago orchestra has
undergone 4 wonderful change since il was last
heaFu IN New-York- Then IT was Grass. strident
and aggressive. Age has mellowsd and refined is
tone as IL seems 10 have the tastes and spirit OF
us conductor since the time when he seemed TO
nave 1a44en into the boster0us and strenuous mode
OF utterance native to his new environment
It's performances were lovely its utterances a
benson. especially IN the mastery variations OF
Elgar which were also on the programme.
Il Is an suspicious that this music and
The Dream OF Gerontius" are on the programme
cheek by towl with Of the pretentious tone
poems OF Richard Strauss. English art is more
than likely TO reap OF the glory 70 which DIT.
Elgar has found IL 70 be entitled. The other or
chestraI numbers were the 2 minor between acts
music from Schubert's "Rosamuude" Cigars
march, "Pomp and Circumstance (which might
well have been spared. since 1t lowered the tone
Of the swelling march with which the variations
end; the baccbanale from ''T'annhauser" and the
prelude and finale from Tristan and Isolde"
There three vocal numbers Nine. Schu-
ulann-Heink trOtted out her old warehouses;. Eco
Il Punto.'' from Mozart's ''Cleuenza 81 Tito and
The Three Gypsies," BY List. and Miss Nichols
sang Ocean, Thou Mighty Monster from Webers
"Oberon." The lady has a voice OF good range
and fresh and pleasing quality. but the dramatic
arias OF German opera writer's are not ths field
IN which the gracious gifts ought TO be exploited
The audience more numerous than on the
opening night. and It seems likely that the festI-
val will prove financial success II E X