New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-06
MUSIC FESTIVAL
ON in CINCINNATI
'"Damnation of Faust" Sung
to an Appreciative
Audience.
TWENTY-FIRST TIME
FOR NOTABLE EVENT
H. E. krehbiel Tells History of
Organization Founded by
Theodore Thomas.
BY N. E. kREHBIeI.

BY n. e. kREHsIEL.
Cincinnati, May 5-The twenty-frst
May Music Festival began here in the
Music Hall this evening with a perform
ance OF Berlioz's "Damnation OF Faust"
amid one OF those scenes OF loneliness and
Of glad excitement which have sometimes
had to make atonement for things which
looked like defects to the critically mind
ed.
That was so In small measure on
this occasion, but the deficiencies were no
doubt more obvious to a visitor who for
a whole generation has come from New
York TO study this notable musical func-
ton. at whose inception he was present
forty-ons years ago. than to the local
music lovers. to whom the festival brings
the only opportunity in two years to hear
great choral music adequately performcc.
1t seems advisable 10 call attention TO
this personal equation at once. Those
who listen with civic pride swelling their
hearts and an unsatshed musical hunger
hear differently from one who has JUST
emerged from a musical campaign of 90
symphony concerts. several times as
many choral concerts and ten times as
many miscellaneous orchestral concerts
as will constitute the festival this week.
IL is something-and not little thing
that the Cincinnati festivals have been
able 10 hold warm place in the hearts
OF The Tribune's music reviewers for
forty-one years.
Mr. ]. X. G.. Hassard, OF The Tribune's
editorial staff reported the first four fes-
tivals. beginning in 1873. and the writer.
after reporting the meetings OF 1875, SIS
and 1880 for the old Gazette" has re-
turned to his former home TO report all
but one Of them ever since. Veteran
readers of this journal are therefore In
position to follow a discussion OF the
vicissitudes through which the festivals
have passed and to understand the new
phase into which they have entered with
the present meeting.
Brilliant Audience There.
The fine music hall. which is a proud
monument to the enterprise which Theo-
dore Thomas inaugurated more than four
decades ago. was crowded tonight with
a brilliant audience. almost wholly com
posed Of Cincinnatians. A generation ago
this audience contained large quota Of
visitors from all the surrounding country.
This change is not at all deplorable. FOR
it IS but consequence OF the develop
ment of musical culture which was large
ly stimulated by the festivals during the
first decade and half OF their existence.
Then they were unique. and offered the
only opportunity which the cities OF the
Middle West had to hear fine choral sing
ing concerted with the best orchestral
music and the performances of the most
gifted solo singers in this country.
They do that only In a measure now.
for there are excellent orchestras in Chi
cago, st. Louis and Minneapolis. all OF
which felt the influences which went out
from Cincinnati In what. through the
historical perspective. look like pioneer
DAYS. The singers who then confined
their ministrations to New York now
travel through the length and breadth OF
the land, and many communities are
wisely content with distributing their
oratorio concerts through the season In
stead OF gulping them all at once In
single week, once in two years. How
ever. II is this concentration OF the city s
choral activities which enables Clncin-
natl TO perpetuate a lovely tradition ana
Gull out a holiday which no visitor can
observe without a swelling Of the heart.
IT is a fact. too. that. though the festi-
val concerts. taken individually, do not
differ greatly from any one OF tho cnoral
or orchestral concerts OF which Ne"
York. for instance, has too many every
season. they vet have distinction when
gives a certain cachet to the cooper
atine forces. especially the solo singers,
and az result, these put forth their
best efforts here. just as the Boston or
chestra plays better In New York than
q does at home The biennial meetings
.rs therefore. affairs of real pith and
r,orent and far and away the most Inn
nortant music festival interest centres
g, the festival which began tonight
from, the fact that with II the enterprise
enters upon a new phase.
Recalls First Festival.
When Theodore Thomas, on one OF his
visits TO the city with his New horh
orohestra. planned the first festival. II
~. % he a sort Of refined and glorined
saapqerfest. the thought having It's IN
cantton IN the circumstance that han
"a hsen left by great German meeting
ia IN 1861 AS the German singers had
com. from all parts OF the country, Mr.
rhor,as invited singers from all the
.,otas and in the chorus OF 1873. when
,,,,,hered more than 1000, there were
representatives from many cities ano
,ours some beyond the Mississippi
p,y.r The only difference in plan was
,hat tho chorus was to be composed oil
- and women instead OF men alone
rt,.. language was to be English and the
r.ooramme to be composed OF master
niacas Of the great composers.
=, ,s76 and 1878 the fundamental plar
IS adhered to, but the participation OF
,oroien societies fell OFF until only few
,on,rs and cities in the vicinity Joined
,teir forces with the Cincinnati organiza'
tons
. tremendous success was achieved al
IN. festival of 1878, at which the music
hau was dedicated, which led the associa-
ton 10 organize the festival choir as a
roruanent body. This step resulted in a
sreat artistic improvement in the choral
factor of the festivals. but killed the
oho,aI activities of the city-or. rather
rs,r.a them IN the biennial festival