New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-11


lures amounting to S6,53S.S6. There
was a sinking fund of S1,069s9, Of
which more than half consisted of a
loan to U. c. Hill, the creator Of the
society, secured by five indorse-
ments." Actual members of the So
ciety who had neglected rehearsals or
performances had paid fines to the
extent Of S225, and S46 had been paid
for substitutes. Was the society
progressive? The librarians report
shows the purchase of Rubinstein's
third symphony and Concert Over
ture, OPP. GO, and copies of LISTS
"Tasso." 1t is fifty-four years since
then, and Mr.. Stransky's chief show
piece is LISTS "Tasso," Mr.. Pulitzer
having said in his generous will that
List was one Of his favorite COM
posers. There were, in 1862, 855 as
sociate members; the society is now
striving by means Of concerts of
light music at a hotel, dinners, etc,
to keep up a membership of 1000.
We look at the programmes. The
symphonies were Beethoven's fourth,
Gade's first, Schumann's first and
Overture, Scherzo and Finale" Mo-
zarts Jupiter" and Beethoven's sew
enth; the overtures, Schumann's
Manfred" Killers Gin Traum in der
Christnacht," Beethoven's "Leonore
No. g." Wagner's "Tannhauser" and
Zine Faust" Berlioz's Lies Francs
Juges," and Gade's "Ossian." There
were only FIVE concerts, but the as
sociate members we're entitled to
hear the rehearsals. Out Of this priv
ilege grew the so-called Public Re-
hearsals" Of the later period and the
present Friday afternoon concerts.
This circumstance has not been recog-
nized by the champions of the pres
ent system of the Philharmonic when
comparing its activities to-day with
those of an earlier period.
But now to Mr.. Cocks reminiscent
letter, which is presented here deleted
of its purely personal elements:
81 have not resided in New York City
since 1871, and in consequence have
been deprived Of very much in the
musical line that ] did enjoy for many
years previous, living, as ] did for a
long period, on Fifteenth Street, near
Irving Place, right in the centre $50 to
speak, of the musical world Academy
Of Music. Irving and Steinway halls.
As YOU may remember. in the sos the
Philharmonic Society gave in one sea-
son only four concerts, and TO each
concert afternoon public rehearsals,
four in number, which TO musical
mind Of my calibre was "A great help,
as IL gave me an opportunity TO be-
come thoroughly familiar with the
main features OF the programmes and
thus added materially TO the enjoyment
Of the final concert. The object OF
the above plan is. OF course, perfectly
understood by you and requires no
explanation. ln consideration OF the
facts as stated, no wonder some OF
those who are left OF my acquaintances
Of those good old days are inclined 70
review the past in a manner unfavor-
able 10 the present methods. This is
not strange, for ! have heard old opera
enthusiasts, who have heard operas in
the Academy of Music and the Metro
politan Opera House with all the per-
lection Of presentation that they have
been and are capable of giving, say
that after all nothing has ever appealed
10 them in modern times like the
opera In the Aston Place Opera House,
with Nine. Mallbran, always referring
20 the cosy and homelike surround
ings' that the Aston Place house gave,
as compared with the same conditions
IN the modern houses | have named.
AS you may imagine, living 30 close
20 the Academy and not being anxious
% be always seated In the dress circle,
/ was present ~ many notable per-
fOrmances. and always eDdeayored 70
be frst nighter' heard Trovatore' at
rs frst performance, and such artists as
Patti, Kellogg, Cora de Willhorst, Pic
colomini. dAnRri, La Grange, Gazzni-
mega, Alboni, Hinckley and many others
whom cannot recall ! heard Leopold
de Meyer, The pianist, at Niblo's Gar
dem I sat in the gallery. and there
were three young gentlemen behind me
Who 1 am sure were musicni critics