Year: 1870

The Philharmonic Society will give in the
Academy Of Music another of its rehearsals-
which merit rather the title Of concerts-at
halfpast two to-day, and another of its regular
concerts at eight on Saturday evening. With
the assistance of Ole Bull, the famous Nor
wegian violinist, and Of Mr.. Mills, the accom-
plished pianist, its unrivalled orchestra of
one hundred performers, under the direction
Of Carl Bergman, will thus have favored the
public this week with the finest musical enter
tainments Of the season.


The extinction Of the Italian opera and the
paucity and comparative insignifcance of con-
certs during the present winter have, in fact,
left the musical field in New York to be almost
entirely monopolized by the Philharmonic
Society. How gloriously the society has ocen-
pied it Is attested by the immense and brilliant
audiences which, at each rehearsal and con-
cert ill the Academy to ovcrhowing. It is
but just to say that nothing has more directly
and powerfully contributed to the rapid growth
in our community Of fondness for music
and Of an intelligent appreciation of its highest
works than these rehearsals and concerts.
BY frequent repetitions they have afforded
exceptional advantages for the thorough study
as well as the momentary enjoyment Of mas
terpieces by the greatest composers. At the
same time DR.. Doremus has, with commend
able wisdom, insisted that the practical and lit
become president of the Philharmonic Society
should be complied with, in order to secure, by
the only possible means, the universal popu-
larity and permanent success which 1t has at
length attained. The "German element" to
which so much Of this prosperity is honestly
complain that in the selection of works to be
produced by the society more Difference
than they deem necessary has been paid to
the actual amount of musical knowledge and
degree of musical appreciation in this country.
They would fain rigidly prohibit all but the
highest classical music. But the president Of
of the society, himself an American, although
familiar with the loftiest standards of Euro
pean taste, Is equally familiar with American
wants and customs. Aware that New York
40 AOs l0uAAACu uO u0o AnOWA INV w uOupt bpc>
cial means to the proposed end of gradually
educating and elevating the innate musical
taste of our people. This end can be best
attained by grating certain popular features
upon the severe original programme of the
society and interspersing with works of the
highest order others which, if less exalted,
are excellent of their kind and more readily
appreciable by promiscuous American
audience


Moreover, although the music of our Phil
harmonic Society, like that Of similar societies
in the capitals of Europe, is chiefly instrumental,
admirable specimens of vocal execution have
also been happily introduced at its concerts.
The enthusiastic welcome accorded both to
Mrs. Moulton and to Mrs. Scott-Siddons, when
the former sang and when the latter read
before the Philharmonic Society, might well
suggest the experiment of affording, from time
to time, to equally fresh, well trained and
charming voices, which are now only heard in
private, an opportunity to thrill with delight .
far wider circle. The prediction might thus be
justified that our peculiarly exhilarating climate
and the Intensity of our American life will yet
aid in supplying the musical world with as
sweet and powerful singers as any ever born
beneath Italian skies. Whatever the Philhar-
monic Society may hereafter do for music in
America it has already accomplished enough
to make it one Of the most descrvedly popular
institutions of New York.


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