Philharmonic Society of New York: 2nd Rehearsal for the 4th Concert

“The second rehearsal of the Philharmonic Society, previous to the Fourth Concert, was as largely attended yesterday afternoon, as these concerts always are. Messrs. Rietzel, Ohlemann, Boehm, Lohst and Schmitz are the several artists who will take part in the Quintette. Mrs. Davidson had a semi-private rehearsal, at the close of the regular rehearsal. The few persons present were much pleased with the lady’s singing, and we are glad that we are to have an opportunity of hearing her voice at the next concert.”

“The Academy was crowded to the extent of standing room only on Friday afternoon at the second rehearsal of our chief musical society. The programme was good, but presented no novelties. The overture to the Zauberflöte is too well known to the musical public to need a description, and Schumann’s overture, ‘Génoveva,’ has been frequently heard here before. The most delightful part of the bill was the magnificent Beethoven symphony, No. 5, in C minor. Although a rehearsal debars criticism of the performance, to a great extent, yet we must say that we never heard this lovely work played with such spirit, delicacy, tenderness and expression. The andante, a tone poem in itself, is one of the most beautiful imaginings of the great master. What a difference there is between this music and that of the disciples of the ‘future!’ The labors of the latter can at most produce a cold, severe, rugged structure, while every measure of the grand old German breathes with life and passion. He possesses to a greater degree than ever did man before or since the power of reaching the soul of the listener, and making the heart strings and pulse vibrate in unison with the strains of the orchestra. A quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn, by Rietz, will be played at the next concert, on Saturday night. Bergner has a fine violoncello solo, and Mrs. Davidson will sing on the same occasion. In the desert which bad management, narrow-minded policy and indifferent artists produced in music in the metropolis, it is consoling to find one oasis—the Philharmonic Society. Under the able direction of Dr. Doremus it has grown up like a banyan tree, and will soon extend its branches over the entire land.”