Deutscher Liederkranz Concert

“The members of the German Liederkranz gave one of their ‘extra concerts’ on Sunday evening at the rooms of the Society in Fourth-st. The most interesting part of the programme was the performance under the direction of Mr. Paur of Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony by an orchestra of about sixty players, principally amateurs. A few professional artists, including Noll, Bergner, Liesegang, and other members of the Philharmonic Society, furnished a sort of skeleton to stiffen up the mass, but the preponderance of dilettanti was so great that we can judge it as a genuine amateur performance. As such it reflected the highest credit on the Society. The playing was almost always correct, and if it seemed to lack at times the delicacy with which such compositions as Beethoven’s symphonies ought to be treated, this was owing partly to the fact that an orchestra of sixty pieces is too large to be heard to advantage in the Liederkranz Hall. Another instrumental performance, a quartett for violoncelli by Lachner, was given faultlessly by Messrs. Bergner, Koch, Liesegang, anad Wallot, and in obedience to an emphatic demand was repeated. We never heard Mr. Bergner play with more beautiful expression, and one of the amateurs who took the second part was also remarkably excellent. Señor Yzquierdo distinguished himself in a flute concerto by Heinemeyer; he produces great purity of tone with very neat and facile execution. Miss Benziger played a polonaise of Chopin’s ; Mr. Steins sang two lieder by Schubert, and Mr. Candidus, the favorite tenor of the Arion, came boldly into the camp of his adversaries with a romanza from ‘The Huguenots,’ and was received with a storm of applause most inspiring to hear. In addition to the piano Mr. Candidus had an accompaniment by Mr. Noll on the viol d’amour, that obsolete instrument with its ten or fourteen strings, and its extensive compass and peculiar resonance of tone. There were only two choruses on the programme. Liszt’s Psalm cxxxvii was given by the female chorus, with soprano solo by Miss Brickel, violin by Mr. Noll, and accompaniment of piano, organ, and harp; and Goldmark’s Frühlingslied (‘Spring Song’), admirably done by the full male chorus and amateur orchestra.”