Rubinstein-Thomas Concert Combination

“The absence of Wieniawski from the Steinway Hall matinée yesterday was amply compensated for by additional selections played by Rubinstein and the orchestra. The great pianist appeared in the most favorable light in a nocturne by Field, ‘Auf dem Wasser,’ Liszt; ballad, Chopin, the ‘Erl King,’ and march from the ‘Ruins of Athens.’ Mendelssohn’s concerto in G minor formed the feature of the first part of the concert. The orchestral works performed were [see above]. The works chosen by Rubinstein were those which might be called the most popular in his répertoire. His rendering of Schubert’s ‘Erl King’ and the Beethoven march can never be forgotten by those who heard him. The orchestra cannot be too highly praised for their interpretation of the works assigned to them. It seems now to be a settled fact that Liszt and Wagner shall occupy a permanent position in all our orchestral programmes, while Haydn, Mozart, Weber and other great names are permitted to grow into disuse. Had Liszt contented himself with the standard rules of art, which are scarcely transgressed in ‘Les Preludes,’ he would not cut such a ridiculous figure as at present in the world. In this work he is truly great. It is the only thing he can point back to with pride. Probably, in his present crazy mood he regrets ever having written it. Such is one of the evil results of communion in music. Poor Weber! How he is abused and looked down upon by the sans-culottes of the school of the future, and yet to him are they indebted for whatever good that can be found in the temple of their Baal. ‘Der Freischütz,’ ‘Oberon’ and ‘Euryanthe’ contain more real music than a milliard of trilogies. We meet his sharp, well-defined features, once seen never to be forgotten, in those portions of modern works which are at all tolerable. Wagner and Liszt use him liberally, but they generally decorate him with the cap and bells of the professional clown. To the mind of the right-thinking musician, after listening to this mécanisme of Liszt and Wagner, naturally occurs the thought ‘Whither are we drifting?’ It is a mistake to imagine that these people can ever lead the world by the nose. They have followers of the most rabid kind who will claim for them all that is great and grand in art, but so had in religion John of Leyden and Joanna Southcott.”

Includes program.