Philharmonic Society of New York Public Rehearsal

Includes program. 

“Yesterday afternoon at the Academy of Music the first public rehearsal for the fourth concert was held under the direction of Mr. Bergmann. Spohr’s symphony in C minor was played very smoothly, and appeared to find favor with the audience, especially the Larghetto. On increased acquaintance this elaborate work will be still more admired. Weber’s overture ‘Ruler of the Spirits’ was performed very satisfactorily as regards details, but it seemed wanting in fire and energy. The significant entry of the Tympani between the phrases of the second subject when it was given out by the brass instruments appeared to require more force and a different character of tone; such, for instance, as would be produced by drumsticks with harder ends. The orchestration of Liszt’s Poéme Symphonique ‘Tasso,’ being excessively delicate and abounding in novel combinations, required more study than the other works—the conductor finding it necessary to stop very frequently to repeat particular phrases, that the particular shade of expression required for each might be obtained. The sudden changes of key, the strangeness of the harmonies, and the constant variations of the Tempo, to say nothing of pauses and other technical points, require the utmost vigilance on the part of the conductor and each individual performer. The modifications of tone, rhythm, &c., which must be made to give a satisfactory rendering of this highly poetical work, require still greater efforts, and a most willing obedience and sympathetic compliance to the will of him who is responsible for the conduct of the whole to the desired end. To students the first rehearsal is probably more instructive than the subsequent ones, but to those who are not learning instrumentation and the compositions performed the frequent breaking off in the middle of phrases becomes slightly wearisome.

Liszt has written a most important part for the harp in this symphony, but it was omitted altogether, not even being played on the piano-forte.

Lassen’s brilliant Fest-Overture was performed exceedingly well, and was found to possess many interesting points.”