Theodore Thomas Matinee

Remarks on the forthcoming program.

Includes program.

“The matinée concert given by Mr. Thomas’ orchestra at Steinway Hall, yesterday, was quite numerously attended, in spite of the wretched weather. Mr. Thomas has not been laid under very heavy obligations this season by the clerk who is supposed to control the elements, but the attractiveness of his entertainments is so strong that nothing less than a tornado or an inundation appears likely to deprive him of a goodly audience. The programme interpreted on the occasion we write of consisted almost wholly of familiar compositions. The symphonic number was Raff’s ‘Im Walde,’ which does not wear so well as ‘Leonore;’ Brahms contributed his newest trio of Hungarian dances, and Wagner was represented by ‘Wotan’s Abschied’ and ‘Feuerzauber,’ from ‘Die Walkure,’ and by Wolfram’s romance from ‘Tannhäuser.’ The orchestral selections were played as usual with exceeding refinement and precision, and Mr. Remmertz sang his air better than he has done anything of the sort since he has taken part in Mr. Thomas’ entertainments. It is a great pity that Mr. Remmertz does not use his fine voice with more skill than its management now discloses. His intonation is often defective, and he is never sure as to the color of the tone he is about to produce. The other soloist was Mme. Madeline Schiller, to whose intelligent and brilliant piano–performances we have more than once referred. Mme. Schiller recited with more breadth of conception and style than we anticipated [in] Beethoven’s effective but rather long-drawn concerto in E flat, (Opus 73;) we were less pleased by her reading of Weber’s rondo, of the melodious charm of which she was quite heedless in an apparent desire to render the music as swiftly and as fluently as possible.”

“This celebrated orchestral leader, with his unrivalled band, gave a concert at Steinway Hall yesterday afternoon with the following programme [see above]. Nothing could exceed the hearty, genuine manner in which Raff’s glorious symphony was performed. It was a triumph alike for the conductor and the orchestra, and was rendered without a flaw. Unqualified praise is due to Mme. Schiller’s artistic performance of the Beethoven concerto. It was a delightful treat. Mr. Remmertz, in his very trying selections, acquitted  himself as an accomplished artist. Brahms’ Hungarian Dances were given to perfection.”

“Theodore Thomas gave a matinée at Steinway Hall on Saturday with the following programme [see above].

Though there was nothing new in this fine programme, there was certainly no lack of interest, we may almost say freshness. Raff’s Symphony loses none of its popularity by frequent repetition; the brilliant and sonorous Hungarian Dances are [illegible] attractive; and the splendid selections from the ‘Walküre’ seem fairly to have captivated the public. Mr. Remmertz declaimed ‘Wotan’s Abschied’ with the [illegible], intelligence and feeling he has so often given us occasion to admire, and won fresh honors by [illegible] delivery of Wolfram’s Romance of the [illegible] from the third Act of ‘Tannhäuser.’ This beautiful melody appears in some of the orchestral selections which Thomas has arranged from the opera, but he has never given it to us before with [illegible] efforts of voice and instruments combined.

The beautiful performance of Beethoven’s great ‘Emperor’ concerto was perhaps the feature of the entertainment. We could hardly wish for a more poetical and refined interpretation than Mme. Schiller gave us of this famous and [familiar?] work. The Adagio in particular was exquisite, and although in the grand opening of the Rondo the pianist slowed the rhythm to be for a moment obscure, this was only a slight and passing blemish, which would not have been noticed had not the performance, as a whole, been so fine. Mme. Schiller has nearly all the most valuable qualities of a good pianist---an elegant technique, taste, sympathy, sufficient though not remarkable strength, and an artistic temperament. Recalled after the Rondo, she gave a brilliant exhibition of skill in the playing of the difficult minuet from [illegible] Suite in E minor.”

“On Saturday afternoon, notwithstanding the unpleasant state of the weather, a large audience assembled at the Thomas matinee in Steinway Hall. The first piece on the programme was Raff’s ‘Forest’ symphony (Im Walde). It was magnificently performed. The opening phrase for the horn suggests at once the woodland scene, and soon we are drawn to contemplate it from the point of view of the tone-poet to whom ‘high mountains are a feeling.’ In the reverie (Largo) the soliloquy was especially notable from the extreme beauty of the tones produced and the highly expressive delivery of the performer. The second strain exhibits a greater intensity of feeling—a more impassioned earnestness than the preceding, it rises to a high note, and then, as if in sympathy with it, other instruments respond. These delicious plaints were noticed and admired by all. The dance of the wood-nymphs and the succeeding ‘Wilde Jagd’ were also fully enjoyed. Madame Madeline Schiller then came forward to undertake the piano-forte concerto in E flat, by Beethoven, and was cordially welcomed by the audience. Between the movements and at the close of the concerto she was loudly applauded, and thus her success on previous occasions was confirmed. This great masterpiece received a most artistic rendering.

The ‘reading’ of the truly sublime Adagio especially was admirably well adapted to bring out its full meaning. Madame Schiller was recalled after the performance of the concerto, and again more than once after the Rondo Brillant in E flat by Weber, when she gave a charming little minuet from a Raff suite for piano solo.

Mr. Franz Remmertz sang the ‘Romance of Wolfram’ and the vocal part of the selection from ‘Die Walküre’ very satisfactorily. Each time this Finale is repeated something seems to be gained in the general effectiveness of the delivery. The pathos of the middle movement seemed to be still more affecting on Saturday than on previous occasions. This music grows upon audiences so rapidly that even now it appears to be quite familiar. The programme included the ‘Hungarian Dances’ by Brahms which are extremely popular.”