Mason-Thomas Chamber Music Soirée: 3rd

Gives program. “The chief interest of this soiree was concentrated upon Schubert’s sonata, which was never performed here, while Schumann’s sonata and Beethoven’s quartette have been frequently rendered and commented upon. Although this work is one of three sonatas which are called his ‘very last,’ we cannot find that in character and style it recalls the peculiarity of most of the great compositions which belong to the last period of his life. The first par [sic] is certainly original, and, in our opinion, the best; but the second (the Adagio in A flat) is so thoroughly Beethovian in style, and perhaps also in its principal motivo [sic], that one hardly recognizes in it Schubert’s genius. The menuetto is graceful, and the last part very Schubert-like; but we miss in both movements those rich traits of fancy, those surprising and beautiful modulations, with which some of his other more important works abound. In one word, the sonata is good, but Schubert has written better music. It was well rendered. So were the two Quartettes; that by Beethoven once more proving the immense wealth of ideas which were at his command. Very justly a well-known amateur remarked to us, that there were enough melodies in this Quartette to furnish modern composers food for ten operas.”

Mostly a list of works performed in the first three soirées.  “[T]hree sterling and by no means too familiar compositions formed the whole programme.”  Says Schubert work is “first time.”