The Symphony Concert.

The sixth and last of the series by the Boston Symphony Orchestra was given last evening in Sanders Theatre. Mr. Gericke has given few more interesting programmes than this, which was as follows:

Overture (Alfonso and Estrella), Schubert.

Concerto for 'Cello op. 33, Volkmann.

Danse Macabre, Saint-Saens.

Overture (Melusine), Mendelssohn.

Symphony, A Major, No. 7, Beethoven.

We regret that the orchestra should not have left us after the last concert with a rather better impression; its performance last night was hardly up to its usual high standard, a frequent raggedness and unevenness being evident, as well as lack of precision in following the conductor's beat. The melodious overture of Schubert's, however, fared rather better than the rest, and was played in a way that well brought out its charming and overflowing melody. The soloist was Mr. Gilse, the leading cellist of the orchestra, than whom it has been our fortune to hear few better performers when at his best; which he apparently was not last night. His tone had not quite so much of that full richness and purity that it usually has; but his technique was most effective. The Volkmann concerto which he played is in a very different style from the Symphony by the same composer, played at the first concert of the series, and is as interesting and full of feeling and melodic beauty as the symphony was dry and barren of ideas.

Saint Saens ingenious Danse Macabre, though not finely played, so took the audience as to call forth a demand for its repetition, which Mr. Gericke unwisely yielded to. If the rule against repeats is to be broken, it would seem as if a piece of more real musical merit might furnish the occasion. The Melusine overture was taken at altogether too rapid a pace, and even then the violins showed a tendency to break away from the conductor's time: it was otherwise well done, the delicate runs in particular being evenly, and carefully brought out. The symphony was, on the whole, very well played. It must be confessed however, that the first movement, the Vivace, was taken in a rather tame manner, and the Allegretto lacked somewhat that impressiveness with which it should be characterized; the last two movements were interpreted in a manner quite up to the usual standard of the orchestra,- and when it is at its best, there is very little to be complained of.

The impression left by Mr. Gericke's first season has been on the whole a favorable one. He has visibly raised the level of the orchestra and inspired it with a unity and solidity which it has not always possessed. We earnestly hope that a similar series of concerts will be given here next year.