The Symphony Concert.

The fourth concert of the series was given last night in Sanders' Theatre, before the largest audience that has hitherto attended these concerts.

The programme was as follows:

Overture (Ruy Blas) Mendelssohn. Adagio (2nd violin Concerto) Bruch. Fantasie Norwegienne, E. Lalo. Symphonic Poem (Orpheus) Liszt. Variations, Haydn. Symphony (C minor, No. 5) Beethoven.

This was, on the whole, the most enjoyable programme that Mr. Gericke has as yet given us, being varied and full of interest throughout. Some of the numbers put a pretty severe test upon the orchestra, but it was found lacking in very few places. What deficiencies there were, were chiefly in the Ruy Blas overture, a little unsteadiness being occasionally noticeable in some of the sudden and trying changes of tempo; and Mr. Gericke's reading seemed to arrive at the climax rather too soon, there not being a sufficient gradual working up to the close. The soloist was Mr. M. Loeffler, and it was a great pleasure to have him again here this winter. His performance a year ago will be remembered as a very excellent and musicianly one; and the impression of his merits as a violinist was greatly strengthened by his playing last night. His rendering of the Adagio was characterized by a beauty and fineness of tone, and a largeness and breadth of conception that did it the fullest justice.

It brought out only in greater relief the utter triviality of the Fantasie Norwegienne for which we wish something could have been substituted more worthy Mr. Loeffier's abilities. His efforts were warmly appreciated by the audience who would not be satisfied until he had twice bowed his acknowledgments. The well-known Orpheus Symphonic poem, and the charming old Hayda variations were each finely interpreted, and served to bring out two very different kinds of excellence in the orchestra. The performance of the great Beethoven Symphony was one of the best we have heard, and was quite satisfactory in every respect. It was played with a precision, and with a dash and fire that left nothing to be desired. The final movement in particular, the presto, was given with charming delicacy, and accuracy in the softer passages, and an admirably self-controlled vigor in the louder. It was a great pleasure to hear a Beethoven Symphony, at last, and so finely played; It is to be hoped that Mr. Gericke will find it possible to give at least one more in the course of the year.