The moment when Brahms stepped on to the Gewandhaus platform, the acknowledged representative, in at least two domains of musical art, of the greatest masters who had preceded him, must have been one of quiet satisfaction to himself if he cast a thought backward to the evening, more than thirteen years ago, when he had last appeared in the same hall, and, not for the first time, unsuccessfully sought the suffrages of the same public. Even now, however, though he was received with the respect due to a musician of his great standing, he was not to taste the enjoyment of feeling that he had aroused the enthusiasm, hardly that he had awakened the sympathy, of his audience. The Gewandhaus public, rarely demonstrative, preserved its special attitude of coldness and reserve towards him, and though he may have enjoyed the society of his personal friends, he was probably glad to find himself back again in the genial atmosphere of his surroundings in Vienna, where, in spite of the survival of a hostile attitude in certain organs of the press, his ground had become practically his own. The Haydn Variations were performed in February or March at Breslau (twice), Aachen and Münster, under the respective conductors of the subscription concerts, and on March 13 the composer assisted, but with little success, in the performance of a Brahms programme at an Academy concert, Munich, under Levi, conducting the new work, and playing the solo of the D minor Concerto. In spite of Levi's continued efforts the musical circles of Munich remained indifferent to the master's music. The Haydn Variations were heard for the first time in London at the Philharmonic concert of May 24, 1875, under W. G. Cusins. The programmes performed at the two 'extra' concerts of the Vienna Gesellschaft were: On March 2-- 1. Schubert: _Kyrie_ and _Credo_ from the Mass in B flat. (Unpublished; first performance.) 2. Schumann: Music to 'Manfred.' On March 31--Handel's 'Solomon.' 'We can only thank the conductor for bringing this work forward; the performance was ideal,' says one of the critics in his notice of the oratorio. The last concert of the season, on April 19, presented a varied programme: 1. Haydn: Symphony in E flat major. 2. A. Dietrich: Concerto for Violin (Violin, Herr Lauterbach). 3. J. Brahms: Schicksalslied. 4. J. Rietz: Arioso for Violin with organ accompaniment. 5. J. S. Bach: Pastorale for Orchestra from the Christmas Oratorio. 6. Handel: Last Chorus from the first part of 'Solomon.'