Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-01
THE WORLD OF MUSIC"
Is Surveyed by Our Critic While
Taking His Ease During
AVISIT TO THE OLD HOMESTEAD.
Liat's "Christus Proves a Bone Of Con-
tentiOn to New York.
TIE SIRASATR. R.n,LTREPT CnNCERTS
A VISIT TO THE OLD HOMESTEAD.
TIE SLRAsATE-DAIBERT CONCERTS
rcoRRrsroxDrxcr OF THE D1spAroH.l

IcoRREsPoNDENcE OF THR DIsPATcH.1
WOOSTER, O., November 3O.-A bit of a
vacation and q visit to the old folks is
cause for true and unmixed thanksgiving to
most persons. Only few hours ride from the
rush of the big city; the busy lawyer finds
that clients cease from troubling-the organ
ist feels that for him the bellows are at rest.
But, alasi for the man once caught in the
maelstrom Of newspaper work. Fast mails
and that terrible telegraph tie him to his
post. Though he take the wings of the
morning, and fy to the uttermost parts Of
the earth, yet the awful voice of the foreman
calls for copy, and little electric devils
stand impaiently waiting for the same.
If only the material out of which this
column should be constructed were brought
70 the writer with as much ease as the copy is
taken away, how pleasant it would be. If one
could have projected his astral being into Pitts
burg concert rooms while his physical being
was enjoying turkey and kinsfolk at Wooster.
would it not be delightful?
The readers of this column might IN suen
case be informed in the usual fashion Just how
the young men of the Poco-a-Poco Orchestra
on Tuesday evening last followed their devoted
y
an attractive programme. 1t might have been
interesting to hear how the staunch ola From
sim opened its concert season on
Wednesday, evening in its new CLUB S
house, and with its new leader, the
gentleman from Iowa. whose name declines TO
be remembered. Then. too; the two concerts
of the Levy troupe; how Mrs. Llnde-Schaar-
schmidt-if she sang at all-approved the met
ropolitan training which her superb voice SO
well deserved; how amazingly brilliant and mu-
sically empty the cornet may be made by Its
foremost disciple, Jules Levy, and how the new
tenor and the rest of the much advertised COM
pany did their parts of the performance.
These and other matters of purely local in
terest the gentle reader will for this week have
to seek elsewhere. 1t may not be wholly amlss,
however, TO turn the eyes outward Tor the
nonce and glance at few things beyond the
limits Of our own community.
Take New York. for example. Within the
past fortnight the musical season there has
got fully under way. The Oratoria Society
started in with Liszt's 'Christus," and gave the
critics fine bone of contention-one set of
them declaring that this work Of the venerable
able stands upon plane of loftiest devotion
ality and of ineffable beauty, while the rest
contend that the old roue has rushed in where
angels fear to tread, and made mock oratorio
full Of unblushing plagiarism, shallow sentl-
ment and meretricIous sensationalism. Which
shall we believe? All agreed. however, in
chorus and the augmented orchestra which
Walter Damrosch, with Andrew Carnegie's
backing, has built up and trained,
That backbone of New York's musical sea-
son, the German Opera at the Metropolitan,
has opened its work during the past week.
Wednesday saw the first performance for
which had been chosen Wagner's THE Flying
Dutchman," giving good role Tor the Ameri-
can debut of Theodor Reichmann, the eminent
Vienna baritone. The works to follow imme-
diauely are "Goldmark's Queen of Sheba.n
Mozart's Don Giovanni, "Verdfs II Trova-
tore" and Cornelius two-act opera, Barber of
Bagdad" with the ballet "Die Puppenfee."
Truly a catholic selection, and il only covers
the first two or three weeks
The symphony, the Philharmonic of New
York and of Brooklyn, little OFT. Hegner and
host Of lesser attractions now keep the met
ropolitan reviewer on the jump.
sHS
or course the forefront of saIl-at least, when
viewed according to the individas greatness
of the performers-are the Sarasate-D' Albert
concerts, of which considerable mention has
already been made in this column. The follow
ing extracts from the admirable review in the
Home Journal coincide quite remarkably with
the present writer's recollections of the great
pianist and violinist as heard some years ago in
Berlin:
Nothing could more wildly illustrate the
power of genius than dAlbert's command over
the audience. His appearance is a surprise
With abrupt angular movements he works his
short gives q series of abrupt bows and as
abruptly seats himself at the piano, where his
small stature and ungraceful attitude remind
one of some uncanny German gnome. Eageriy
his fingers grasp the KEYS as the orchestra nre-
ludes q concerto. At once like a stream of
meteoric fire shoot forth the piano notes corus-
eating and flashing with the intensity of the
players conception. The amusement at his
appearance changes to astonishment at his
power His evident obliviousness of the audi
ence is only matched by his obliviousness of
SELF. Single-hearted, dominated only by musi-
cal emotion, he illustrates the present
FERNmit of reproductive skill-a skill in
his case almost equal to creative power since
he throws new lights over old and hackneyed
com positions. Especially is this true of the |
Lszt E fat major concerto played at the |
second concert Friday evening. This compo- |
eirion be invested with new meanings, and by |
his magnetism swept the orchestra into such a |
furore Of sympathy that the result was |
the finest Interpretation yet heard in New |
York. DAlbert's technique shows all the /
pecuiarities of modern piano playing, which |
seems to consider all means justiiable TO at |
tain its end. No classical repose of arm or /
hand or finger; no adherence to any established |
school; but every movement that can bring as |
needed purer, more sonorous more vel |
Vety, or dainUer tone. And these sometimes /
astonishing movements are used with the /
audacity of master for whom no technical |
difficulty exists
''Sarasate. undoubtedly the second greatest /
v1olinist in the world, and perhaps to some the /
greatest, has awakened at both concerts as |
much enthusiasm as d'AIbert. he was reneat- /
edly recalled and was greeted with shouts of /
admiration. He impressed the audience at /
once with his grace and dignity. His LIQUID /
Spanish eyes-true eyes Of genius-gleam and /
soften under the varying emotions of his music
Els outward repose, which almost conceals the
constant trifing indications OF repressed en-
ergy, is the perfection of an artists manner.
Bis playing is technically more of the French |
school, Of which Musin is an excellent ex.
ample, than of the German school. but IL ne.
neither a
artistic phrasing. His dramatic force Is never
shown harshly and at the expense of tonal
purity, nor does his daintiness and Infinite deli
cacy degenerate altogether into mere pretti-
ness.
\ "The Mendelssohn concerto of the first con.
cert did not reveal his full power That came
almost like revelation with the Beethoven
violin concerto on Friday evening. The ex-
Quisite passages in the larghetto-the test of a |
musicians genuineness-Were given SO fanIt-
lessly shat even the captious could but sigh
with satisfaction. Senor Sarasate's own yaria.
tions upon Spanish air displayed his com.
mand Of all the resources of his instrument
and was strongly imbued throughout with
national color. 1t told to the musician a mn
sical story as clearly as a novel tells its tale To
the reader. OF the violinist's graceful bowinC
his special skill in harmoncs. his extraordinary
double stopping, it is unnecessary to speak,
Such technical excelencies are understood bv
to others they are-Greek.
considering both artists, one NAV say
Il Albert is a phenomenal breath-stoppinS
genius whom music has made its own; Sarasate
& q high-born artist, whose charming indi-
Yiduality is only equaled by the poetry of his
music. To both, gratitude is more especiaIiy
iue tor their dignity of Interpretation. which
iwarfs technique and lifts musics into lis
proper realm Of the ideal.n
80
One cannot write from this pleasant little
college town without saying a word of that
ioble man, musician and writer Karl Merz |
iirector Of the musical department of Wooster
University. II is 3 remarkable work this
Iuiet genial man has done herewith several
hundred pupils now under his supervision
Nth a weekly lecture and recital of the highest
educational value; with an oratorio chorus
Thich has given the messiah" and |
Judas Maccabaeus," and is now work.