New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-09

question inherent in MozaYt's great works IL In
the element that has preserved them while those
Of his contemporaries have persisted. So far as
it is permitted us 70 speak Of Immortality in con-
nection with musical composition TOT all art
works the most pcrishabe by reason OF its nature,
1t Is this spirit which made Mozart's chief works
immortali ihey can ever be read 50 as to in
terpret the feelings Of the readers. The thought
is not confined BY It's formal invCstiture Yet while
Herr jain read the symphonies i'm this vital
manner, ne ala not In any way distort them
Their utterance remained simple and Ingenious
IL was particularly gratifying 10 find him un-
touched by the desire 10 win interest for the
music by the pedantic devices with which some
conductors are now seeking 10 make plain tho
purposes oil composers as they say. lie did not
distort the minuet OF the Jupiter" symphony as
Mr.. Thomas has done Of late in the concerts Of
the New-fOrk Philharmonic Society by PLAYING
it so slowly as to rob the melody Of its native
character This is a part OF the mischief that
has resulted from Wagner's criticism OF the tempo
in which Mendessohn and other conductors were
in the habit OF playing the corresponding move
ment In Beethoven's eighth symphony. That
criticism has given birth to the notion that
symphonic minuet must he played in the tempo
OF the old dance for which Mozart set standard
In the ninuet TO which his nobility step IL 80
decOrously in the first finale OF Don Giovanni .
n notion. which never occurred TO either Haydn
Mozart or Beethoven az should he obvious enough
from the character Inherent in the themes Of
their symphonic minuetS.
In lesser degree, but still very noticeably the
same fresh and vigorous style of reading marked
Madame Esspof's playing in the concerto
especially at the rehearsal which had been thrown
open to the public at the price Of q gulden. in
order to accommodate the many who could not OBJ
tain tickets TO the concert. Madame Essipof
still maintains her position at the head Of the
women pianists Of Europe. and plays with all
the charm that characterized her work when she
visited the United States. sixteen or seventeen
years ago l hear that she is again sending
longing glances across the Atlantic. Al IL
concert. she had the honor Of seeing Madame
Schuman among her listeners.
The performances Of the solo singers az the
concerts do not call for especial comment beyond
an expression Of admiration and wOnderment for
the singing of Herr Walter. the "a.
nous Liedersacnger of Vienna. Herr Wal
ter is now siyty-three years old, but
his tenor voice is still full. pure. sweet and ample
in range, while his art and taste are exquisite.
lie alone Of all the SINGERS was compelled 70 re-
peat one of his airs. Herr Ritter. who sang in
the duet firm " Die Zaubenioete. is the husband
of Frau Ritter-GoetZe. the admired contralto ~
the last Metropolitan season in New-York. His
allegiance is now divided between Hamburg and
Vienna Like his companion in the duet. Herr
Ritter made his chief success in the representation
of . lie Nozzi di Figaro" in which he inner.
sonated Count Almaviva. III. l.. X.