New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-27
MUSICAL COMMENT.
CLOSE OF THE PHILHARMONIC Seasonal
CONCERT OF RUSSIAN MUSIC-NOTES


The nfty-nrst season of the Philharmonic Society
to conclusion with Its sixth concert last Sat
urday evening. 1t has been OF financial sue
for the society, though. fancy, has provoked
more queruIOus comment than any one OF Its pred
eccssOrs for ten years. The removal to the Music
Hall. which compelled by the destruction Of the
Opera House, awakened sensations which were com
paravely unfamiliar TO the subscribers at the out
set and the programmes have kept the feeling OF
strangeness alive ever since II would be foolish to
try to conceal the fact that the has stirred
up a decidedly critical spirit among the subscribers.
There have been features about the performances
which have fallen short OF the standard maintained
by the society In the past. but though these have
been deplored they have not been so disturbing TO
the general Of prOprety and wisdom as the com
pilatIon of the programmes and the choice OF solo
performers. The principles which have obtained in
this department., indeed, seem past finding ont. At
four out OF the six concerts solo vlonists have been
heard. at nth violoncelst, and for only one was
n pianist engaged The viOnists, In the order OF
their appearance. Richard Arnold, Johannes
Wolf. Camilla Urso and Henri Marteau. OF these
the first invited as mcrited compliment to the
Of the organization and the invitation
may be Considered outside the scope Of criticism The
second does not belong TO the class OF artists from
which so august and dignifed a body the Phil
harmonic Society ought to enlist It's helpers, and the
work he chose for performance was just as dis
tlnctly unworthy OF the nOnOr DeslOWeu upOn IL
rs was the performer. Nine. Urs0 the contrary,
deserved the compliment, IL compliment 1t can still be
called I'm her case after the many years In which she
has cOllabOraed with the society In the upbuldiDg
and conservation Of sound musical taste ana Judgment
The engagement Of Marteau unobjectiOnable on
artistic grounds He had conquered the privilege by
brilliancy OF his work. and the manner I'm which
he redeemed the obligation imposed him ut the
last concert OF the most delightful Incidents
OF the season. He played Bruchs first concerto with
a technical finish and purity OF tone that no violinst
has displayed here In the composition save, perhaps.
Sarusate, and, winning enthusiastic recall he paid
the society and Its patrons the compliment OF adding
Bach's "Chacomel' In Il manner which showed him
TO have attained IN artistic stature hitherto unsus
pected. The single pianist who appeared, Ferr,cco
Eusoni. married the generality favorable impression
made by his performance In the G-major concerto 10y
Beethoven by supplemcntlng 1t with LISTS fantasia
on a" La Muette d POriic- How admirable and
so sound musician should have to commit such
an offence TO tact and taste nobody has yet ex-
planned. The singers were Miss De We're, Mue
Fursch- MadI two favorites OF public, and de-
servedy sol and Nine Burckard. The latter Is a
newcomer, who had been heard previously at Mr..
Damrosc's Wagner concerts She comes, II Is said,
from the Municipal Opera at Cologne. she belongs
the class OF juvenile dramatic singers. according
to German stage Technology, and has an agreeable
voice and presence. but neither the dramatic power
nor the artistic training exaced by Beethovens try
Ing sccna al scheulicher," which she tried TO sing
last saturday evening. There Is dearth Of singers
Of what may be- called Philharmonic dimensions in
Ncw-lork just now. which fact may have had some
thing tO do with her engagement.