New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-06
MUSICAL COMMENT.
MR. PADEREWSKI-THE SYMPHONY CON.
CERT-OPERATIC MATTERS


by way of Salt Lake City. Omaha and Chicago
He will devote few days to rest before entering
upon series OF eight rectals In San Francisco
and there be no doubt that he will stand In
need Of the respite He will make the trip In 4
private car, which he will scarcely have time to
leave except for the purpose OF giving a concert
Were he not a man Of great physical and nervous
vigor, as well as indomitable will power one might
doubt IL he will be able to endure the strain, for
he is prodlgal spendthrft Of his energies. After
playing at Carnegie Hall with the symphony So
ciey Saturday night he went to Boston the
midnight train in order TO give his services at q
concert arranged by the Boston Orchestra for the
benefit Of the family of one OF the members OF the
band who has lost mis- reason. This philanthropic
act on the part OF Mr.. Paderewski not only en-.
tailed the loss Of day of rest and the hurried trim
to Boston, but also another midnight ride away
from Boston, which was necessary in order to
able him to keep engagement in Syracuse this
evening. Save in a few instances OF undue In
petuoslty which disturbed the reposefulness which
is so delightful attribute OF the great piansts
art, there signs of wear in his playing on
Saturday evening His set numbers the
List concerto in f fat Chopin's "Barcarolle" ana
b minor Mazurka, and the Lisztian transcription
OF Schuberts "Hark. Hank. the Lark" and "Erl.
king" After the concerto and again after the
group Of solos he added an extra number.
Mr.. Van der Stucken came from Cincinnati to
conduct the concert Of the Symphony Society, and,
true to his old habits, he introduced a couple OF
novelties into the programme, which began with
the Schumann symphony I'm ID minor and ended with
Wagner's "Kaisermarsch" The novelties proved to
be interesting but that is all They were the prcl-
ude to the second act of opera called Ingwelde"
by a young composer named Max Schlings, who
lives in Munich, and the overture to Glinka's
Russian and Ludma." The lapse Of half GEN.
fury between the creation of these two pieces OF
music was impressed upon the attention Of the
audience by their juxtapositon. Glinka stands in
history more by force of circumstances than any
distinguishing quality of his music as the founder
of the Russian school. Russian and Ludmlla,"
for which Ruskin supplied the book, deals with Z
fantastic folktale eminently characteristic OF the
savage Imagination of the Russian people: but Of
This there is the slightest mint IN the overture,
which sounds like Auber become trine erratic.
one unfamiliar with the story Of the opera would
conclude from its instrumental introduction that 1t
was merry comedy. II is bright. CHEEKY. ingenious
muse but antiGuated. Schiliings's prelude is in
very different He is one OF the young Ieu-
heroes who pulling vainly at the stubborn
bow which Wagner wont to bend with such
ease 'as a harper in tuning OF his harp draws out
a string" great effort is making. IN Germany
ms, now to conjure with the names of Humper-
dinck Richard Strauss and Max Schillings Very
remarkable indeed. il tho technical skill OF these
Wagnerlan epigOnes, and almost admirable ther
cIoverness in imitation But fear the houses
disappear with the next turn of the TIDE. There Is
no balance in their music between matter and man.
ner. 1t is much straining OF harmohies ana
smashing on of instrumental colors Mess some
other means can be found to quicken the creatiV
instinct so that il may manifest itself in the pro-
,uction of melodies with life. Elasticity ana char'
actcr it might bc well for the German conser'a-
cries TO abolish instruction in orchestration Tor
decade or limit IL the employment OF tho s.nple
apparatus which sufficed Haydn ard Mozart HOW
all this bombastic music falls together Wheh read
upon the panofortc, 1t may not always be per-
feet test of value. this reduction to pahoioTs
score but it is fine one in general and nothing Is
more convincing than It. If one wishes 10 observe
the difference between Wagner and his wouid-pe I'M
tators The prelude heard last Saturday evening
designed as it is. to give musical delineaton 10
Young skald singing the praises Of bride whose
eyes meet his in sympathetic chances Is proauy
melodous and its climax IS developed with mastery
skin and superb sorority yet il fails OF much OF i's
nurnose for want Of simple eoquence. IL Is ZOO
complex and its compexity series not 10 puohs'
wealth and variety OF idea. but ch.en! Gorgeous
ness of sound Considering that Mr. Van Ger stucHen
was compelled content himself with sucn nu'
scians as unemployed at the opera anu WI"
Mr. Walter Damrosch in the West. the performance
of the band reflected credit upon him
7. cannot have escaped notice that with the turn
of the wear the Metropolitan management nave ieI
constrained 10 fall back upon their trumps and play
what used 10 be called ideal casts They haVe
learned again that the people OF Newly rK are
spoiled children in operate matters, VINO rave ~
lang been treated to choicest goodies that ihey
are unwilling to take anything else The nope mat
he extension of the repertory into specicaliy uer'
man territory would lead the public to tnihK "''
lie ess of the singer and little more oil 'he suns
has proved deusive. Bit this should cause no No"'
der II tie management shall say tat 'e''H""
opsra has failed Under trial. II VII be suhIcen.
hat nj has
ae oneras OF the Italian and French lists have also
failed except they enlisted the services OF Jean w
Reszke or Mime. Media. plus two or three Oh 'ns
other hrst-class artists or the company Inv P
lie are certainly unreasonable in asking always F"
see the entire constellation OF shining ones pu oe
fore pronounclng condemnation it would no, be un-
wise TO reflect a moment that they have no cho'ce
between the glorious bursts of light which Ne W.
s,ellation gives forth and darkness. Inc "'"u''"
az Tristan ind Isolde" must look somein!ns HAs
a calamity the champions OF wagner s
dramas, but the circumstances when p'o"s
ahout must not, be forgotten. Though consde'eu
the brightest ornament OF the specifically "ermS"
list It was twice performed In regular 'ours s ,hs
fore il opened the German series Iheh cS"'c go
caamitous Thursday matinee Nne eng The sub
noon performance. be II rememoered, am ~ enosSer
or Hordi Si Br@ma and Jean de Reszke What
opera could withstand sTrn an p mnS Isolde Would
be performed ten times in the season IL may 20
too s n a ary Gn a
a performance like the first Of this season norary
make no doubt the withdrawal IL but teilPoN,';..
and those who know how busily and cheerily NJ. as
Reszke Is pounding away on Mines anVil WI
smile when they hear the mourhi" 'a'e " INV
sacrificed himself IN Tristan
Apropos Of this subject the lovers OF Wagner WIZ
lind a volume to their liking In Pictorial W agner,
published by the Franz Hanfstaengl rine AT ~
,,sn,r,, Uouse i'm this city 1t is a sumptaous vol
nine containing fifteen full-page photographers W
Ferdinand I.eeke OF scenes from Wagners drans.'
and an Introductory chapter by Henry l. rl'. an
The preface with much appropriateness i"eIis W., ~
Wagners mastery of scenic art, but manages 80
10 touch on many things which enter into VIVA. -
LEFT of the Wagnerian controversy-which IS NJ
much Most of Herr Leekes pictures are poe.sss,