The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-01-22
PROF. SANF0RD'S TRIUMPH
AT THE SYMPHONY CONCERT IN
YALE MUSIC RALL.

WOfk OF tne orchestra ENceilent IN fiNery
Respect-Many Well Known Persons
Present Generous Appreciation of the
Organizations Work.
The concert of the New Haven Sym
phony orchestra at Yale Music hall yes
terday afternoon was a delightful and
inspiring occasion. The audience was
the largest ever seen in attendance at
these concerts and although the seat
ing capacity had been increased in an
ticipation of a more than ordinarily nu-
merous assemblage many people We're
obliged to stand throughout the pro-
gram. The especial interest of the
event was the presence of Professor
Samuel S. Sanford and the size of the
audience was well deserved compi-
ment to really great artist Professor
Sanford has not been heard with or
chestra for some seventeen years and
1t was shown yesterday that the mu
sical public appreciated the opportunity
offered them. The reception given Pro-
fessor Sanford yesterday was enthus-
astically hearty and affectionate and
must have been to him grateful proof
of the high regard of this city and
Yale university for him.
Professor Sanford suffers excessively
from nervousness when performing in
public and for this reason decided long
ago to remain an amateur. But it
would seem as if such a cordial and
reassuring welcome as that given him
yesterday would render diffidence i'm
possible. 1t is sincerely to be hoped
that we have given proof so ample
of our appreciation of his playing that
Professor Sanford will be heard much
more frequently.
Yesterdays program opened ambi-
tious'y with Beethoven's third Sym
phony, the "Ervica." Professor Parker
makes his test of symphonies steadily
progressive in difficulty and interest.
This. symphony was best played here
by the Boston Symphony orchestra un-
der Nikischs regime Yesterdays per-
formance was not perfect, nor would
it compare with that of the Boston
orchestra. But our men have made
such tremndous strides since last year
that even an adequate rendition de-
serves the greatest credit And some
portions of the symphony, especially
the first and second movements, were
more than adequately, in fact, admir-
ably given. The playing rebounds to
the glory of Professor Parker and the
results of his work are truly astonish-
ing.
The other orchestra numbers were
the Introduction to Act V of Reinecke's
opera, King Manfred" farcical
excerpt from an almost unknown work,
and Rossini's popular overture to ''Wil-
liam Tell" The Reinecke excerpt was
beautifully played and the shading and
quality of tone in this number was the
best the orchestra has done
The Tell overture was probably a
concession to popular taste, but its per-
formance was spirited and pleasing.
Professor Sanford played with the or
chestra Liszt's brilliant "Fantasie on
Hungarian FolkTunes." 1t was bril-
liant and thrilling performance, mas
terly from every standpoint, and ex-
cited the audience to such degree that
Professor Sanford was repeatedly re-
called and cheered. Professor Sanford
has superb technical equipment en-
tirely adequate to the most difficult
tasks in piano literature. Added to
this wonderful musical temperament,
and perfect taste to guide him to his
aesthetic judgments, make him the
great artist that he is This is enthu-
siastic eplogy, but it is not the opinion
of one humble admirer, but the consen-
sus of opinion of all who know profess
sor Sanford's playing best.
The cadenzas used yesterday are the
original List cadenzas given by the
composer to Joseffy and by Joseffy to
Professor Sanford. 1t was very noble
piano playing, and in matters of tone
and sympathetic touch one would have
to go far to find it's equal.
Professor Sanford and Mr.. Fl. Stanley
Knight, his pupil, played Mozarts s
beautiful double concerto in e fiat
Professor Sanford has played this be-
fore, many years ago, once with Joseffy
in New York and once in this city with
DR.. William Mason, both times under
Theodore Thomas. 1t Is lively work,
but is seldom heard because two play
ers of sufficient ability are rarely found
who are worthy to divide the honors of
public performance. 1t is unfortu-
nate because it is composition of un-
failing delight, full of charming and
spontaneous writing.
Professor Sanford and Mr.. Knight
have made it's performance here an
event to be long remembered. Both
players entered perfectly into the spirit
of the work and made it Mozartean to
wonderful degree. Mozart is purely
and chastely classical and will not en-
dure the slightest touch of sentiment
tality The balance of tone from the
two instruments was ideal and the or
chestra seemed lifted out of themselves
towards the close and the climax was
tremendously effective.
The pianos used yesterday were both
sent up from New York by the Stein
way firm for the occasion. The first
piano was a marvellous instrument and
was the concert grand formerly used by
the celebrated pianist, Friedheim.
SIMPLE or CIVIL SERVICE,