New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-01
MUSIC.
THE THIRD ASTORIA CONCE,


1t would be difficult to imagine happier com.
bnation Of the social amenities and high order OF
artistic entertainment than that exempihed at the
third Seidl subscription concert In the ballroom OF
the Astoria last night. The acoustic QUALITIES oi
the room have been much discussed ever since the
first concer, given, and some suggestions nave
been made looking to their bctterment Ihat any
change would be an improvement We very much
doubt. Mr. Joseffys p!anoforte performance last
night afforded most admirable test he was IN
his most poetic mood, and the music that ne played
AT times invited and received the veriest Whisper
and futter OF sound yet 1t is questionable whether
a single note lost to single attentive listener
He played Chopin's minor concerto with the
added parts of Tausig. The running passages
which accompany the horn solo in the Romance
he played in ravishing pianissimo. but every note
fell upon the Of the listeners at the opposite
end Of the room with delightful disunctness' NOT
there any undue blare Of brass In the iorus-
slmos Of the orchestra. Instead there was an ex-
quisite blending of colors. md dynamic symmetry
dom noticed at concerts In the other haiis OF the
city. The effect Of orchestra In the oaiiroom e
simply fine The tone of the band Is fuli ana
abundant. and has that quality OF Intimacy whlch
Is helpful to sympathetic listener without
being In the least harsh or obtrusive. II is possible
that TO remove the carpet. as has been suggested,
would add to the strdency. call It brilliancy OF
the music. but there would be loss In other eie-
ments Of comfort and taste for which greater
eOnOrltv Il
The concerts are beautiful affairs. The audiences
that attend them are gentle and appreciative OF
lofty things and there does not seem TO be any rea-
son why they should not become In themselves the
most notable artistic events In the country. and
medium for nightly raising the standard OF music
in Ne York
The programme last night was tudiciousy ar
ranged 1t opened with the "SakuntaIa" overture by
Goldmark. This was followed by the Chopin con-
cer,o which Mr.. Josery gracousiy and happily
supplemented with two exquisite intermezN ny
Brahms. Then came the customary intermissoh.
after which the orchestra played the overture ana
Bacchanae from Tannhauser. The apprehension
felt frequently late that perfunctorness OF man.
ner was taking possession OF our orchestral con-
certs which threatened harm to the art, was not
called forth last night lovely spr, OF earnest
and devoted effort pervaded everything. ana was
nowhere more manifest than In the painstaking ac-
compartment which Mr. Seidl proVideo ior MT
Joseffy even II II must be said that there "e'o
times when a difference was noticeable between the
conductors wishes and the bands performances
A for NJ. Joseny's playing. attempt 10 de-
scribe II would result In rhapsod!cal utterances
which those who did not hear him would find 1t
d,nscult to accept as sober, very truth. II was a
manifestation OF the pianist's art which was alto
pether lovely Not tone did he produce from the
nianoforte from the loudest TO the softest. which
was not saturated with sensuous beauty. II there
we're no praise TO besow for the wrondrous pef.ec-
lion OF his technical achievement, nor word OF al
,,iration for the poetcal sentiment which ne IN
,used into every measure that he played ore would
,u have 10 la,d as something which sets him quite
.n,rt from all other pianists, his command OF
pianofor,e nuance and timbre. But everything IN
the performance called for admiration last night