New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-14
MUSIC.
THE FIRST PHILHARMONIC CONCERT

THE FIRST PHILHARMONIC CONCERT
Two changes from the programme of the first
concert for this season of the philharmonic So
c,ety az first announced found In the list oil
works rs performed last night. 1t was originally
Intended that NJ. Ysaye should play the concerto
nv Brahms and a shorter solo; instead he played
two concertos, one In + fat, by Mozart. ana one III
r. by Bach. Mr.. Seidl also purposed TO bring for
ward for its first performance In America mn over
,ure TO "Die K3nigsknder," by Iiumperdnck Du'
gave instead the dream music from the same com
noser's 'IIansel and Gretel" The preferences OF
tho colo performer conditioned the first change,
anil failure to obtain the acore and parts OF the
overture the second. Huniperdincks ineIodfah'h
r,sng the term IN its old and correct signihcah'c
has held place the European stage Tor NAN
veor or more but has always beer perior'nr"
,rrhout an instrumental Introduction. for the su'''-
cicnt reason that no such Introduction was ~ "
is,cncc. The overture which was TO nave "'e''
.,,od Lao, night was an aftcrthought or the COM
uoser and is not yet In print il'rr iiunp
di,ck promised manuscript copy to MT Se'n' "'
Bayreuth last summer. hut il pf9"ap' "i", ~
late for study If at all and SO inc i'''''' "''"'
music was substituted for H. -
Nevertheless the public was not opnseu 10 ~
,,hor, - novc,tv for that In double measure ~as
nrovIded by NJ Ysayc How strange IL Hee'"' '''''
Two concessions which have come "o"H " "
from, the last century should yet present MIN
ol,,.s as new, in the sense OF unheard. But inc
conccrtos Of Mozart ard Bach had
4 happy youth. and thelr old age
Ia bcn;ltliu, ami free,
and ~ they have not been made as famIar 10
us ne other compositions which come to mind wheh
IN. r,p,es Of Mozart and Bach are spoken IL II
probably because there are few artists IKE ~ is'
who though filed with the eaSerhcSS anu o''''e
OF youth and modornity. yet have hehrI an" az
a,tuned alike to the old things when are se'e"o
and bright II was a delight 10 hear NJ. isa!e o"
claim, dra o. H..
70 the unrest ard highest ideals In art Ihere IS
no yiolinist whom we know who can preach the
great broad liberal. multiform. vital eVahsei o.
beauty as he can: none who can so inluse o'u All"
apparently nniiquated measures WIN aWck' pu'Sd'
ing life Every time that he comes before rs
with all his powers at his command, he looms up
as monumental embodiment OF that spirit Oh
romanticism which created music when the morn
Ing stars sang together and all the sons OF Goa
shouted for 10y and has kept It Informed with
glowing purpose since No music Is music 10
him which is not warm with feeling and II he
can be said 10 have one mission paramount 10
every other. It s to compel all who hear him to
feel that the Journalist and strict logican. Bach, IS
az t,il of sentiment az the youngest OF the ro-
mantle composers OF to-day. 80 the feeling be
brought out In the performance. or this there
could be no shadow OF doubt while NJ. fsaye was
singing the serapnic canticle which composes the
second movement Of the concerto last night. Ii
was inenable In its tenderness. and It's Infinite
piteousness and compassion came Ike benson
10 the hearers Tho innate serenity and majesty OF
the composition were appreciaby enhanced by the
discreet organ part. supplied from Bachs con
tinuo by VI. Gevaert.
IL was difficult 20 avoid the language OF hyperbole
| I'm speaking OF the best Of NJ Ysaye's perform
ances when he here before II IL impossible in
the face Of achievement Ike that OF last night
I'm the TWO classic ,ertos and the Mendelssohn
finale which he played 10 satisfy the demand OF
the audience for more. VI. Ysayo has not only not
come to 4 s;andst in the meanwhilc-he has ad-
vanccd The progress disclosed by hts playing has
been steady along the path OF finish. elegance and
emotonnl!ty in cantablc playing and perfection In
technical execution. That he had been kept IN
warm remembrance in his absence was indicated
by the dimensions and heartincss Of the greeting
with which he was received. That he WAS not
heard by more people was due entirely 10 the fact
TINT Carnegie Hall would hold
In all respects the concert Was notable one. "A
~ opening for a season which ought TO be as
be generous. The three orchestral numbers ia last
nights scheme offered earnest OF spirit OF
admirable devotion and sincerity the part OF
Mr. Seidl and the band They were DvorAk's
symphony. From the New World" tho bumper
dlnck music. and the prelude to Die Meistor-
singer" all superby played and un-tintcdy en-
1oycd.