New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-07
MUSIC.
THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.
There were probably many people in Carnegie Hall
Saturday night when the Philharmonic society
gave tho FIRST concert OF Its season whose minus
went back to years ago. wneh' aS "'"'
a conductor came forward In the Pa0o VI "
old favorite We know that strong ties are formed
at the meetings Of this most admirable and veneer
ablo society, for 1t Ia a stable audience. IL IL AT
these concerts that what must be set down ms the
truc musical arlstocracy OF the community Is eau
Gated and confirmed in Its ideals The Phhhar-
monte audience is one that has no feloW III AH'eiic"
and that lkest to It abroad Is the audience OF inc
Gewandhaus In Lelpsic Like that. ours is panophed
in wisdom and sincere love OF the art against the
freaks of fashion II is loyal always. even at the
cost or personal feelings TO the best interests OF 'ne
art, and It possesses a power OF Judgment enuted
to n great deal OF respect. AS was said IN this
journal n former occasion, similar In character
to this, the relationship which exists between
the society and Its patrons is unique In the ainuse
ment life, so called OF the city. The ordinary
considerations which prompt gvers ana receivers
are all but left out OF sight at these concerts Inc
societys purposes and those Of its patrons are tho
same, and happy desperation has brought IL 10
pass that perfect and cordial reciprocity char
acterize the efforts devoted to their attainment.
Seven years ago tho older patrons OF the society,"
whose taste had been developed and fixed In inc
archonships Of Bergman and Thomas. came 70 the
first concert Of the season with many misgvings.
There supposedly 80 great n contrast Dft"''"
tho conservatism ~ the symphonist Thomas ana
the radlcalism OF the dramatist Sedl that painful
shocks were apprehcnded. But the timd Souls
wero agreeably disappointed. They had reckoned
without thought OF the restraining effect when re-
spOnslblty brings and without recognition OF MT.
Seids llberaty and devotion TO Ideals ike those OF
the Philharmonic Society. That his heart would
turn most warmly toward the music OF Wagner ana
his disciples was 10 he expected. and also that his
greater interest would show Itself in the perform
ances Of the orchestra But his prejudices-or cali
them predictions not permitted to change
the character OF the Philharmonic programmes, ana
even the despsed Brahms came to his rights and
once. indeed, most gloriously.
When Paur came 10 succeed seidl there was again
a feeling Of apprehension not that Paur was either
too conservative yet too radical, but would not
the impetuoslty and overwhelming fervor Of SeidIs
readings be sadly missed as TO mar the enjoy
ment OF the evening? Well the ordeal has been
passed and no one after the stupendously Wild and
exciting performance given the finale OF Beethovens
Seventh Symphony will fear that the Philharmonic
readings are in danger OF dropping into the dull.
deep. dreary nut OF cOnventlonality. The simple
fact to be recorded the music being all familiar Is
that artsticay fortune cast an suspicious eye upon
the opening Of the societys ffty-seventh season.
Indeed II IL questionable whether many Of Its pred
ecessors started out with such dazzling sorority.
though this partly due TO the brilliant II shall
low overture chosen for the opening piece. IL was
Rerlioz's overture to "Bcnvenuto Celllni." After
this came Brahms's second pianoforte concerto In
Il fiat played by Miss Adele Aus der Ohe. and To
close the Beethoven symphony. Thus we had
three Bs though only two-thirds OF the triumvi-
rate that Won Rlnow Ia fourth ~ was wont TO
celebrate.
We're this review the appearance Of which was
delayed by accident. directed TO the public re-
hearsai OF Friday afternoon It would not be pitched
In so warm n key OF admiration. 1t was impossible
+bo r,c, mt Mr.
made an impression upon the playing OF the or
chestra but there yet rawness in Fridays
performance which was much modified by tho
growth In acquaintance between the conductor ana
his men It was almost painfully manifest on FRI
day that the players striving 10 follow Mr.
Paur in all his wishes. and that his wishes went to
a multitude Of details which they not accus-
toned to regard one result OF this was lack OF
spontancity In utterance and also nervousness In
some departments which brought with It unfortu-
nate occurrences. The first horn was In doeful
dumps and the besettng sin OF our local bands. a
want of true intonaton In the wind instruments.
had an exhibition which destroyed much or the
pleasure which tho spirited readings Of the con-
ductor was calculated to give. on Saturday THIS
defect was less fragrant though unhappily still
much too obvious.
Miss Aus der One played the beautiful concerto.
with its wealth OF melody and romantic feeling like
the sterling artist that she is. Not measure was
stinted not a scale treated as X It were but rem
plissage. Everything was noble and elevated In
feeling and even the critics who were inclined TO
quarrel n bit with her phrasng at times could not
but admit that she had treated the work with dig
nifty and with an affection like unto their own.
Alas for the few who were unable to appreciate its
beauty There is little of comfort left In music for