New-York tribune., 1898-12-16
MUSIC.
MR.. BIsPHAM's RECITAL.

MR. BISPHAM'S RECITAL"
AT the first OF David Bspham's song recitals'
offered to the local public yesterday afternoon IN
Mendelssohn Hall, that admired singer successiny
advcntured an interesting experiment. win tho
help Of Arthur Whiting at the pianoforte ne de-
voted the major part of his recital to performance
in succession OF all the so-called "Mulleriieder
composed by Schubert The title may be said 10
be one with a double significance The songs are
not only "Mulerlieder' because they tell the story
Of "Die sch3ne Mullcrin" C"rhe Pretty Maid oi the
Mill"-a cumbersome title in English but also De-
cause the poems were written by Wilhelm Miller.
the German poet who first wreathed the laureis
around a name that has been kept green ever
since by the accomplishments OF his son. Professor
Max Muller of oxford. Half dozen OF these
songs in Schubert's setting we'll known to the
concert-rooms of NcwYork and all the other CEN
tres OF musical culture. The rest OF the cycle are
familiar to the lovers OF the German LEO the
world over. though, like n hundred other songs oy
the same composer, they are usually Kept Tor the
edifcaton and deectation of the singer in his own
apartment. Perhaps they are most enjoyable when
kept within this intimate relationship. for there Is
"A delicate beauty In the music which. like the SIM
pie loveness OF the poetry. Is apt TO VANISH wneh
brought into the conventional atmosphere or the
concert-room. But they yield up their charm to all
who sing and listen Alright and Mr.. Bisphams
loving treatment OF them created an anectionate
attitude on the part OF his audience which won
perfect appreciation for the compositions ana
heightened the admiration In which the singer u
held. 1t a heart-warmng sight for schubert
devotees to behold OF people following song
recital with music in their hands. and Mr. Bisp-
ham may add to the material gains which the az
fair brought him the consciousness that ne mas eA-
tended the understanding and love for him who
was at once the father and the perfector or the
art-song In German There was one drawback 10
the complete success OF the interesting experiment
OF necessity Mr. Bspham sang the songs In the
version for low voice and several OF the songs
suffer greatly by the ransposition-especialy the
early In the cycle, which have the descriptive
figure In the accompaniment with which schubert
designed to suggest the purling OF the brook when
plays so significant part In the tender little trag-
edy. Mr. Whiting strove to obyiate the defect oy
transposing some passages an octave higher' Out
this rot always feasible, and some charming
effects lost: but there remained enough TO
enthrall the fancy and delight the ear of the LISTEN
er, and Mr.. Bispham made to feel that his
dignited and lovely undertaking had been COM
pletey successful.
Mr. Bispham was fortunate in the cooperation
OF Mr.. Whiting. who not only provided his songs
with a sympathetic accompaniment. but also varied
the afternoons pleasures by playing four dainty
pianoforte pieces Of his own composition. Before
them the four serious songs by Brahms with
which that master ended his creative career II
In a spirit of prophecy and In contemplation OF his
approaching physical dissolution. Mr.. Bispham was
the first to bring these noble cantcles to the at
tenton of the New York public, and his exalted
Interpretation Of them has not yet been equalled.
THE BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
The evening concert Of the Boston Symphony
Orchestra given last night In Carnegie Hall, again
under the direction OF Mr. Kneisel brought for
ward Tschaikowskys Fifth Symphony IN f minor
and Beethoven's Violin Concerto played by Mr..
Willy Burmester, its most important Items.
There were also two symphonic poems OF slender
and inconsequential substance. Salnt-Saens's rep
resentaton OF Omphae's Spinning Wheel and the
struggles OF Hercules In the bonds of feminine
seductiveness, and liszt's rambling illustrations
to Lamartine's poetic meditation on the vicssiudes
OF life. LES Preludes." The symphony gave by far
the greatest pleasure to the admirers Of the or
chestra. and Of the talented conductor pro tenn
pore. for 1t was altogether a spendiily brilliant
performance. 1t has had here interpretations OF
ruder, more barbarc power, but It has scarcely had
n more beautiful one in which the larger
outlines of the composers inspiration have been
comprehensvey and eloquenty laid out, AMI
It's finer and subtler elements more conclusively
set forth. Mr.. Kneise conducted It with an abso-
lutte knowledge OF every detail OF the score. which
was minutely mrrored in the playing Of the or
chcstra. Every theme. every strain of the COM
plex polyphony, presented In exactly the right
light and right proportion. and the incessant modii-
cation of tempo that brought these things out In
due relation to the whole managed with In
comparable skill Not only in sheer sensuous
tonal beauty. but In all the manifold effects Of
phrasing. contrast and splendid dramatic climax.
It was a performance to be cherished and fire.
quenty required TO In the memory. 1t was noble
In all It's aspects and obviously the outcome OF I
profound and noble musical impulse.
Mr.. Willy Burmester again the solo perform
er and was again a disappointment TO those
who had expected disclosures of his power COM
mensurate with the reputation that had preceded
him to this country. lie attempted the highest
task that can be set before vionist when he
undertook to play Beethoven's concerto. but his
equipment In tone and the higher musical qualities
Of a great artist not such as to put him on
terms OF intimacy with this work He played as he
did on Wednesday with clear. sweet, but very
small. tone, and neat style. and. indeed, with a
certain amount of elegance; but to the musical I'M
port OF the work particularly OF the slow move
ments he showed himself stranger. 1t Will not do
to play Beethoven's concerto thus. Mr.. Burmester
was easily persuaded 10 come again TO the front
of the platform. and this time he had learned
wisdom or had had It taught him, for he payed on
his recall a piece worthy to be consortei with the
concerto a movement from one Of Bachs solo
sonatas but this too. he did in the miniature style
and with the miniature tone that he had previously
displayed. and not always in pure ntonation.
NEW PRESIDENT or SWITZERLAND.