Kansas City journal., 1898-01-08
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
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For the third of this seasons Symphony
concerts. which was given at the Coates
yesterday afternoon, the music committee
made several concessions to the request of
some of the subscribers for n lighter class
of music than has been the custom at these
events. While yesterdays programme was
OF a high order, even in the most eXacting
sense 1t was. in the main, made up of So
called popular numbers from the masters
as we'll as the mOderns. Tine orchestra was
IN excellent form. was under fine control
and interpreted the several numbers with
the usual degree of finish and feeling. Yet
1t cannot be denied that the programme
was less favorably received than some 9TH
ers have been. The orchestra has demon
strated it's ability to cope with works of
magnitude-works that but for occasional
interpretations by this organization would
remain sealed book to most of the lovers
OF high class music in this city. for the Wis
its of the great orchestras of the country
are rev and far between. Ii would seem
tnat the subscribers and other patrons of
these concerts prefer the great works to
the lesser ones. always, however. receiving
with grateful applause, the lighter numbers
that may be thrown in for variety's sake. :,
:, me me overture on Hugo's "kuy Bias
nevertheless one of the most interesting eX-
amples of Mendelssohn's. mus lc of this
class. So far as musical sugg estion can
satisfy the dramatic or poetic significance
of a familiar story. this one reveals a fine
appreciation of the motives of the drama.
IL has Il varied spirit. suggested by some
brilliant passages of orchestration and it
was played with admirable effect.
Two movements from the .Eroica," one
of the most beautiful of all the Beethoven
symphonies, We're especially we'll played.
They We're the first and the second. the lat
ter of which is in the subdued minor key;
and requires most careful handling and
blending of the Instruments. Whenever the
orchestra goes back to its old programmes
Tor number there ls-as there % was dI IN ms 3
pleasure of listening to a fine composition.
the satisfaction of noting the Improvement
in this body of musicians since its interest
ing beginning.
Two charming bits of delicate instrument
tation-Lunds intermeZZo and STANCE :
excellent quality of the strings and the
complete control of the conductor. The
latter number was played with particular
delicacy and exceptional shading.
The happiest number on the programme
was the Delihes' ballet music. written for
the comedy. "Coppelia. which has, per-
poser than any of his other works. This
number has frequently been given in
abridged form. but rarely; as yesterday. in
its entirety. 1t is one of the most strangely
fanciful and delightfully."- eccentric compo'
sitions extant. All of the novel effects
We're touched off with precision and grace
ing exceedingly well handled. The fete
dance and waltz and the music of the
automatonS" were the two parts most ef'
fectively played. and more than any other
part of the programme demonstrated thC
advancement made by the orchestra ant
the constantly growing control of Conduct
or Behr.
The soloist was Mr.. FrankIyn Hunt who
sang the familiar Die Possente." Mr.
Hunt has had extensive schooling and con-
siderable concert experience. He has ar
excellent baritone voice and much was ex-
pected of him, especially as this was his
formal introduction to Kansas City. I'm.
fortunately, however, he had a cold yester.
day that marred his efforts to such an ex-
tent that his work on this occasion cannot
be taken as a criterion of his powers. He
sang admirably at rehearsals, but underes
timated the sudden damage of a cold taker
yesterday. AUSTIN LATCHAW.
The members and the management of the
Symphony orchestra have decided to give
an afternoon concert in the near future fol