The times., 1899-12-15
re sYMPHoNY coNcERT.
A Satisfactory Matinee Given Yester-
day NJ the National Theatre.

A satisfactory Matinee Given Yester-
dny NJ the National Theatre.
It is sad but nevertheless true that the
Nations Capital cannot boast Of a perma-
nent orchestra: that metropolis wherein
are gathered the brains and culture Of
country must rely on its sisters for sym
phony concerts. In seasons past Washing
ton music lovers have been indebted to
the weu-known Boston and New York or
CARNATIONS for what little entertainment
of the sort has been vouchsafed them. This
year il would appear that the Monumental
City is to enact the role Of beuefactOT 10
these dependents, and yesterday afternoon
at the National Theatre the Baltimore
symphony Orchestra gave the first or
promised series of fiye matinees. To say
that the players were welcome would be
but to state the condition mildly After
many months in which anything like this
combination has been an unknown quan-
tity, even a less pretentiOus circle OF artists
would have been received with outstretchsd
arms.
This aggregation. under the leadership
Of Ross Jungnickel. for several seasons
has been winning its way into the favor OF
BaItimOreans, and it comes here with their
critical endorsement That the apprOba-
tiOn has been merired was amply demon
strated at the performance in question
Mr. Jungnickel proved to be a truly ad-
mirable conductor. His methods are very
quiet but none the less effective. A more
graceful director rarely has been seen In
Washington. To be sure, there are times
when Mr. Jungnickel does not seem 10
realize all OF a scores possibilities, and
occasionally one wishes his style were
trife more vigorous; but. happily, these
occurrences are few, and the general i'm
preston created by his work ts most favor
able. He has succeeded in bringing his
band Of musicians to a state at which they
execute with remarkable smOOthness and
soulful expression. The body OF the or
chestra's tone is firm and yields readily 20
delicate nuance, while it builds up with
equal ease to sOnorOus power. The defects
that were manifested in the rendeTings
were those which a leader so capable and
earnest as Mr. Jungnickel should overcome
IL was noticeable in some instances, for
example. that the reeds and brasses were
hardly heavy enough for the strings-par-
ticularly with the Wagnerian selection.
where the horns carry the theme OF "Ths
Pilgrims Chorus"
The programme arranged was not tOs
ambitious and yet always was consistently
dignifed It comprised Rats "LenOrs
symphony, the overture and bacchanals
TO .'Tannhauser" (PaTisian yersiOn). -
symphonic poem. Les PreludeS. for tbs
orchestra. and the Rubinstein concerto, IN
d minor. for orchestra and piano The
Ran number was beautifully given
throughout. the well known march and the
concluding movement being especially
we'll done The ''Tannhauser' selection
was not wholly satisfactory but the inter
probation Of LISTS Les Preludes' was ex-
ceIlent.
The soloist Of the afternoon was Marx
Hambourg. the Russian pianist The ovaH
tion rendered Mr.. Hamburg was due to
his technique which is something pro-
digiOus Nothing equal to the brilliant
speed with which his runs, arpeggiOs, and
rapid passage of chords were accomplished
has been seen here in many moons The
young man plays with all the power and
assurance Of youth. He dazzles with his
marvellous display OF technical strength.
but Yesterday he did not evince any Of
those qualities which appeal TO ones in
teIigence. In fact. Mr. Hamburg is the
direct antithesis of his famous cOuntryman.
Vladimir de Pachmann.
The orchestra viii give its second con-
cert on the afternoon OF January II. when
Alexander Petschnikon, the yioiinist, will
appear.