New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-19
THE FIRST PHILHARMONIC CONCERT
PETSCHNIKOFF.

The Philharmonic Society probably never began
season more auspiciously than last night, when II
opened It's hftyeghth series Of concerts In Carnegie
Hall. Everything favorable; the audience IN
numbers and character Though this is an invaraole
factor at Philharmonic concers) the spirit pervad-
ing the concert at the beginning its oeautful
growth into the heartiest enthusiasm which found
vent finally in a demand for repetition or an al
dtional pece-very unusual at Philharmonic con-
certs; the responsiveness OF the band TO Mr. Paurs
wishes; and Mr.. PauTs own zeal and intelligence
in the Interpretation OF the numbers on the pro-
sramrne; the marvellous genius disclosed by the
solo performer-al things worked together 10 bring
about as successful q musical meeting as falls 10
the lot OF a recorder to set down in a decade The
programme made appeal on the score OF nov
city consisting It did Of pieces long familiar to
amateurs so that the favor with which It was re-
ceived was a tribute to the performance. And 1t
was deserved The Philharmonic band has seldom
developed so fine and vrile tone, or played with
such precision and obedience to the conductors
beat as last night. Stickers for the highest per-
lection in orchestral playing could only regret the
existence Of that impure intonation in the wood
wind which has been bewailed so long and so
vainly How that is TO be remedied no one seems
willing able 10 say.
The solo performer OF the evening was the Rus
sian violinst Petschnkon. No vrtuoso has ever
set himself a task than he, either TO intro
duce himself to the NewYork public or 10 retain
its favor once gained. and virtuoso, for twenty
years at least, has won more complete triumph
He played Tschaikowskis violin sonata and the
figure from the third OF Bachs sonatas for violin
solo. This was his task: but the audience In
sisted on more and after the fugue he played the
familiar gavotte from the major partita by the
same composer The sonata is not wholly unknown
here but II cannot be said to have made its way
into the popular heart. Miss Maud Powell with
that zeal characteristic of her introduced US TO It's
first movement as long ago as 1885, when Brodsky,
EFlh T
many disadvantages to make it known In Europe
It's fate has been like that Of Beethoven's concerto
dreaded, feared and even despsed at the begin
ming and later coming into the recognition whch
it deserved. 1t has not yet reached the acme OF
popularity but Mr.. Petschnikoff is likely TO help
it along most puissantly II he plays IT always as
he did last night The annotated programme re-
ferred 10 the fact that its FIRST performance
In Vienna II was called Ill smelling music by Dr.
HansIick The fact might have been forgotten be-
fore this II Tschaikowsky had not himself kept 1t
alive in one of his magazine articles In the article
which makes up a chapter in book OF MS writings
published recently. he tells of the gratitude chal-
enged by Mr. Brodsky for rescuing his concerto
from the oblivion which Mr.. Auer 10 whom 1t
was dedicated seemed willing consgn II. Brodsky
had taken up the stone rejected by Auer and
made IL the head OF the corner In his repertoire
He began his self-imposed task to make It's beauty
known In Vienna and there against the Han
slickian obstacle. What the doughty opponent OF
Wagner and champion Of Brahms wrote about the
concerto is just interesting now. after the peo-
pie have learned 10 admire Tschaikowskys music
more and more with each hearing, as 1t was then;
more interesting indeed. and there need be no
apology for reproducing il here in the revised form
prepared by Hanslick for publication between bind
ers' boards Said nc in a review OF Vienna Phil
harmonic Society concert in 1881:
II WAS ill-advised in the violin virtuoso Mr.
Bfodsky. to preseat himself 10 the Vienna public
the first time WIN TINS coinposlIIoI ne
talent Of he ordinary kind but talent that Is
forced that seeks 20 be thought Benlus ma ma
produces without Judgment and without taste Inc
works with which We nave been made acquainted
with the possible exception OF ne hlen' ana Pr
ouant quartet in p major have offered n singular
I4iAtudS "a ho ~ oyeTre fnements So also his
newest. long and pretentious violin concerto. or
w W'S esprit but Soon rudeness gains - upper
w!tioo, sirs II 70 the end of the first move
ment The violin is not played IL Is dragged aoUu I
Kline Whether Il is at all possible 70 execute these
borriAc difficulties clearly do moi know but
90 90 know no iess than Himself The adago with It's
gentle Slavic melancholy almost Iecohles, dios
w. make way FOR a finale which transports US into
the brutal sorrowful gayety OF RUSSIAN cE H
t hasr rude oaths and smell tus oil Friedrich
Vlscher while discussing asclvous ,ehi he
said there pictures whose stenen E,iEH' ,p DO
seen. Tschalkowsky's violin concerto 6[infs me
not there is music whose stencil can be heard'
u there Is any doubt in DR.. Hanslick's mind as
70 whether or not Tscha lkowsky's concerto can De
plaved "cleanly" that Is, in tune ana win PERFECT
,a.trtore he should hear Petschnikoh play 1t as |
he nlaved fl last night 4 marvel OF pure intona-
ton crisp clear precise reading OF the TEXT was
that he gave the work. coupled with dash ana
richness OF tone that have not been surpassed
here In decades The man Is an artist OF the Alhu
that we have the privilege or welcoming oh'y wiz
or thrice in a generation; and win ihsuuineh.aI
,n,sic running into hopeless technical virtuosity |
on all sides there is need TO despair so long as
mere remain such musicianly virtuosi as MT
Petschnikon.