New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-23
MUSIC.
YESTERDAYS CONCERTS.

II Is q bad day for music IN New-York at the
present time that does not offer more than one
musical entertainment Yesterday was not such a
day, and there were two concerts presented 70 the
public. each Of which In its way and 20 It's own
audience was OF unusual interest. In the afternoon
the second OF Mr.. Arthur Writings chamber music
recitals given Sherry's. In Fifth-ave. 1t
was concert for the cognoscenti in this form OF
art and was heard by an audience of such-a larger
one. II was gratifying 10 note. than was present at
the first OF the series month ago. The pro-
gramme Included Brahms's third violin sonata. op.
los. which Mr. Kneisel and Mr.. Whiting played
weeks since at one OF the formers quartet
concerts In Mendelssohn Hall. II was then &C
claimed as a singularly noble performance OF n
very noble composition. and yesterday, in the more
Intimate conditions of the smaller mushroom and
the closer relations OF audience and musicians its
finer qualities and those OF the performance i'm
pressed themselves still more deeply than before.
There was better arrangement OF the room and
Of the phnoforte than before that gave greater
resonance and that helped to better effect.
The two songs Of Brahms for contralto voice with
viola oobligato sung by Miss Gertrude May Stein,
with the assistance of Mr. Svecensk and Mr.. Whit
ing on the accompanying instruments. are among the
most seldom heard OF tho masters work. but among
the most beautiful. Not only the melodies OF
lovely eXpressiveness In themselves. but the viola
gives a ravshing tonal quality In Its blending with
the low voice and this has been used with marvel
IOus skill Dy the composer IN expressing the MOOD
TO which he wished to give utterance. Miss STEMS
singing and Mr.. svecenskfs playing were both quite
worthy OF the works they were engaged upon. The
last number. the violin sonata Of Cesar Franck Is
at the very opposite pole OF musical thinking. II Is
put forward by the French composers admirers
a most characteristic representation Of his style.
and is certainly work of striking and individual
beauty OF the purely sensuous kind rhapsodcal in
form and written with a remarkably keen percep-
ton for effects Of balance and Of contrast between
the two instruments. It's unconventonalty OF
thought the haunting character Of It's themes and
the spiendor OF some OF its climaxes made deep
Impression. II will be heard again Tuesday
evening al Mr.. Kneisels concert.
In the evening large audience heard the eighth
of Mr. Grau's popular concerts at the Metropolitan
Opera House. In which Miss Suzanne Adams. Nine
Schumann-Heink Mr.. David Bispham and Herr
Moriz Rosenthal took part with solos. OF these
Herr Rosentha and Nine. schumann-Heink made
by far the most valuable contributions. The
former gave his beautifully poetic and finely bal
anced Interpretation OF Chopin's minor piano
forte concerto that is so well Known tn this city,
and Is Of the most perfect OF all his interpre-
tations In conception and in technical finish He
added one OF Schubert's short pIanoforte pieces in
quite the same ethereal vein. but departed widely
from It later when he played LISTS grotesque and
noisome "NeneZla q NapOf' taraniela. Nine
schumann- Heink sang an unii teresting air from
Bruch's "Odysseus." and then aroused a storm OF
enthusiasm by following II with remarKaole per
formance Of the Brindsi from "Lucrezia Borga,'
which she sang with a rollicking. reckless ylgor
that has seldom been lavished upon the piece. MI
Rispham was not very successful In his wrestling
with the Dutchmans air from Wagners Flying
putchman" and Miss Adams failed TO make any
very deep Impression with the Jewel Aria from
Faust" and French song with orchestral accom-
panlment Il should be noted that Mr. Arthur
Fredhelrn conducted the orchestra In the Chopin
concerto In a mastery manner. Herr Schalk con
Quoted IN the rest Of the programme.