The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-25
THE THOMAS CONCERT
VETERAN CONDUCTOR Is CORDIALLY
RECEIVED BY THE AUDIENCE.
TOmlinsOn a by the Fa-
nous Orchestra.

The most appropriate thing Mr.. Carl
Riedelsberger, the violin player and lee
turer. did upon the occasion of his recent
visit to this city was to apologize to
the musicians present for his own interpre-
He realized, as every student musician
does, that there is no law. written or tacit.
that compels implicit adherence by the per-
former. For that reason a music criticism
is one of the most difficult TO write, and in
calling attention to the Theodore Thomas
concert at Tomlinson Hall last evening
this idea rs paramount.
The programme, in its entirety, was Sc
verely classic, and the growing apprecia-
ton for good music in this community was
shown in the large attendance, close at
tention and marked applause. Mr.. Thomas
was cordially received when he made his
appearance and called his fifty-seven mu-
sicians to order. He proceeded at once to
the opening adagio movement of Tschaik-
owsky's symphony No. 6, Pathetic" in
3 minor. The dainty pianissimo introduce
ton was marred, however. by the noisy
advent of late corners who had not yet ar
rived at their seats, and it's beauty was
therefore lost beyond the first few rows.
The allegro, andante and allegro vivo, all
included in the first movement, may be
regarded as a fantasia rather than a prop
er symphony movement. The beautiful
melody in the bassoon was suddenly anG
startlingly interrupted with a dissonant
crash. followed by the introduction of a
second melody whose treatment m
the story of the vice-ridden sinner, who,
solved TO do better. He is assailed by a
second attack, but holds his resolution,
and virtue triumphs over darkness. The
chime descending scale conclusion, taken
pizzicato by the strings, heightened this
effect. The allegro congracia, the second
movement, was an odd five-four time min
uett in ID, but to be danced successfully by
a couple would require an additional limb.
h allegro motto vivace and adagio lamen-
toso, the concluding movements, presented
striking contrasts in form and develop
ment, the march OF the first and the re-
QUEEN of the latter being most noticeable.
The swapping Of a violin string within three
measures of the mournful close, while
not written in the music. was eminently
appropriate and emblematic OF life's close.
Each movement ended with a descending
scale. Though the symphony was forty
eight minutes in length. IL did not seem so.
The remaining numbers were e1tr acte,
"Rosamunde" (SchuberD, Invitation to
the Dance )Weber). orchestrated by
Felix Weingartner, and three scenes from
"Parsifal' (Wagner), which were given
with, all the effect possible in such a splen-
did orchestra. Mr.. Bruno Steindel, the cello
soloist, played lie Desir," by servais, ar
tistics lily, and gave "Berceuse," by
Godardt. Mr.. Frederick Stack, the junior
director. welded the baton in these two
numbers.
To ~criticise Thomas, the aged conductor,
would be as futile as to find the mote In
| Mozart. His directing is the essence of
simplicity, although at times one is con-
| strained to think hat because the themal
dregs are bare to his baton, his rendition is
not as warm as it might be. Precision of
| attack, absolute control of the dynamics
of tone color and shading from the thrill
ing pianissimo to the bombastic forte-all
these sound effects were under absolute
| control. One may differ from and find fault
with his austerity and uncompromising
| opposition 10 mediocrity, but one cannot
| question his sincerity, his honesty OF pur-
nose and his devotion TO music.
Mr.. John II. Stem said last night he had
arranged for a series of concerts by the
| Thomas orchestra for next season.