New-York tribune., 1900-07-08
hapel with an ideal. long cherished. rud.,z :,

chapel with an IDEAL long cherished rua.v,
stroyed
The official concerts Of the Exposition out,ts.
the many given in various parts OF the ground -
fine military bands. take place In the palace - ~
Trocadero, Of the monuments Ieft % p.-s ne
one Of the earlier expOsitions- There ara -
orchestral and organ concerts in the largo -. -
which has a capacity Of six thousand ana .t-'
Der concerts IN the smaller room The Sale -
Fetes Is a striking illustration of the sI,1s.y.'
Of acoustical laws applied % buildings ~
GARNER built the Grand opera he travelled an -
Europe and visited every theatre and 60.
room renowned FOR It's acoustic qualities vJ-t.
mad hnished his notes represented such a t.-,tt -
contradictions concerning shapes materials a.
proportions that he threw them all ove-bos-4 -
trusted 10 chance lie felt Ike a man ~1f-s4+
trapeze under balloon he says but vrra- -
was done. and music resOunded IN his go-z.
temple. he was satisfied. VOLTA, Je sufs a-riys-.
ne exclaimed with delight. The Grand Opera fv -.
from perfect acoustcaTy. but better than t-a a..
room or the TrOcaderO. which was huUt On so,.-
thc lines and after much exparirne-ta-for So
Ing with the principle that sound IS reflected a.
refracted Ike light. the builders OF the Tr0oa4e
palace made small model in which lights pIaea5
upon the stage acted the part OF music Wbs1
lines. proportions planes and surfaces had all b..-
adjusted so as to produce the best results. -
model was reproduced on a magnificent sca1s h.
the Sale des Fetes But alas for the integ-f-v :.
scientific knowledge-the concert room reverbera,s-
Ike drum Concerts are possible IN f. but an
the finer effects Of music are lost and raods-atf-
enjoined upon the critic
SAINT -sAENs's DIsAPPOINTING MUSIC
The first Of the official concerts was opened WITH
the cantata composed by Saiut-Saens TO vbtos
allusion has been made. II had its first ana
fancy. last performance on this occasion unless e,
is made a recurring feature OF the Exposition en-
certs- The performers were the orchestra OF ~
Conservatoire about 125 or 80 strong) chorus ~
about 40 voices. an organ and some solo perform
ers, including actor who detained the tu,
thirds OF VI. Armand Silves-re's ode which cop4
not be fitted into the Spanish boots OF any kind o,
musical form. The title OF the composition IA T.
Feu Celeste and the poetry is a gI5ridcation ~
electricity. First heard some winged xor1,
about the centuries during which the worr5
grovelled In darkness because Of its reverence
for classical antiquity. and ever and anon
as the actor spoke orchestra and organ uaadA
scant bTeathed comments OF illustrative charac-a-
and color. Trumpets fared az the aunouncenep+
OF the discovery OF electricity and more and mora
the musical forces entered into the ns!ee A
soprano solo (sung by Mile. Ackte. Of the Grand
Opera, apOstrOphized Phaeton. Icarus and Prone
theus as pioneers in the EFFORT 10 master tha
celestial fame. and final chorus set forth ths
present situation in the following swelling and
picturesque style:
Tant decairs jaiIliront de Fespace on nous somnas
Dams Itmmensite norne on leur eclat s'ent1it
Ieur ont prts leur clarte pour en- parer Ia n1itI
III les aStreS JalOUX, FOydur dams Iere1rUe
NOtre globe rOIler dams Ce nirnbe verulef.
CToiront que trtoInphant dams leur tachs spsr1ua
Les fills du 1er Titan font Un noUveau soIeul
Despite the theme. there was never an electric
thrill In N Saint-Saens's music. which was IN
compromisingly Of the occasional kind. Doubt
less the composer was hampered by the poet who
wrote without regard 10 the needs OF the musician
but there were opportunities IN the classical apos
trophies which might have evoked some bits OF IN
spired melody. But they did not.
Neither did Saint-Saens exploit his mastery n
the learned forms Once he started a fugue but h
did not seem 70 to pursue II after he had
safely brought II his voices. The final chorus was
badly hOmOphOnc IN the main with It's stiff strains
cOlored embelished and enlfveued by the orchestra
II E K