New-York tribune., 1901-02-27
THE KNEISELNQUARTET.

Mr. KnelseI and his associates from Boston
Messrs Ondricek, sveceuski and Schroeder. re-
Cruited by OF the most sympathetic colleagues
whom they have yet found Mr.. Dohnanyi provided
another evening Of exquisite delight for the pa
irons OF chamber music at Mendelssohn Hall last
night. The combination was not novel. and II was
this fact which contributed largely 70 the attrac-
tiveness the occasion II did to It's artistic et
fectivenesS Mr.. Dohnanyi is as welcome a pres
ence at the Kneisel concerts as a composer as he
is as a vrtuoso. and he has presented himself 10
us in both capacities. 1t is in the former capacity
however that he chiefly concerns us IN this re
view. for he has lately had so many words OF
pi aise his Interpretation of the compositions of
others that the excellence OF his collaboration with
the from Boston in Brahms's Quartet IN u
minor last night might be left to acceptance as d
matter Of course. Yet, since he contributed so
much to the ebullient spirit of the performance
especially in the andante which sustains itself In
the highest attitudes with such reposeful ease
and in the Wild gypsy rondo. IT would be unjust
TO omit the fact from the record Ills influence
upon the work of his colleagues was peculiarly
gratifying. There have been admirer of
the playing of the Kneisel Quartet who did not
enjoy the effect produced by the pianofortes spur
on the leader himself. Mr. kneisel is a devotee
OF euphony such degree that many OF his
s,ncerest lovers have had occasion at times 70
wish that he were less Observation-Disclosures he
would give them more of the beautiful tone which
,s 50 completely at his command. With modern
pianororte IN his company he realizes this fact tor
himself and the effect, was demonstrated last
night is TO put wondrous vitality into his work.
increasing it's vrlity without sacrificing It's intrinsic
musical elements. The dash with which the hnale
of the quartet was carried through last night was
fairly intoxicating, and sent the audience out OF
the room in n fever OF excitement
But the men from Boston We're In a hne MOOD
from the beginning and have placed few better per-
formances To their record than that Of the Tschai
kowsky Quartet In F, which opened the concert
AS a middle number Mr.. Dohnanyt and MI
Schroeder played the formers sonata for piano.
forte and vIolincelo I'm nat minor. IL Is the
young composers eighth numbered work. and was
written about three years ago. There Is nothing
of the storm and of the young genius or to-
day In it, On the contrary. 1t rumbles along WITH
gracious docility Il. classical paths. Beethoven
looks out II at times with his large eyes. ana
Mendessohn's fairies trip IL in the scherzo. Shall
be faulted for that reason? Not here. IL is good
for young composers to learn to use the vocaou-
larry and the grammar of the masters who have
made music. and it is the pleasant duty of the re-
viewer TO speak delight when such nice apprecia-
ton of form and such elastic command Of 1t come
under his notice the case last night. Mr.
Schroeder always benison, seemed TO enjoy his
work last night. and did his part brilliantly to
help the piece reception which must have
been gratifying to the composer.