New-York tribune., 1901-02-16
MUSIC.
THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY


So far as the performance was coneernaa -
most gratifying work which the Philharmonic a.
ciety has placed TO il credit this season vas ,,.
OF yesterday afternoon when the public rebsarsa,
i0r ,ne sixth concert. which is to take place tbi.
evening. was held. The sane thin could trr,L
fully be saId of the music out thi- might ra,sa :
question of mere taste. which. under the cirr,,-.
stances. may be avoided Excellence in perfor,,
ance is largely matter o. fact not of oninio
though prejudice and ignorance freduentIv mai.
their assaults upon meritorous per ormance nnda-
cover or the much abused maxim that there ousb,
to be no quarrel differences N taste II vVo,rr
be a pitifui taste that could rebel asains, ~
music performed yesterday and an EQUALLY r.,
ful Judgment that would refuse TO give generor,
praise TO Mr.. Psur and his for the manna-
in which they performed H. The besettine sin -.
the orchestra for years has heeu the impure in.
tonation OF the wood wind choir ami this was Is.
IN evidence Yesterday than a any ,he precsdIre
meetings. while the superb +igor aud muscuIari,v
Of the bands tone stood ort In bold relief
IL was no fault Of the local organization that the
inclusion In it's scheme OF DvOraks Americas
symphony challenged comparison with the nov.
formances OF the same work by the Boston ,rd
Pittsburg orchestras earlier In tho season TI,
symphony is not only peculiarly dear ,o Philhar
monte audiences. but also intimately knit N vii,
the socety's history. II announced Iol- before
the plans of the visiting orchestra were mads
known. and il there "A desire auvvh,ra -
compel a comparison OF performances it vls M,
on the Fart OF the local organization NSsur,i,
that there was challenge. il was one d,racta! "a
the Philharmonic Society. which first gave the rorL
10 the public. and has cherished IL with natural
and beautiful tenderness ever since II would nav
looked like confession of weakness OF fear -
have stricken the symphony Off the list and suc,
confession could not be asked Of the Phiharnonic
Society of New-YOrk. so the challenge was arcsn,
cd and II discontinue resulted il dd not Car uno
the local players. There was more abeolu beau,,
of tone and more precision in the perform
ance by the Boston orchestrs. more elaborate
working out OF detail in that Of the
Pittsburg band, but the fine eloouesce ~
the composition Ics thrilling rhythnical sving
tn Hitting. inslnuatng charm of its first move
mNnt the dreamy tenderness and picturesous
suggestions Jf its second. the dlt rnatiug Jrckery
piquancy and ebuIlient sayety Of its Scherzo ara
the wild abandon OF its finale, were not brought
home to the listeners by the other orchestra as
they were yesterday by the Philharmonic II was
broad, beautiful bold painting throughout with
never descent TO the shallow devices with vhrh
Nir Herbert strove for effects which, when at
tanned robbed thc work ot its yirility. The most
moving episode in IN" slow movement. when tina
Pizzicato notes Of the double bases like the
heart throbs Of awestrcken multitude under
the poignant wall ~ the woodwind was lost IN
the Pittsburg performance. the concluding
chord the bass strings. but Yesterday they
told their tale. and he audience huns oreathess
on heir proclamation
order the features of yesterdays recital according
TO thei, attractiv sEess or the degree OF pleasure
whirh they gave. The symphony had its special
significance and has therefore had first mention;
but all the numbers had charms which might bs
expatiated on The overture 70 Nozart's "Magf,
Flute was played with splendid pomp and brilliant
verye. and Professor Parker's Northern Ballad
a novelty. while il pleased all. Il sp-
peared produced a peculiar swelling Of The
heart in those who are rot so austere as to
sternly shut patriotism from their emotions
while listening music. The ballad is, perhaps.
most notable for its orcheStration which has
hnesse far beyond that of any other work from
the composers pen but il is also gracious in
meIodic expression and winning because or r5
freedom from stiltedness and striving after dra-
matte content. II does not aim to tell story, AMI
its spirit and is Celtic rather than distinctvey
Morse but IL is beautiful music. and it bsaut-
fully uttered.
As for the solo feature ~ the concert 10 is only
10 set down a papable fact without adornment ~
say that Mr.. DOhnanyis performance OF Beetho"
ven's concerto in r fiat was the most satisfactory
solo performance that has graced orchestra
CONCERT i'm New-York this season. II was all
music. all Beethoven Technical achievements ot
dazzling brilIianCy were only part OF tns
general proclamation ot beauty. The young
man has done much 20 win the admira-
tion OF New-York's music lovers heretorore'
but nothing so splendid from any point OF view as
his Beethoven playing yesterday-hts reading OF
the concerto. and afterward on a recall, OF tna
posthumous Rondo CapriCcio. on. l2s In tns
latter performance lay revelation ot BeethoVehS
Intentions a delightful exposition N his meaning
when he characterized The composition as the eN'
preston of rage at the loss of 2 petty CON-
"groschen.' farthing or penny
For the benefit Of those eager TO crtctse the critic
TO hold the nose OF the reviewer down 10 'hs
grindstone Of consistency r. may be added-ss
should have been said before--that notwithstand-
ing all the beauties OF Mr. Paur's reading OF tns
symphony. his tempo in the second movement Ss'
too much like that of Mr. Gericke To be aeceptaos
~ the people who we're AZ the hi th OF the sym
phony when Or. Seidl oficiated