New-York tribune., 1901-12-13
MUSIC.
THREE HOURS OF RICHARD STRAUSS,

| THREE HOURS OF RICHARD STRAUSS
Mr.. George Hamlin sang seventeen songs by
Richard Strauss at recital in MendeIssohh nan
| yesterday afternoon. After dinner some OF MS
hearers attended the concert of the Boston sym
phony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and there
listened to the composers tonal phantas-
nagoria entitled Elm Heldenleben. Yesterday
may therefore be called NETWORKS Strauss day
Not only the amount of the composers music, nut
the contrast between Jean qui rit and Jean qu
pleur illustrated by the juxtaposition must have
afforded abundant food for thought 70 those dis
posed intellectual exercise in connection Win
music. 1t nothing short OF problem that
was presented. and a problem that goes 70 the
very bottom Of musical philosophy: therefore
problem that may well be let alone in necessarily
cursory revisw Of citys doings in the ousy
season. Some Of Strauss's songs have been heard
here-a few that their way TO the hearts OF
song lovers without parley, without hesitation
Mr. Hamlin made propaganda in fine manner
for many more II was the bOdest experiment ever
essayed in New-York by singer OF songs ana II
was completely successful. All that is gracious
all that is profoundly poetic. all that is original
without excess of bizarrerie in the young Munich
musicians comes out in his songs All tnat
is revolutionary. mad destructive of the laws OF
beauty that have prevailed since the heavenly
muse was young since "erst In ancient Greece she
sung" has illustration in the tone poem which
Mr.. Gerlcke. obeying inexorable demand
brought forward at the second concert OF the
Boston orchestra
the last Philharmonic season. Mr. Paur ap-
preached his task with devotion born OF admira-
ton for the tendency in music which the singular
work sxe1Ipli3c0. He had a redoubtaoe instru-
mental army hurl into the affray. His fourteen
double basses could strike like thunderbolt; and
they did The dubious intonauon OF the wind
cho;rs were not so disturbing in Strauss as they
in Strausss predecessors, and the cackling and
sreering Of the ~ood-wind quite as dscordant
as the opinions Of the critics whom they sup
al ofIra IN 1ba
all things split Mr.. Gericke is somewhat od-fssh
toned and labors under the impression that music
ought TO he made TO sound well as possible SO
IT made appear that the life of Herr
Strauss's ideal hero while reasona bly, cacophorous
passed off more amiahly in Boston than in New
York Its story was also more distinctly uttered
distinctly. indeed, that Il almost possible TO
recognize the retrospective heros appreciative
quotations Of his own previous remarks. This was
also well. for unless grant to Herr Strauss
proper self-respect. shall fail to appreciate his
genius.
But there were other features in the Boston Or
chestra's eoncert-a delightfully."- fresh and out
doorsy" performance Of Goldmarks Spring" over
ture an ingrauating performance Of Beethoven's
second symphony, which, was tempted TO be
neve had been brought into tuxtaposition with the
decadent tone poem in order to show that the naive
Beethoven still alive. The solo feature was q
performance OF Vieuxtempss fifth violin concerto
BY Charles GregoroWitsch. a finished. artistic
player who only needed more volumnous ana
sensuousIy beautiful last night to have salts
fed every expectation to the full AS it was, he
gave large measure OF delight TO the audience.
Mr. Hamlin a place III artistic Ne~-York
which IL is much to hoped he will be able 10 en-
ioy to his own and New-York's profit hereafter
He is whoesouled song singer, artist OF
thought feeling and taste. He sang under pltiaole
conditions yesterday. having received news Of the
death Of a brother only a short time before. But
he sang with keen appreciation of the meaning OF
poetry and music. Under the circumstances his
second recital set down for next Monday. has been
postponed indefinitely.