New-York tribune., 1901-03-09
MUSIC.
a DAYS OFFERINGS IN CONCERT AND
OPERA.

The Philharmonic Society is approaching the end
OF its fifty-nnth season in manner calculated 10
inspire deep respect and the warmest adnlratloh
1t is the custom of anonymous contributors TO the
newspapers periodically to rail against the veteran
organization. it's performances ana its programmes
and bewail the circumstance that New-York IS
without a permanent" orchestra Time ana again
the question has been asked in what respect
so-called permanent orchestra would be likely 10
differ from the present Philharmonic. so II held TO
the beautiful old ideals which have been adhered to
by that society faithfully. long and so well.
and the answer has not yet been given Ihere are
details in which the performances or the oand
might be improved-of that there can be no ques-
tion; but it is large question whether or not any
practicable scheme could be devised which would
fill cup of satisfaction quite full for lovers or
symphonic music it has been filled this season
malgre the occasional bad intonatton of the wind
choir.
Yesterdays public rehearsal for the seventh con-
cert was case in point 1t brought forward a
stupendousIy puissant performance of the "Eroica
symphony, Mr.. Paur's eloquent reading being car
ried home with Irresistible power by the weighty
impulse of that Incompatible body of strings 50.
too with the overture to Manfred and the oar
ing brilliant and fanciful Carnival in Paris oy
Svendsen which brought the concert TO close IN
these pieces the shortcomings of the band such as
came in the first of the variations for vlolon-
cello which Mr.. Hugo Becker played were all out
forced of memory.
The solo features of the concert were provided oy
Mr. Becker who played a new concerto for volon-
cello by D'AIbert and a set of variations on
rococo theme by Tschaikowsky The latter proved
to be far and away the more interesting compost
ton of the two, though it would be shortsighted
and unjust to withhold from MIR. DAlbert proper
need Of credit for effort 70 make something else
out of a violoncello concerto than a mere show
piece for the instrument Mr.. Becker displayed his
skill brilliantly in it, and the cumulative enthus-
asm which followed his performance OF the
Tschaikowsky theme compelled violationo of the
rules and produced added piece from one OF
Bach's solo cOncertos for the violoncellos.
At the opera last night there was repetition OF
''Lohengrin'' with features-one old and one
comparatively new. but both equally welcome Mr.
Jean de Reszke came back in the part which
he had chosen present himself in at the begin
ming of the season, and again celestial knight
In voice hearing and appearance. Miss Ternina
ImpersOnated Elsa for the first time in Newly ork
since she sang it every ones delight hve years
ago at the Academy Of Music. voice was
slightly yelled and in the strenuous portions OF the
score the labor entaied was somewhat too mani
fest but in the tender portions she was most
gracious and moving.
Mr. Bispham gave another OF his song recitaIS IN
Mendelssohn Hall last night. with long and
varied programme. to which he gave particular
interest by singing Wagner's French version OF
Heines Two Grenadiers.'' and suppementing it
Schumann in the original German