The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-24
THE PITTsBURa ORCHESTRA.
Pleased an Immense Audience mt TIN e
Columbia Yesterday Afternoon.

Columbia Yesterday Afternoon.
The large audience at the Columbia
Theatre yesterday afternoon on the oc-
casion of the first concert of the Pitts
burg orchestra bespoke a rare discern
ment on the part of local music patrons,
although doubtless the fact that Nine.
Schumann- Heink was to be the soloist
of the afternoon had a great deal to do
with attracting so many to the f Street
theatre.
1t was the first LEGAL appearance of the
| Pittsburg organization. which, under the
| direction of Victor Herbert, the well
known bandmaster and composer, has at
| tanned considerable of a reputation in
| its home and in the few cities in which
! 1t has been heard during last year and the
/ present season. Mr.. Herbert has evident
| ly collected force of enthusiastic must
| clans. not remarkably brilliant individual
| performers, but certainly hard workers,
| and their efforts yesterday showed the re-
suits of much training. If the orchestra
| is deficient in any department it is in
| the winds, excepting the horns, which are
/ excellent always. The playing OF the
| orchestra was always a tribute to the
| musiCianly qualifications of the director.
| whose reading of the Dvorak symphony.
! in particular, was intelligent and in
| every respect admirable. The tempt were
! invariably correct, the many beauties of
| the composition were brought out in their
| fullest colors, while the balance OF tone
was brilliantly controlled.
! None the less interesting and pleasing
was Mr.. Herbert's own symphonic poem.
Hero and Leander," performed for the
! first time in this city yesterday. Mr..
! Herbert's efforts in the line of compost
| ton have heretofore been of less pre-
| tentious character but the excellence of
his new work should bring to him not
| little reputation as a writer of distinct
| ly able and dignified music. Even in his
| lighter compositions, he has exhibited an
! especial talent for ingenious scoring and
| this is doubly manifested in Hero and
| Leander.' The opening passage is intend
| ed to picture the moonlight the Lonely
| shore. and the figure of the eXpectant
| Hero. Then follows the arrival OF Lc-
| ander, not, however. until tn. emotions
| of Hero have been beautifully represented
| by the strings. A severe storm, during
which Leander is drowned, is unsteady
| presented with telling effect and proves
| to be one of the most commendable por-
| lions of the poem. although the coda is
eminently satisfying. The composition is
replete with piano passages, but is
| tedious, principally on account of its
| length. 1t displays a splendid color
scheme and was well interpreted.
As has been noted, much OF the after
Moons interest was centred in the sig
| ing of Nine. Schumann- Heink and the
| audience can easily be excused for the
| enthusiasm it displayed over the Ger
| mans contralto, which was a revelation
| to those who had never before heard it,
| and source of renewed delight 10 those
! W far rxirb ha mo 1nuc
organ and the perfect technique of the arr
| iste. II showed no evidence of the hard
| usage it has been put to in days past,
| and is as fresh and as pure and noble as
| ever. The Schumann- Heink personality
| is cheerful and wholesome, and she
| scored a tremendous success. Her YER
| satility was well displayed in her selec-
| tions and no matter whether in the aria
from Titus" or Schubert's "Wohin." or
any of her other numbers, her art conf
manded the highest admiration. There
was absolutely no uncertainty OF enun-
citation and the upper notes in particular
were remarkable for their mellow sonor-
| ity and perfect control. The artistic was
| in capital spirits and entering into the
work with that evident love that is one
| OF her chief attractions she quite carried
everything before her Miss Katherine
| Wilson accompanied Nine. Schumann-
Heink
The programme was as follows:
Overture "Leonore." No. :i..-..-....-.Re Beethoven
Vitellias aria from the opera of Titus Mozart
Nine. SchumannH eink.
Symphony, No s. + minor, From the
New forld' ..-....-....-..-.'.. DyoraA
Adagio-Allegro motto.
Larghetto
Scherzo.
Allegro con fuoco
symphonic poem-'Hero and Lender
op. .:....--;...- Herbert
Die Allmacht" -......-..............Sc Schubert
Nine. Schumann- Heink.
Ballet music-"The CID ..-............- Aassenet
The concert was given under the patron
age of:
The German Ambassador, the Mexican Amhas-
sad0r and Madame Azproz, Secretary and Mrs.
Hay Secretary and Mrs Gage Secretary and Mrs..
Root, Secretary and Mrs. Long. Secretary and
Mrs Hitchcock. The Attorney General and Mrs.
Griggs. the Postmaster General and Mrs. Smith.
Secretary and Miss Wilson, Chief Justice and
Mrs Fuller. Justice and Mrs. Harlan, Justice
and Mrs Sbiras. Justice and Mrs white. Justice
and Mrs GRAY. the Speaker and Mrs. Henderson.
Senator and Mr.. Hanna senator and Mrs Nc
MILAN, Senator and Mrs. Elkins Senator and
the Mise, K.an the Chinese Minister d9d
Madame W. the Argentine Minister and Madame
Wilde Representative and Mrs Dalzell. General
and Mrs Mile-. Admiral and Mrs. Dewey, Ad-
rnirai and Mrs Walker. Prof and Mrs Newcomb,
Sir. and Mrs Letter Mrs. Hearst. Mrs. Town
send. Dr. and Mr. David Jayne Hill, Mr. and
! NJ Hin .l.rfsE loo. IN