The Washington times., 1902-12-10
FIRST SYMPHONY
CONCERT A SUCCESS
Heartily Received by a
Fashionable Audience.

o
tered upon the second year OF its OK
istence. This auspicious inaugural oc-
[ CURED yesterday afternoon at the Ma
tional Theater. and was marked by the
adequate performance OF a catholic and
pretentiOUs program. and the applause
Of a most fashionable audience. The
outlook for a generous patronage during
! the season thus begun is accordingly
most favorable.
The concert had been widely adycr-
tised, but even the officers OF the or
chestra must have been surprised at the
/ extraordinary support given it by those
prominent in the society Of the Capt.
tai Nearly the entire orchestra was
filled with fashionable folk. Every
foreign legation was represented. So
many officers OF the Government were
present that the gathering resembled a
Cabinet reception. Outside the theater
the street was filed with carriages TO-
two blocks The audience was assured
ly one OF the most distinguished H.
season Will bring together, and those
who have az heart the interests OF music
In Washington will rejoice that most o..
these persons hold subscription seats,
and can be counted upon 10 attend all
the succeeding concerts.
It Is, therefore. fair to assume that
the second season Of the Washington
Symphony Orchestra will prove socially
success. It's success financially rests
with the musicians OF the city. II Con-
ductor De Koven and bis men can OBJ
tain the support Of the vast number OF
students and teachers row IN Washing
willing to accept what Mr.. De KOven
has called In an article written for The
Times the regular opportunities,
hitherto lacking, OF hearing the works
Of the great masters adequately inter
preted." the orchestra will become
safe investment and a source OF no
little gain TO it's sixty members.
Artistically the future OF the band de-
pends also on the musicians Of Wash
ington as well as upon the skill OF its
public-splrited and capable leader. Mr..
Reginald De Koven. Musicians 20 at
least as great a degree as anyone else,
are affected by the sight Of a crowded
theatcr and the security Of sound hnan-
cial support. Their rehearsals are better
attended and their performances in pub
lie marked with more spirit when the.
can count securely on a patronage
worthy Of their efforts. At present the
members Of this body. an exceptionally
~ .
selves the greatest contributors 10 its
permanent establishment. As for Mr.
De Koven, who serves the orchestra and
the community entirely without thought
Of gain, long ago he proved his mastery
OF harmony. composition. and orchestra
ton. and the wonderfully strong inter
probation OF the Beethoven symphony
which was the central feature OF yester-
days program indicates an equal ca
pacity as a conductor.
II further evidence is needed of the
artistic promise held out BY the Wash
ington symphony. it is surely to be
found in this concert Of yesterday. The
program included two well-known and
classic composltions-the Mendelssohn
concerto in E minor for violin and or
chastra, and the seventh symphony OF
Beethoven-as we'll as the Wagner
'Meisterseinger Vorsplel," a caprice by
the soloist Of the afternoon. Mr. Divide
Musin. and the Artists Life" waltz
0f Johann Strauss. In all. ex-
ccp,irg the Wagner number. with
which the concert opened, and which
evidenced the most pronounced nerv-
Ousness throughout the band. the
orches ira played with confidence.
unity. and expression. Indeed. the
Beethoven symphony was given a
most adequate Interpretation, the /
strings working with a unison and free |
dom which must have delighted every /
musician present The accompaniment !
to Mr.. Musin was admirably done. the |
work OF the orchestra being distinguish !
ed by even piano and pianissimo pas |
sages. confidence OF attack. and a com
pIete subordlnation 10 the will Of the |
conductor.
Mr. De Koven attempted no radical !n- l
novations. The Beethoven number-al- |
ready familiar as a production Of 1913. /
the period OF Beethoven's greatest pow |
er-was read as II had been previously |
read IN Washington by the Boston Sym /
phony, and other bodies. The Mendel- .
ssohn number. OF course. depended on I
the will OF the soloist. who played with .
a pleasing abandon and willfulness. The .
Strauss waltz was performed entirely as
a concert number, and filled with shad- .
ings. cresccndos. nuances, and climaXes. /
which would make II impossible for a /
dance. but the result fully justified this /
attitude.
On the whole. however, Mr.. De Koven /
adhered closely to the purpose already /
set forth. that OF presenting the WORKS
OF the great masters simply and aca-
demically. 1t is unfortunate that. with /
this object in view. he could not have I
presented a program little less "popu- I.
lar"
Mr.. Musin made a mos favorable i'm /
preston. In his three numbers-thcre /
was an encore. a slumber song OF ex-
quisite delicacy-he played with a sweet 1
ness almost elfeminate. His tone Is never |
virila or Inspiring but it is always pure /
and fine. and his control OF yesterdays /
audience was a triumph. During the /
encore the theater was so still that !
the voices Of passers-by ip the street
were heard distinctly.
The second season Of the Washington I