The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-20
The CONCERTS OF One DAY.
HERMAN HaNS WETZLFR As 4
CONDI(TOR.
His Exposition of Bcetho'ens FNfh SYM
ph0ny-Thc Letter of the Text Ga'
brilowttsch and Miss RueEger pay


Herman Hans Wetzlcr gave III" first
Of his series Of orchestral concerts at car
negie Hall last night He was honored
by the presence of large audience, which
manifested most friendly disposition
II was an audience Of greater size and more
prosperious appearance than is commonly
seen at orchestral concerts conducted by
musicians who have not already earned
fame as wielders Of the baton. There are
well-defned rumors that Mr.. Wetzler IL in
favor with some Of those who look forward
20 the foundation Of a permanent orchestra
in this CITY, and his series Of concerts this
season may possibly he intended 10 demon
stra,e his fitness for the direct rship ofsuch
an institution.
With the possibilities contained IN the
future We have fortunately no immediate
concern. The present Is suthcien'ly irut-
full MIR. Wetzler deserves commentator
for his earnest endeavor 10 make ms concert
one Of artistic dignity and suoe,an'iaI
worth. He provided a large orchestra
arranged on a basis of sixteen tlrst Nioliflr'
and two Of rhe most interesting solo per
formers now before this public. The music
was all Of a high order, and two numbers
were chosen from the loftiest class oil or
chestral and piano competitions.
The young conductor elected To challenge
comment from the scep,ical ana 10 invite
the admiration of the friendly by presenting
AZ his first number the { minor symphony
of Beethoven No more familiar music
could have been selected. his Is no
longer a subject for speculation, and II
was therefore open 10 all the auditors 10
centre their entire attention upon MI.
Wet zler's reading
II was not shown that he had any ievolu-
,ionary ideas in regard TO the composition.
Indeed it would perhaps be quite within the
hounds of moderation 10 say that what
he offered for consideration was rather
performance than readlng Nothlhs
new in the emotional content OF the sym
phony was disclosed, nor was II evident
that Mr. Wetzler approached It's interpre-
tation from an original point OF view. but
IL was plainly shown IN almost every
measure that he had carefully rehearsed
his men.
Insistence upon the letter Of the score
was everywhere apparent. Every note
was given its exact value; every rest was
accurately counted every marx OF ex-
preston was scrupulousy obeyed. Inc
result Was the most densnuu. ciearress
in the phrasing and the most complete
and satisfying revelation of the written
text Furthermore Mr.. Wetzler had paid
especial attention to the inner voices, and
many significant and melodious DTS, often
passed over, were brought out
In the matter Of tempt the condu ctor
had ideas of his own. He took the andante
particularly slowly and like wise the scherzo
In neither NOV enent was the departure from
established custom productive OF good re-
suits. The increase of the tempo IN the
working out Of the first movement. on
| the other hand. was distirc Q ~ good, The
hurryinp Of the coda in the last movement
was overdone All the changes seemed TO
| be purely technical; AZ parts oil novel plan
| in the interpret al ion OF the work they did
| not make themselves clear. In short tho
| conductor seemed 10 have spent his study
| on details.
| The orchestra numbers were the prelude
| and finale Of Tristan und Isolde and the
overture to die Meist ersinger.". Ossip
| Gabrilowitsch. the young Russian pianist ,
| played with the orchestra Beethoven's
| q major concerto, and Elsa Ruegger,
'celist, played Rubinste ms second con-
| certo. Mr. Gabrilowitsch played excel
lently. though he made much less OF the
| second movement than can be made OF II
| and quite ran away with the tempo OF the
| rondo He used unfamiliar cadenzas. and
the less heard OF the one inserted in the
| first movement the better. II may he by
a great writer, but il is Inappropriate in
style Miss Rueggcr In a deservedly popu-
lar artist and II would have been better
IL she had been heard ut an earlier hour
Tho concert was altogether too long