The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-14
4 PROBLEM OF CONDUCTORS,
TJLL THERE DE FOUR RICH
I NONDS IN THE FIELD"
Rcpcr. Tnat the philharmonic Society Is
to Have Four wieIders OF the Baton
>cxt ScasOn--The Potency or tho
Conduct or's Personal Magnetism.

>cxt Scason--The Potency OF tho
Conductors Personal Magnetism,
What changes are wrought not by time.
80, in time That lie one of the wise re-
marks of that preeminent sage. Thomas
CARLYLE. OF course, 1t Ia true. Anything
-, seIf-evident is bound to be true, and 1t
really was not essential that it should be
said by sage. A good many changes are
wrought in the good old summer time.
when he active pursuit of business Is some
what slackened. Then men ait In cool
places with more or ess cooling drinks
before them and plan changes which are
10 be seen in the following autumn
That changes are going to take place
in the musical world is just as certain as
that they are to come in the political arena.
So far as New York ia concerned changes Of
largo import are TO take place, and IL the
next musical season is not one OF extraor-
binary interest to the observer OF such
things, then all signs fail. Think OF It..
In the first place we are to have a new and
,ntried opera impresario. In the second
We shall have the ancient and honorable
Philharmonic Society directed by new
conductor. Thirdly, We shall find new con-
cert master at the head Of the strings In
the Boston. Symphony Orchestra. new
first cello and new first viola. The
Knesel Quartet, having cut loose from the
parent organization. will go careering
abou, the land and We shall learn whether
it's performances are to be improved by
the Uttered conditions
These are. indeed. Interesting matters.
The operatic situation has already been
discussed in this place and. perhaps, enough
has been said about ii. Mr.. Conried Is in
Europe, whence the cable. that foster
child of press agents and quick time. at
frequent intervals brings accounts OF his
important engagements The announce
ment that he had engaged four American
singers to impersonate the seductive flower
maidens In sParsifal" showed that his in
tentions toward the lyric drama continued
TO be honorable. The engagement OF Nine.
Ternina was naturally hailed with delight,
for her return ilsures fulness Of beauty,
and emotional force in certain operas.
which they do not possess without her.
But. after all. we shall not have any very
definite conception of the opera season
until the fall announcements are out and
Mr.. Conried's plans are set forth in all
their allurng details The situation Of the
Philharmonic Society is one which offers
more food for present thought. The lates
proclamation is that two gentlemen who
have gone to Europe to discover conductors
for the society have decided to engage no
Jess than four and to unload them on ex-
pectant America all in one season.
The reason for this move is, Of course,
not at all difficult to discern. II is based
upon logic of a very heavy kind. Con-
ductors have always been the chief attrac-
ton . the Philharmonic concerts. Last
season the society employed conductor
who had lived all his life In New York and
whose qualities were thoroughly known.
He was not successful In inducing people
10 20 and hear the ancents and honorahles.
So come. now, let us bring four conducto rs
from Europe. all men OF high repute, and
kick ZIP such An excitement that seats will
sell ar premium and the athers will revel
IN wealth.
There is some ground for the theory
herewith set forth. When Theodore Thomas
conducted the Philharmonic his personality
was a most potent factor in the popularity
of its concerts. He was one of the very
first conduct ors whose readings awakened
he ireres, OF New Workers.. The deep
public interest in -readinus- bv ronduct ors
j. not of long age I, Is On the contrary
a compsratiyely recen, element in tSs
musical world, II dates from the enocb
Of spohr and Mendelssohr In tbe bist,rv
&c ,he philharmonic Sooiet v IN. fr.t ,,tar.
pretine conductor was Ca,I neron,,,nr
nho ,xat,.r;.ho,, 3D., -. T.. 90 =.
H',HI w. ~ 49,, :" io,'' ne
o,nd,,o, al an,,. ~, T,' uso"' Mno
,rha,,,s ,.,, ,,..; nc" Iai'e
n,,,,, h;r, ,ha ,,,, aana.1,o auan' '''s
tho condnc,nr., ,lasL ~, - 49, 49,; nsa' az
peonls heoan ~ lot NO., ~ ,"' .he s'' p.;,,.
no,ic S,c;e,v no TbooJnra Tho,a,s," =,
.,r,,r,an, rr,c,, ,,.h;o,, ~, .,-rs., ~
,,,r,,s and stn,nbon;.s wa nroha,... ;,a1,r
took , secondary nos;t;on in whit, .,s, 49,,
The cond,ctor wos tho MAGNET Ey.r,, on.
who used to attend the Philbarmonic cnn.
cer,s in,hose DAYS will recallthat middle
aged women. who always occ,,nied ss,ts
in the front row inst n tbe loft ~ n. ,,nn-
dnctor's platform. Tbere thew ant thron.h
every number with their evs, rive, od o.
Thomaa's sace AZ 70 ,bov h.,;a,.>,, -; a."
10 he he ,yen, Of a mvst eriors insn;ra, ;n,
Far ,b.m rho orchos,ro Al, no, ~. 1.n