New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-22
MUSIC.
Mr.. WetzIer's Second Concert.

There were many things 10 wonder at in the sec
oud concert of FL II Wetzler and his orchestra in
Carnegie Hall yesterday afternoon. and a few to
delight IN with modified and crcumspect rapture
The things that appeared wonderful shared none OF
the virtues possessed by the smaller second class.
however The wonder why it should have APP
peared necessary to give such concert in sea-
son already clogged and overveXed with music 1t
could not have been to promote appreciation OF
high class orchestral music and demonstrate the
advantages 70 accrue from splitting up the lnstFu-
mental forces OF the city into several companies
and placing each company under separate COM
msnder. High class orchestral music Is not pro-
NOTED by performances now Hfeless' now snip
shod. now perverted Ike that which Tschai-
kowsky's Pathetic symphony received, nor
the standard of orchestral playing raised by
the separate organization of such wind choirs as
those of the Philharmonic Society. Ldr Walter
Damrosch's revamped Symphony Orchestra, the
Metropolitan Opera and Mr.. Wetzlers orchestras.
As for the supposed benefits CT Mr. Wetzler5 train
ing, they we're certainly not in evidence In the
performance of Glnka's "Jota Arasonesa- the IN
elusion of which in q symphonic scheme can only
be extenUated by a perfect technical performance
so that its sometimes barbaric glitter may cause
one to forget the trviaIity OF its Spanish themes
1t is show music for an orchestra OF virtrosi ike
the Boston organization: with Mr.. Wetzlers ola1ahe
brass and discordant wood wind ChoiFs II Is aI0Sl
offence.
Miss Susan Metcalfe. who has won recognition as
among all song singers the hrst IN disIihc'.O"
Of style and refinement Of taste caused wohder'
too. by singing English air IN German udIisia
ton. It Heart, the seat OF soIt oeHsH1,
from Handlers 'Acis and GaIatea" Miss MetcaIIe
is not German and the poetry OF Acls ana CIaia-
tea was written by no less poet than Cay. Nheh
Nine Melba first came to New-fork fresh from her
studies in Paris, she ventured TO sing Hahoe4
setting Of Miltons Sweet bird, that shunn ST the
noise OF folly in French So she had lea'Heu y
and mayhap never seen the English book But
even so the thing was objectionable, and WFTen
Nine Melba came back, a season later she pau
the pretty and proper tribute 10 the EngHsh poet
by singing his lines in the vernacuIar Inc cohcIuu-
ing song which Gay wrote for Galatea in HandeLs
serenata is sorry enough poetry, but Handel clothed
it. not the German paraphrase, with his music
and an English-speaktng public ought TO near II
sung in English from an English speaking
singer Miss Metcalfe's delightful diction. clear
enunciation correct pronunciation and exquisite
yocalizaton made her songs the chief artistic feat
ure of the concert nevertheless, though her read
ing of Schubert's 'Forelle was marred by too
rapid tempo and occasional restlessness Of phrase
She invested two POLITICALLY conceived songs OF MI.
wetzler's Elm Kuss Won Rotten Munde and Kin
derlled with genuine charm
The concert brought forward the fifth Of the sea
sons solo vionists, and the third who has played
for US that most gracously patient and patiently
gracious Of all violin corcertos MendelssOhns- It
was Michael Banner who came from the hands
Of his teacher, Jacobsohn, in Cincinnati. some
twenty years ago. and was heard here as a prodigy
He then went Paris to continue his studies, ana
has been heard Of here and there in a somewhat
erratic career ever since. He now seems TO have
settled down IN New-York as teacher and per-
former and is a member OF Mr.. Wetzler's orches-
ira His talents were unmistakable as a boy and
he gave a fine exhibition of mature powers yester-
day albeit marring the sound impression made hy
his work in the first and second movements OF the
concerto by a tricksy performance Of the rondo
which he played in the precipitate manner and
with the ad captandum effects which Remenyi used
n explOit