New-York tribune., 1905-11-20
MUSIC.
Russian Compositions -T5co Pidnists

4
The first concert of the Russian symphony So
city at Carnegie Hall last Saturday evening gave
an tntimation that it Is going to be difficult mat
ter for Mrs Altschuler to keep up an srtsuc III
teIest In the characteristic musical entertainments
which he has projected. There viii always oe d
certain degree of popular interest based on cuTlos
lty, and also measure OF sentimental interest
hased nationalisn but artistic interest VIII not
grow large if there be better offerings tnah
those made last Saturday. We needed no speclal
organization to give hearing to Tschaiko"shy
loufth symphony, the echoes of which as per
formed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra had
scarcely died out in Carnegie Hall; or of the same
composers overture '1s12' which is quite as fam-
lar here as such piece of musical cartooning oe-
serves to be.
True Mr. AItschuler attempted to give adventi-
uous interest to the symphony in his preliminary
announcement by proclaining that he had dis
covered programme for it which seemed TO fit
the present political state Of Russia. He found
picture of popular gathering street fair in the
familiar scherzo with its obstinate pizzicato. its
rihald second theme and its martial trio. and
conflict between populace and authority in the
finale. Between the date of his proclamation of this
discovery and the concert, however, somebody
seems TO have called his attention to the letter
to Mime. Won Meek Ito whom the symphony is dedl-
cated), which appears in the biography Of Tschal-
kowsky written by his brother. and which con-
tains the composers own account of what might
be set down as the poeticai contents of the work
The two interpretations not at all in har-
mony-TschGikowsky. using popular melody IN
the finale Ito which Mr.. Altschuler gave two titles
within week. and indulging in that reckless
gayety and mad hilarity with which many Rus
sian compositions have made us familiar in his
treatment of it, said that his purpose was to de-
pict the Joy which might come to one from the
contemplation of JOY IN others
He suggested the picture of merrymakng of
the folk when Mr.. Altschuer 1--WE fear with the
thought of reclame not altogether absent from his
mindl suggested political revolution. The matter
is not particularly significant except 1t inffu-
enced the performance. Mr.. Altschuler ruder
and more uncouth in his reading of the work than
Mr.. Gercke but not one-half dramatic Herr
kogel, who in Philharmonic concert last season
showed how euphony and precision might be
blended with wild and picturesque frenzy of
utterance
1t is not In the performance of familiar conpo
sitions that the Russian Symphony Society can
find a mission, and 1t will have to find something
better in the line of unfamiliar music than that
which offered Saturday night to justify its
existence artistic grounds.
It seemed almost a pity to waste the labors of
large and puissant a band dt is much larger
than ii was last year, empty a bit of musi-
cal delineation as Rimsky- Korsakow's "Snyego-
rotchka,'' which is little else than foolish dalliance
with limitations of bird calls The name and fame
Of the composer and the gracious poeticai conceit
at the bottom of the Russian fairy tale had LED
to the expectation of better things Certainly no
other conductor would have thought such music
all that after Mr. Cericke and the various con-
ductors of the Philharmonic Society have gone over
the Russian field there is scarcely anything left
worth the cleaning? Through the great compla-
cency of Mr.. Pugno last Saturdays programme
enlvened with a pianoforte concerto in I
minor, by chmaninoff-his second Mr.. Pugno
plays from notes, and is thus saved large portion
OF the work of memorzing his concertos; but he
is serious minded and conscientious as well as
capable artist.
He approaches no task lightly. and the produc-
ton of the new concerto was in every sense task
It is scored thick for the orchestra and written
thick for the solo instrument The composer,
though pianist tor because he is piansO, seems
TO have thought that the solo player ought to be
kept at work like day laborer The result is that
his music is deficient in variety and contrast OF
both color and dynamics. 1t offers nothing new In
the way OF form and nothing striking in the way OF
idea; but there is some strong and good music in
it, and though it is not likely to get into the
repertory of any virtuoso. it was worth hearing
once if for no other reason than 10 show that one
of the Younger school of Russian composers seems
to have got to the end of his national tether
already. It is more than likely that the majority
of the pianiss who will be attracted by his name
will turn away from the concerto to his old preluoe
with a sigh of gratitude Mr.. Pugno played the
concerto with devoted painstaking in the slow
movement and splendid dash and brilliancy in the
last
In Carnegie Hall last night Mr.. Albert Reisenauer
gave a recital Of pianOforte music. He had a nu-
rnerous company of hearers, although not OF the
class usually to be found at such entertainments
And lie was enthusiastically applauded for every
thing he did He did many things. most of them
demonstrating his most marvellous command OF
the whole wide gamut Of effects possible on mod
ern grand pianoforte, some Of them disclosing &c
centricities OF reading difficult Of comprehension
or explanation. A great pianist he is surely but
If n great and safe interpreter Of the whole range
Of nianoforte literature is question. Such tempt
as he employed in the finale of Beethoven's "Wald-
stein sonata were certainly never heard in public
before. But he interesting always and fire.
quently ravishing. Also, he showed his unconven-
tiouaiity by PLAYING Schuberts sonata in D. work
full of beauties but long long, oh, how long,
Afterward there came Chopin and List pieces