New-York tribune., 1905-01-18
MUSIC.
Concert DOings of a Day.

Miss Leila Morse and Mr.. Kelley Cole gave
joint song recital in Mendeissohu Hall yesterday
afternoon in which they lifted up their voices to-
gether at the beginning and end OF the programme
ana devoted the interim 10 exploitation Of their
individual merits. tt an altogether delightful
list OF pieces that presented. although il con-
talned nothing calculated put a strain on either
The capacity of the singers understanding of
the listeners. The duets were by Franz Ries and
Rubnstein- Mr. Cole then introduced the solos with
ar from the sentimental French NIbelung opera
eg ReSer entitled ''Sigurd. which, like the other
excerpts of the work that have been heard here
serves one purpose in showing how differently
the Teutonic and the Gallo natures con-
ceive the subject. Miss Morse followed
with the first group of songs-the cauzonetta o
Salvador Rosa Star vfcino al bel idol che s'ama"
and three more or less familiar pieces by Brahms;
''Nergebhches Standchen." ''Erinnerung'' and
''SonntaS Morgen-" Mr.. Cole followed with his
German group: "Meiner schoner stern and "Ges-
tandniss," by SchUmann, and ''Erstarrung." by
Schubert. unhackneyed songs by well known
posers. Next Miss Morse brought forward some
miscellaneous songs. an unusually effective French
melodie by Lalo, L Esclave'': two typical English
songs OF the eighteenth century type c'The Noun
tain Maid" and Since First ! Saw Your Face'D.
and an archly conceived song by Miss NJ. Melville
American composer resident IN Berlin in which
study OF the German Lied is obvious Mr.. Cole
also dropped into the archaic English vein with
"Phillis Has Such Charming Graces" arranged by
Lane Wilson. and Come o Come. Ny Lies De-
Both Of these singers have been charming social
circles with their fine voices and refined singing for
some time. and it is an agreeable duty to record
growth in all the qualities that enter into good
singing in both eases. Miss Morse's voice a mezzo
Of exquisite fibre, has grown in volume and also
expressive power and she in musical intelligence
and emotional warmth. There is room for still
greater expansion along dramatic lines but she has
shown that she is worthy OF association with the
best OF local singers Of artistic songs.
u he bIIro
unfamiliar with its environment, TO judge by its
conduct listened the second concert of the preco-
clous voiinist Franz Necsey, in Carnegie Hall.
There was no orchestra. the lads accomplishments
being played the pianoforte by Herman Zilcher,
a virtuoso Of respectable but striking. parts,
from Berlin, who had already introduced himself
at the first Eecsey concert without challenging
particular comment Nor is he likely TO do so in
the future for with the best that be said Of
the Tecsey concerts they are, after all exhibitions
for the curious. Tbs more familiar one is with the
art OF violin playing the greater the wonder at the
prodigy's skill must be for he performs his most
rrodigious feats with a nonehalant ease that must
deceive the uninated the character Of his per
forrna noes He is child and partly because Of the
absence Of all affectation in his manner partly be-
cause would be too unnatural were he 10 disclose
maturity Of thought and feeling. there can be no
discussion Of his conception Of the music which nc
performs. We without standards in the face OF
such phenomena he. The one thing TO be borne
in mind is that so far the mere technical
nerforuaDce of the compositions which he
plsvs is concerned. he ranks with the best
Of his contemporaries among mature Tirtuosi-
In the department which transcendS the
mechanical he is interesting in inverse ratio 10
the interest invited by his music. It would have
been little less than disgraceful for mature ar
ist 10 have sung the air from Bach's suite in D as
he sang 81 a week ago: but the best Of his older
fellows could have added nothing to his perform
arcA Of Schumann's "Traumerei' last night except
5er+l, and warmth Of Greater purity and
rno-e perfect phrasing could scarcely be asked
rror, auv one. The '"Trsumerei' was played on
re- all after a trashy showpiece on themes from
carmen concocted by Hubay, the lads teacher
which served only 20 reduce him to the level above
which he had lifted himself by correct and brill
iant reading OF Mendessohn's concerto-a per
formance calculated TO excite the admirtng won
der OF all connoseurs.
There was q concert IN Mendelssohn Han lasI
night by q new ochestra conducted by A. d. Folpe'
a musician S.ho for some time has been working 10
deyelope orchestral talent out OF the younger In
strlrnentzlists Of the city. The band looked ike
large fragment Of the Russian Symphony Societys
orchestra Under Mr. Volpe's beat 1t played with
precision and spirit II with all the refinement or
nuance which ought be expected from z body
which asks public patronage IN the midst OF an
already Cyercrowded season. Perhaps it Will fulfil
a mission If it helps restore symphonic music
10 that Intimacy between performers and listeners
which used TO exist before the desire for big halls
and correspondingly big bands into existence.