New-York tribune., 1905-02-11
MUSIC.
The Philharmonic Society.

Mr. Feljx wenzartner is the visiting conductor
OF the Philharmonic Society this month. and was
charge of the sixth public rehearsal OF the So
ciety IN Carnegie Hail yesterday afternoon, as he
Will be of the concert tonight. Having 80 distn-
guished and serious minded man at the con-
ductor's desk, il not thought necessary 10
have solo attraction, and so the programmes
was made up OF orchestral pieces only;
first three overtures. then a symphony COM
posed by Mr.. Weingartner, finally one
of the symphonic poems by Liszt. which figured IN
the list quasi novelty. This was fne Battle
of the Huns" which 1ast Sundays music notes
in this journal to the contrary Notwithstanding
was performed once before by the Philharmonic
Society. under the direction Of Mr.. Neuendorn MI
Samuel P. Warren played the organ on that ocea-
sion and the composition was afterward played
by the Thomas orchestra in Steinway Hall The
fact is interesting only from historical point OF
view for no conductor has felt called upon to
produce "Hunnenshlacht'' since. and there has
certainly been public clamor for It. The over
lures old favorites. and Mr.. Weingartners
symphony CNo. 2. in E-fa) had been played by
the Philharmonic Society. under the direction Of
Walter Damrosch. In December. 1902.
As the case last year. when Mr.. Weingartner
first visited US. the invitation OF the PhiIhar-
nonic Society. he challenged attention yesterday
both as conductor and composer. Whether not
he had any special purpose in view IN grouping
three operate overtures at the beginning OF the
concert cannot be said; he gave sign. and there
Is no call for curious speculation. Mr. Sedi al
or MS popular concerts years ago made pro-
gramme Of nine overtures. 1t is enough that Mr..
Weingartner brought forward three works charac-
teristic Of their periods and their composers and
gave them splend;dy lucid and convincing read
ing They were Gluck's overture to 'Iphigene
Aulide Mozarts to the Magic Flute and
Webers TO "Oberon' The first two were most de-
hshtful in performance the audience being
called on to admire particularly the superb
IarIty OF string tone in the Gluck piece and the
crispness, precision and delicacy with which the
Orlsk tugai portion of the Mozart composition was
carried out Here the chief merit of the orchestra
| OF the Phflharmonic Society came to the front-a
merit that has the admiration of every visit
ing conductor from Europe. They may be familiar
with many orchestral exceHencies. but to them
the energy and power of the Philharmonics strings
the prompt response and the orehestra's quick un-
outstanding OF what even a stranger he be in
tehgent and Ineligible, asks Of It, has caused
many expressions OF surprise and admiration.
CoIalns atter his sextet played the concert
OF the hnelse Quartet Tuesday evening Mr..
! "eingartners symphony invited special attention.
II Is not possible yet to recognize in the composer
a creator OF real pith and moment In his case
the reflective faculty still dominates the inventive
breadtn and depth and beauty of nleIodic ideas
are missing in his works and also clarity and re-
posefuness Of style There is much laundering in
the index. many fragmentary beginnings and
pompous prociamations of commonplace thoughts
But, as compared with many Of his cOntemporaries
! he must be set down heaIthfuI influence. He
| is not so fearful as many OF them Of the obvious
| IN melodic and harmonic progression and for that
he may be auded; neither does he strain so stren-
ucusly for novelty of color in instrumental express
! sion He has not yet gone back 10 the Attic purity
| OF Beethoven's instrumental language but he will
| yer attain II because he has recognized the i'm
! portance OF the Volaptik which has dominated the
in1tators OF Liszt- There is much turgidity OF
expression now. but the spirit that speaks out of
| the slow movement Of his symphony bids US hone
/ MI "eingartner conducted all the works without
notes yesterday. That he was able TO do this VIII n
! the classic overtures and his own symphonies did
| not excite especial wonder; but his direction of
! Laszts Hunnenschlacht" a wonder for * is
erratc to degree and requires the closest atten-
| uoh- Inc organ plays a more eloquent part in II
tnan can have been guessed from yesterdays per.
| tornance. but the deficiency was due to the in.
| strUment -