Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-27
THE PITTsBURG ORCHESTRA.
With Mime. Gadski 1t Scored Triumph
Last Night.

The grand spring festival concert given
al Convention Hall last night, under the
direction of Miss Wilson, was in the nature
of a real treat for music lovers. The Pitts
burg Orchestra, under Emil Paur, formerly
conductor of the Boston Symphony Orches-
ira with Nine. Gadsk as the soloist, as
sisted by the Washington Festival Chorus
of five hundred voices, under Mr.. Percy s
Foster, contributed to make the program
one of unusual excellence and merit. OF
course the acoustics of Convention Hall
are not all that they should be, and to this
extent the orchestra was handicapped. Far
ticularly were the serious deficiencies in
tone distribution noticeable in the planlS-
siyno passa geS and this defect was height
ened at times by the steady roar of the
falling rain on the roof of the building. But
on the whole, not great deal was lost,
and Mr. Paur and mis- musicians are en-
titled all the more to full credit for their
splendid work.
Little need be said in general of the or
chestra itself 1t has always held high
place among organizations of its kind, and
under Mr.. Paur, whose leadership of the
Boston Symphony Orchestra need not be
commented upon, it has apparently become
imbued with new life and fire. Certain it is
that although the Pittsburg Orchestra is
no stranger in Washington, it has never be-
fore been heard to better advantage.
The good-sized audience was won to SYM
pathy at the very beginning of the program
by the orchestra s renultOn OF beethoven
exquisite 'Leonore Overture No g." and
sympathy became enthusiasm upon the
completion of TschaikoWskys Symphony
Pathetique" The four movements of this
masterful exposition of human emotion
were played in a manner that left nothing
to be desired Mr. Paur conducted without
notes, and the orchestra responded to his
every demand, to his every suggestion,
even in a way that indicated superb train
ing, complete understanding, deep sympathy
and an intimate familiarity with the tone
tense of the composition. Schumann's
"Traumerei" and Moszkowskis ''Serenata,"
two less pretentious, but entirely delightful
works, were beautifully interpreted by the
orchestra. The audience, in a very con-
tented mood by this time, insistently de-
Mountain King" from Griegs Peer Gynt"
suite, was given.
Wagner's ''Walkurenritt' WAS the orches-
tra's other contribution to the program, and
the disciples of the master of Beyruth had
their own special opportunity to enthuse
Nine. GadSki was in splendid voice and
sang with superb dramatic effect. Partic-
ularly notable was her singing of Senta's
ballad from THE Flying Dutchman," and
THE Erl King" In Massenets "Ouvre ties
yeux bleus' she was also heard to excel
lent advantage, the rendition of Wells
Spring Song being, perhaps. the least
satisfactory of her numbers. Nine. Cad
skis personality and the dramatic effect by
which her work last night was character
led added to her round, full tones and
splendid delivery the necessary qualities to
entitle her to first rank among the opera
singers.
The work of the Washington Festival
Chorus, under Mr.. Foster, was most credit
able, and the organization was heard to
advantage in the Hail, Bright Abode"
from "Tannhauser," and with Nine. Gadski
in the 'Inflammatus,' from Rossins Sta
bat Mater"