The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-07
VIGOROUS RUSSIAN MUSIC.
SAFONOFF WAKES PHTLHAR-
MONIC FATHERS.

Alexander GlaLOunoNis Sixth symphony
Played Magnificently -TScha1k skl''
Overture-Fantasy TO Romeo and
Juliet Finely Performed krelsler
Has Troubles with His Fiddle strings
The fourth afternoon concert OF the
Philharmonic Society's siIty-third season,
which took place at Carnegie Hall yester-
day afternoon, was devoted to the per-
fornance Of Russian music under the direc-
ton Of a Russian conductor. The pre-
pared programme was prefaced by The
funeral march from Beethoyen's third
symphony, played IN memory Of Theodore
Thomas, former conductor and honorary
member Of the society. About a hundred
persons in the audience either did not
know that Theodore Thomas was dead or
were unacquainted with the ethics OF me-
norinl occasions, for they applauded the
playing Of this number.
The conductor Of tho day was Wasslh
Safonof Of Moscow. He was one OF the
visiting conductors Of last season and his
success quite justified his reengagement.
His conducting Yesterday repaid the Phil
harmonic fathers for their enterprise, and
the public will be glad TO know that be 10 10
conduct the fifth pair OF concerts also. The
music presented at yesterday's concert
consisted Of Alexander Glazounow's sixth
symphony in c minor. Tschakowsky's
violin concerto and the same masters
fantasy-overture 20 Romeo aud Juliet
ghe solo ,olinist was Fritz Kreisler
Glazonows c minor symphony was
made known 10 New York by the Bos on
1talv,, fllra
on Nov. q 1893 II is n charming work.
one Of the most meiodious and muslcianly
thc' has come 10 US from Ru ssa, hut
il cannot be accepted as disclosure
~ epoch making genius or even as the
MESA ge Of a new school The school ia
indisputably that Of Tschaikowsky Glazou-
nov writes in the orchest raj idiom Of the
famous Russian master, and even follows
him IN form
The first movement Of the symphony
opens with an Introduction made out OF the
themes Of the allegro, Of which there are
three. There is no repetition and no old
fashioned working out. The building up /
Of the movement s after the manner Of !
Tschaikowsky and the tonal clima1es are !
brilliant and sonorous. The second move |
ment Is the most nilsicianlv OF the entire |
work II Is theme and variations, adj !
mirahly made The scherzando variation /
and that beginning in canonic form are I
beautiful and scholarly
The third movement graceful inter- !
me2zo. contains some charming bits Of |
Instrumentation The finale is a vigorous /
carnival Of tone color and syncopatlons
II is muscular and reminds one OF the
earlier inales Of Tschaikowsky in that it
has little relationship 70 the method Of
development employed by the classic
sonata writer's
The symphony was splenddly played
OF course there were some slips and some
Of melancholy intonation. but
the masCuliuity Of the orchestral utterRnce.
the soiioiity and richness Of tone, the elias
ITCHY Of style. and 1ocye all the tremendous
passion Of the fast and last movements
were notable examples Of what the con-
script fathers car do under a great general
Mr. Ssfonoh conducted without baton
and with an amazing variety Of 81 gns and
wonders which COMPOUNDED the vision OF
the attentive auditor but meant everything
10 the orchestra. His reading was simply
superb.
The same comment applies to his inter-
nretation Of the Romeo and Juliet music,
which is by no means unfamiliar 70 Ameri
IAN audiences. We long ago learned to adj
mire the Russian masters tonal picture Of
he strife between the houses Of Capuletski
and Montagow-for they are pure Russians
N this musc-and 10 throb with the passion
and grief NJ their scions The gentlemen
VI the Philharmonic Society played this
music beautifully Yesterday, and MIR Safon-
MS reading was both authoritative and ir
'esistbIv eloquent.
Mr. kfeisler played the concerto with
rs full mee sure Of fire and vigor. but his
ntonation particularly in the first move
nent. was not oil that fastidious ears could
iesire However such violin playing is
God 10 hear and strings will not be yir-
uous in such slippery Weather