The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-15
PHILHARMONIC CONCERTS.
BERLE0Z AND BEETHOVEN IN
AN EXTRA PROGRAMME.

MIR. Weingartner Conducts Performance
OF the Harold IN ItaiS' and the
Ninth symphony Interesting II eadings
BY an Authoritative Interpreter.
The Philharmonic Society gave tho first
Of pair Of extra concerts yesterday after
noon in Carnegie Hall The presence Of
! Felix Weingartner was the occasion OF a
departure of this kind last season, and
he again was the conductor Of yesterday 8
entertainment. which will be repeated
tonight, Tho programme consisted Of two
works, the conducting of which has for
some time been a speciality OF Mr.. Vein
gartner. These were Berlioz's Harold in
Italy symphony and Beethoven's Ninth
symphony France has recognized Mr..
Weingartner's achievements In the inter-
probation Of Berlioz, and Germany has long
honored him as an exponent OF Beethoven.
1t would be idle at this day TO discuss
the Berlioz symphony. Paganini's ex-
travagant estimate OF the importance Of
the French composer can only make US
smile, yet when this composition Is read
as it was yesterday afternoon the skill
OF Berlioz in mood painting becomes 80
apparent that IL cannot be ignored.
TIC WANT Va tSSiph - iiApuDSciAl
due to the failure OF many minds to dis
cover the disparity between the apparatus
and the species Of painting Beroz uses
the symphonic outline and the whole or
chestra, together with a solo voice. to tel
what could have been told better with
small body OF instruments and in a less pre-
tentious form.
II Mr.. Weingartner's reading mad, any
thing clearer than It has hitherto b4en 1t
was just this disparity. He reduced the
whole thing to its proper level, found the
correct orchestral values and SIN othed
down place where many other conductors
have striven In vain TO find great thundsrs
which were not there. At any rate it was
delightfully."- simple, clear and transparent
reading. in which the instrumental balance
was welnigl perfect. joseph kovarik
PLAYED the viola Oh ligato, and he at least
might have provided little more tone,
Beethoven'S ninth symphony was last given
in this city on April and 5. 1892. by the
Philharmoni Society under Emil Paur, to
celebrate the completion OF the ssi1tieth year
Of the organization. The soloists were
Katherine Hike, Mrs. Morris Black. George
Hamlin and Ericsson Bushnell and there
was a chorus from the Rubinstein and
Apollo clubs, Yesterday afternoon the
solo sin gers we're Anna Bussert Mrs Carl
1he chorus was O selected one. rehearsed
by the conductor Of the clubs before men
toned.
Mr. Weingartner's reading was dlstin-
guished by fine clarity and balance. He
brought out the points with certainty and
found his climaxes naturally. 1t was
dignifed. sympathetic, SCI olarly reading.
Tie first movement was performed with
uncommon breadth and weight and the
big first theme was felt in all its might and
ma jesty.
The soherzo was played wonderfully
well, Mr.. Weingartner taking 1t fcarlessly
and yet making everything come out we'll
His reading Of the slow movement was MOI
poetic, albeit the fathers furnished him
with sonnet ing Of the dr.est in tie shape
Of tone in the strings.
Tie finale OF course gave the conductor
the most trouble. Tie TecitHtiye OF tie
BASES lacked sorority. but was acco ntu-
ated admirably. Tie solo quartet was so
weak that II commanded commise! alton
for its earnest efforts to struggle with tue
difficult music OF this part OF the work.
The Chorus sang Gre ditably, and In some
places excellently, 1t was on tie whole one
Of the best choral performances We lave
Lad for some years.
Mr.. NeinCai tuer will not conduct any
more concerts here after tonight. 1t is a
pity He il the Lest OF all tie visiting con-
ductors introduced to us under the prese Mt
system Of the Philharmonic Society. he
knows MS COnpObeIH thOIOuBLl1' ne l dS
catholic taste. enthusiasm, personal force.
thorough musicianslip and tie ability to
get wi at lie desires from an orchestra with
out obtIuding his methods upon public at
tention.
In ST ort, Re ia master conductor. 1t
would be n happy thing for New York II
he could be kept here; but probably this
ia a contamination that will round Itself
In dreams rather than In reality. Even the
Phil armonic Society cannot yet see its
way back to the sane level OF one-man con-
Quoting, and If it could 1t would pToba bly,
need a less expensive article than MIR.
WcinPaTtner.