The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-25
N. Y. SYMPHONY CONCERT

A heavenly delight was the concert
given at the Auditorium last evening
by the New York Symphony orchestra
and its leader, Walter Damrosch. The
large audience greeted Mr.. Damrosch
enthusiastically as he stepped upon the
platform. There was scurrying of
belated feet as the first plaintive strains
of the. Tschaikowsky Fifth symphony
were heard, but doors were closed and
two or three hundred late corners were
obliged to remain in the corridors until
the first movement was over.
What a wonderful work is this Fifth
Symphony. The greatest Of the Rus.
sian composers has taken for his themes
the sad melodies of his own native land
and broidered them into garment of
exquisite beauty. The first movement
opens with theme of weird sugges-
tiveness, voiced by the wood wind
choir-and what choir it was! This
weaves in and out with the principal
theme, now taken up by the brasses,
and again by the strings. The cellos.
with their human tones, and the BASES
take up the strain again and again. The
whole thing is magnificent.
It would be difficult to characterize
the work of the orchestra in any other
than superlative terms. It seemed like
a perfect instrument, like some huge
organ with it's myriad pipes and reeds,
and. every note at the absolute call of
the leader, for Damrosch was indeed
the leader Of the huge organization.
His was. the dominating spirit, and yet
love. him, made in acknowledging the
applause which greeted him at the close
of the symphony, was most fitting. 1t
is doubtful whether body Of must
clans exists in the world today, each
component. part of which is relatively
more perfect. Taken together, such a
director and such men. what perfec-
ton may not be achieved9 It is safe
to say that no more beautiful compo-
sition has ever been given more per-
fectly by an orchestra in this city.
The Bach violin concerto in E major
for the violin, with the solo part taken
by David Names, was in the most vio-
lent contrast with the Tschaikowsky
compositionally. The two numbers, each
beautiful, represented the beginning and
the most modern of musical compost.
| lightful coming after the other. Mr.
Names played exquisitely, with just
the right quality of tone for the purity
Of. the composition. He was recalled
thrice after its close.
The two other orchestral numbers
were the prelude to Lohengrin,
which had been played. the night be,
Tore under It's HERMAN ClGle, Ine SoI'
spiel, and the Ballet music from La
los isNamonna. - Both were perfectly
played. The latter is very bizarre, with
its staccato movements, and the casta.
net and bell, effects. The flute solo in
the second movement by M. Barrere,
was deservedly encored.
The vocalist of the evening was a
newcomer to America, M. Jean Dimi-
tresco Of the Rumanian opera. whose
engagement at the opera at Warsaw,
Poland, was broken off by the Russian
disturbances. His voice possesses pc,
culiar combination of dramatic and
lyric qualities, which grow upon the
listener His selection. 4The Prison
err an arrangement of the adaglc
from Beethoven S Serenade, was a
serious effort and was very well re,
eeived. He was recalled a number OF
times, but the encore was not given.
For the New York Symphony orches-
ira concert much thanks. and gratitude
that public spirit in Minneapolis not
only supports it, but provides a SYM
phony orchestra here which is follow
ing surely and effectively in it's foot
lsteps. Howard Boardman.