The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-24
ANOTHER new COND UCTOR,
THIS TIME IT'S FRITZ STEM
BACH OF COLOGNE.
win Conduct the Philharmonic Society
and lie a Candida lie for the Boston
symphOny-He Conducts Well-HarOld
Bauer and the Emperor" Concerto

VIII NOUuuVU ID6 HHllnuTTlODlC bOVleIy
and lie a candida lie for the Boston
symphOny-He Conducts Well-Harold
Bauer and the emperor" Concerto
Ali the way from Cologne, where they.
have the finest cathedral and the worst
hotel in northern Europe, where they sell
ffty-seven varieties Of Cologne water and
only one real one 'gagentiber den Uligs-
platZ," where the NJ luohener I.owenbrau
follows you all the way down the Rhine
and where you look back regret fully to-
ward the Si~ebengebirge and dream Of the
Scastled crag OF DrachenCels," came Fritz
Steinbach to conduct the eighth pair Of
ooncerts Of the Philharmonic Society. The
first Of the pair took place yesterday after
noon in Carnegie Hall and much Of New
York and even part of Boston went out
for to hear the reeds shaken by the wind
and the iddles scraped by the bows.
All winter long the good old Philharmonic
Society has been rehearsiug conductors
for the benefit OF Boston. Wilhelm Gericke's
return ticket was secured long, long ago,
and he has directed his last concert in this
city. Next season the gentlemen of Boston
will obey the beat OF a new man.; and every
time the Philharmonic fathers have i'm
ported another conductor at vast expense
they have saved the Roston authorities a
voyage to Europe and cost them the price
Of a posta &c stamp from New York
Speculation has run high az to Steinbach,
because two or three weeks ago a local
scribe with wicked Gu ming discussed at
some length on the possibility of Stein
bach's being the man. Boston prints took
up the hue and cry, and hence yesterdays
concert cost the Hubbites carfare instead
Of postage.
Fortunately It is not the duty of New
York to select conductors for Boston, how
ever generous the Philharmonic fathers
may chose to be in holding them up for
inspection. Fritz Steinbach might not be
such a bad investment for the Eastern
city, but that is for Col. Higginson and Mr..
Ellis to decide. Suffice it to say 10 this place
that Mr.. Steinbach demonstrated yesterday
that he Is a conductor OF excellent parts.
The numbers which he selected for the
exhibition Of his interpretative powers
were the D major symphony OF Brahms,
Edward Elgar's variations on an original
theme, opus SO, and Beethoven's @Leonore'
overture, No. III. Between the second
and third OF these numbers was placed the
Emperor concerto of Beethoven, with
Harold Bauer as the solo pianist,
IL was d HUSt lSdSJ u IIbotCt diiu ~ tOoh
two n one-quarter hours to dispose of
1t. All the visiting conductors have made
long programmes, for it mas surely seemed
10 them hardly worth while to cross the
Western ocean to wave d stick, or even
hands without sticks, for an hour and forty
minutes.
Mr.. Steinbach's reading of the Brahms
symphony was very interesting. He took
the tempt of the first three movem ents
with much moderation, and indeed modera-
ton was the salient ch aracteTlsic OF his
entire Interpretation. He displayed a very
keen feeling for tonal beauty, for lucldlty,
balance and elegance. Never has the
Philharmonic orchestra sounded more pure
In tone, more transparent, or more suave.
Polish is by no means a characteristic OF its
performances, but Mr.. Steinbach succeeded
In refining its style yesterday to an I'M
usual degree.
The conductors mastery in the matter
of balance was notable. The melodic de-
velopments Of Brahms's composition were
followed with infinite care through all the
voices Of the orchestra. Not a significant
phrase was buried, yet there was no mani
fest forcing. Everything came to the sur
face easily, naturally and luently.
A restful, clear, comprehensive. satisfy
ing disclosure of the musical details of the
composition was made. This in itself was
much, but it was not all. The spirit Of the
reading was lovely. 1t was affeotionate,
poetic, gentle, refined. Not once in the
entire work was there an outburst OF rude
ness. The brass sang, but never shouted.
The strings were made vibrant and the
wood mellow. 1t was an extraordinary
achievement with not the best material in
the world. And Mr.. Steinbaoh did it all
with a good clean beat, with un~mistakable
certainty. and without any pyrographio
gesticulations or poster poses.
The name OF Edward Elgar appeared on a
Philharmonic programme yesterday for the
first time. Thus do the anclerts march into
Skhe forefront of progress. Here again Mr..
feinbach gave an admirable demonstration
his abilities. He showed his ideas about
On instrumental splendors of Cigars music
byRdopting a wider dynamic range than he
had employed inthe Brahms symphony
Mere in the big forte passages the brass
let loose the torrents of its sound vet must
ca4y, not noislly. The pianlsslml were
almost whispers. The variation with the
little trills was played with rare delicacy.
The bizarre one with the staccato hnlsh was
brilliantly done, Mr.. Stelnbach conducted
the whole composition eEcellently, and the
orchestra played we'll.
We nave all heard more affecting inter
pretations OF the -Leonore' overture. Mr..
Steinbach was unquestionably in a hurry
about it. he went al the beginning OF the
allegro almost recklessly, and he attacked
the ride" at an eight furlong sprint pace.
The finale OF the overture wasnot as effective
asst can be. Yet the reading was not apoor
one. 1t was weak chiefly by comparison
with mastery interpretations which this
public we'll remembers.
Harold Bauer'5 performance OF the En-
perorS concerto was refined, graceful and
tonally very beautiful. The composition
has frequently been played here with greater
breadth andvirility Of style, but never with
more tenderness or reticence in the treat.
ment of the keyboard. Mr.. Bauer respected
hisinstrument. he made everything sound
well, even though 1t did not sound big
But the L fiat concerto Of Beethoven is full
OF variety. 1t is capable of more than one
Interpretation, and its nanysldedness offers
nnNrtnnitio tn tenn Daranannf nantla and
meditative as we'll as 20 those Of fiery cast.
1t was good to hear yesterday. Beethoven
roaring as gently as the love is not perhaps
the ideal Beethoven, but he is none the less
an agreeable acquaintance of a blustery
Marc b afternoon.
Mansneld's Engagement Extended q Week,
Richard Mansfield has consented to ex-