The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-03
PHILHARMONIC PLAYING.
VICTOR HERBERT As CONDUCTOR
AND COMPOSER.

His 'Serenade R%OmantiGue" Heard In Com
pan with Ilaff's 'Im Waldo" symphony
Henri Marteau. VIOiinist, the Solo
Performer, Plays BeethOyen's Concerto
The seventh afternoon concert of the
Philharmonic Society took place yesterday
afternoon ut Carnegie Hall The pro-
gramme consisted Of RATS "Im Waldo
symphony, Beethoven's violin concerto
and Victor Herbert's "Serenade Roman
tique." The composer Of the last number
was the conductor of the concert and the
solo performer was Henri Marteau. 1t
was u pleasant entertainment, without
any Of the eXcitements which ave been
so generously ladled out at recent con-
certs of the venerable organization of
orchestral players.
RATS "Im Waldo" symphony used to
be familiar to local concert goers. but in
recent seasons it has had rest. II is a sim
pie and unaffected piece of programme
music, quite too liberal in the freedom
which it offers to the fancy of the hearer
to be in tune with the detailed tonal proc
lamatlons of reigning composers. To those
who feed fat their souls on the complex
delineations Of Strauss it must appear
naive In its gentle depletion Of scenes and
moods.
The truth Is that it does not belong to
the class OF profound music. 1t is frankly
%tuneful, clings to we'll establish he d har-
monies and treats of topics usually associ-
ated with musical compositions of a serener
era than this. 1t shows all Rats fatal
facility and it thunders very mode6tly in
its presentation of the wild hun Of German
legend.
Mr., Herbert evidently has a fondness for
this GVTnnhnnV for ha conducted IN with
manifest affection. The orchestra was
loyal in its adherence to his wishes. At no
time in the course of the current season
have the men Of the Philharmonic Society
played with greater smoothness and finish
than they did in this work yesterday. They
were especially happy in the slow movement,
OF which the finale in particular was per-
formed with beautiful one and sentiment.
In the scherzo, which the composer calls a
Dance of the Dryads,' there was less pre-
clslon In the instrumental details, but the
general effect was good. Throughout the
entire work the orchestra gave a better dis
play of technical excellence than it has
been wont to do this season.
Mr.. Herbert's "Serenade Romantique"
essays to justify. its title by the employ
ment of descriptive names for the move
ments. The first movement has a name
which has the distinguishing merit of
safety. 1t is called VISIONS" and as
dreamers both of the day and the night
Well Know these may be OF any KIND.
MIR. Herbert's were highly colored at
any rate and they were wrought into a
movement well put together. The other
three movements are entitled respectively
.Aubade,D "Triomphe d'Amour" and "Fete
Nuptiale."
Just exactly what an "aubade, " or morn
ing song, was doing in the middle of a
serenade, or evening song, was not ex-
and why should it be? 1t proved
to be a pretty little waltz bit, rather bucolic
in character and easily suited to simple
souls. The serenade on the whole ia well
made and admirably scored, but it is not
one of Mr.. Herbert's important compost
and his reputation will not rest upon
1t. Sometimes it is not more than forty
i've minutes from Broadway.
Henri Marteau is a ~violinist who usually
commands admiration. His performance
Of the Beethoven concerto lac as its best
good quality of tone, elegance of
style, confluence and dignity, but it had
10 sustained depth. In the slow movement
he artist rose above the level reached in
he other two. His playing of the cadenza
n the first movement was a fine piece of
Execution, musical as well as technically
rood. His intonation was not always
,erfect.