New-York tribune., 1906-11-11
MUSIC.
TWO ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS.

TWO ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS.
he Boston symphony Orchestra concluded it.
first visit for the at Carnegie Hall y.ster-
day afternoon and the New York Symphony Or
| chestra gave it's second evening concert at the
same place in the evening. Two concerts sf or
ohestral music of the highest order in single DAY
emphasized by the performance each of Brahu1s's
hrst symphony The circumstance might amply
serve as text for critical discourse 10 consider
able extent: yet there another added to II
which is not unnteresting in view of the prospect
of bewidering richness presented by the season he
fore the serious music lovers of New York At the
afternoon concert there solo performer.
unless the conductor might be looked upon as such
Considering the extraordinary interest manifested
by the public il the concerts of rhursosy evening
and yesterday. this seems clearly 20 b. the case.
In the evening there extremely popular
singer to lend glamour to the occasion DR.. Muck
suffced for the afternoon. and his achievement in
| the symphony such as TO obliterate
| all thought of a solo performer He md
| his orchestra and this one was
an interpreter Of the thoughts Of the creator.
Brahms. There was audience of superb appear
ance in the afternoon. which filled the vast music
| room; there was audience less than three-quar-
ters the size in the evening, which gave out only
| conventional approval 70 offset the excited en-
thusiasm which filled the afternoon listeners Yet
| il was Nine. Schumann-He who invoked the
plaudts Of the evening listeners There was no de-
parture from old custom in her participation in the
|
the familiar figure all the symphony concerts she
sang air which she has sung before, and which
| indeed she has made ner battle horse. Not since
the lamentabe death Of Mime. Fursch-Madi have
we had concert singer of the large and dramatic
| manner whose repertory has extended beyond the
tiny list which she and her colleagues have made
! tresomely hackneyed Being a contralto Nine.
| Schumann-Heink spares us the familiar arias
from ''Tannhauser." ''FreischGtz.'' "Oberoa' and
'Fideo; but in lieu she offers only the second
of Vitellia's scenes from Mozarts La Clemenza
da Tito'-that beginning ''Ecco Ill punto." After
this last night she sang Schuberts 'Erlkong'' and
Der Tod und das Madchen.' with orchestral ac-
compa animent arranged respectively by Berlioz
and Mottl but, matter how these masterpieces
be tricked out they belong the recital room not
in the symphony hall. and, although Mr. Walter
Damrosch and his fine orchestra deserved much
better of the public than they received yesterday
there was yet satisfaction for the lovers of SYM
metry consistency and dignity in musical enter
tainments in the contemplation Of the fact that
the staider and more austere of yesterday s
schemes met with the greater popular approval
1t was day OF generous offerings yet the dom
inant note OF enjoyment that ELECTED by the
Brahms symphony in the afternoon Dr. MUCK
had made a fine impression Thursday evening
but it was one that left open occasions for dis
cussion in the minds of the judicious His Bee
thoven symphony was a highly gratifying perform
ance-lucid. organically well knit eloquent, and
on the whole, reverential and proper-in respect
or StyIei MS BrdnmS symphony WdS-I one WISHES
to hackneyed phrase-a revelation. Not Of the
splendid prowess of the Boston musicians; that
we knew. Neither of the superb and aspiring
beauty OF the composition itself. for that has held
the recognition of the world for decades in spite
OF the nibbling OF the critical mice who think it
too austere and learned to be sensuously alluring
and emotionally compelling 1t was revelation
of what master mind could do to give new in
terest to utterances that had become TOO familiar
10 hold always the sublimated attention of which
they worthy. Here dignity; here heaven
kissing loveliness; here the sweep OF prophetic
vision here an emotionalized intellectually which
held faculties and senses in tbrall; here con-
tnuity, consistency and eloquence of proclamation
which not only held to the thread of the dis
course. but made eager TO follow it. Theseus
10 follow the saving strand of Ariadne. Such
a climax that which DIR. Muck worked up in the
last moment. with deberation that spoke of affec-
tionate regard for each progressive detail. was
never before heard by public, familiar with
many fine performances. 1t was both ear-hlling
and soul-satisfying. and made regret that the
concert could not end then and there. Truly. what
followed was anticlinax, particularly so be-
cause Of the phenomenal performance, though 1t
would have been under ordinary circumstances.
singular programme: after the Brahms symphony,
Richard Strauss's Don Juan" sandwiched between
two Weber overtures-"Oberon'' and "Freischutz." 4"
Ordinarily it is possible TO imagine the reasons of
conductor in compiling a programme; this time no
explanation could be thought of which was worthy
of the man and the occasion. Nor did II help that
the overtures were brilliantly played Though that
to Der Freischutz'' was obsessed by the sluggish
demon that has chosen it for his since the So
called Wagnerian ideas achieved authority and
the Strauss work had it's compelling charm en-
HANGED by a marveIlously lucid exposition of its
contents Logical sequence and development were
overlooked when this scheme put together.
Though invited by the juxtaposttion. there could
he no desire on the part of those who heard both
concerts TO compare the readings of Or. Muck and
merits Of the two organizations There was graft
hcation of a high order in noting the splendid quail
ties of the Symphony Orchestra as il has been
marshaIled this year. especially the Improvement
in muscularity and euphony of its string choir and
In the enthusiasm with which Mr. Damrosch's 5
wishes were met There much OF the fire Of
the afternoon left for the evening performance
especially in the closing movement. Mr.. Damrosch
and his band have seldom put so fine performance
to their credit Nine. Schumann-H Henk sang with
astounding opuence of tone. but with conception
Of the Mozartian style in her air that was any
thing but commendabe. She fascinates her hear
ers. but her charm is purely elemental After the
songs the orchestra played Greg's Symphonic
Dances. and before them Bach's suite in B minor
In which the fine art of NJ. Barrere. hautist had
exhibition. The will be repeated this
afternoon. H E. X
WAsSILY SAFoNoFF HERE