The sun., 1906-12-22
CONCERT AND OPERA HOUSE.
THIRD AFTERNOON PERFORM
ANCE OF THE PHILHARMONIC.

A Hotch-Potch Programme and Some Clap
trap Interpretation - ''Tannhauser'
Overture q Ia Creatore-A Bit OF Christ
mas Candy by Rimshy-Korsakofr
The third afternoon concert Of the Phil
harmonic Society's season took place yes
terday in Carnegie Hall. The programme
comprised Cherubini's -Anacreon' over
ture, Rimsky- y-Korsakoff's Christmas Eve
suite, made out Of ballet musio from the
opera Of that name, and several Wagner
numbers-the overture to -TannhAuser'
in its original form, SieomUnd's love song,
the introduction to the third aot Of Die
Meistersinger.' WaHhsr's prize song from
the same opera and The Ride OF the VAL
kyries." The solo singer was AloIs Burg
staller, tenor, OF the Metropolitan Opera
House.
As a specimen Of disjointed and spas
modio programme making yesterdays
achievement of the distinguished batonless
conductor, Wassily Safonoff, was entitled
to particular distinction. But the pro-
gramme was better than the performance.
Whatever Cherubini may have been-and
it is generally conceded that he was a most
disagreeable and opinionated old peds-
gogue--he was not a sensationalist, and he
would certainly have frowned disapproval
upon Mr.. Safonoff's extravagant style OF
performing the sonorous chords forming
the opening measures of the overture. II
the conductor had spent less time on re-
hearsing these and more on the violin pas
sages, which we're raggedly performed,
he would have shown greater honor TO the
old martinez of the Paris Conservatorie.
But after all Cherubini's -Anacreon"
overture is good music and food for grown
up folk. Rimsky X Korsakoff's ballet suite,
as presented yesterday. without any fur
ther explanation than that contained in
the printed programme notes, was nothing
better than incomprehensible baby prattle.
Without doubt this is good ballet music,
and il We could hear it while watching
the progress of the scenes devised to go
with il we should ntelligently enjoy it.
Its place is unquestionably in the theatre.
1t is show music pure and simple.
The audience went into raptures over
it as if IL were the gospel OF a new artistic
dispensation. Yet there did not really ap-
pear to be anything in il to attract especial
attention beyond some smart scoring and
some strongly marked elementary rhythms.
Oh, yes, there was the celesta which made
the pretty bells ring (weTent they just too
sweet?D and there was a chorus outside.
just why no one was quite sure, but il was
SO delightful and so sort of you can't just
tell what, and any one who says 10 was not
lust lovely is a mean thing.
Mr. Safonon's reading of the Tam
hauser' overture woke the echoes and
aroused the audience TO another demonstra-
ton of unbounded joy. Mr.. Creatore used
to produce a similar result in the good old
summer time at Mr. Harnmerstein's roof
garden by precisely the same means. When
the repetition of the pilgrims chorus APP
pears in the finale instruct the trombone
players to blow each note as long as breath
will hold out and as loudly as possible.
That was Mr.. Creatore's prescription. Mr.
Safonoff followed it 10 the letter. But he
added something TO it, He discovered a
spot TO bury the melody as given out by
the trombones. and he accordingly 30 used
il and CapsiZed one of the most significant
modulatons In the closing portion of the
score. The entire reading Of the overture
was cheap, sensational, isy and nartistlc.
The one good performance of the after
noon was that Of the prelude 10 the third act
Of Die Meistersinger." for here Mr. Safonoff
caused the brass TO sing like an organ and
not 20 below like bulls. This reading had
repose, finish and Poetry. and yet il was
dismissed with few perfunctory clappings
of hands. As for Mr.. Burgstaller he waded
into SicgnUnds love song and Walther's
prize lied with more valor than discretion
His fresh voice was good 10 hear, but his
fiat intonation certainly was not. But he
was applauded TO the echo.