New-York tribune., 1906-11-04
MUSIC.
THE COMING OF M. sAINT-sAENs.

At the hrst concert for this season of the New
York Symphony Orchestra, in Carnegie Hall last
night American audience made the personal
acquaintance Of NJ Camille Saint-Sasns. who.
generation almost universally recognized
as the first OF living French musicians There VIII
DO better time than the present In day or Two
to discuss what the phrase means. and TO set down
the impression which the distinguished visitor mas
made upon the musical cognoscenti OF the Arneri-
metropolis It Is a tsrdy coming, and one that
has been looked forward TO with sincere interest
for more than half score OF years. For the sake
Of the composer and his music It might be wished
that he had visited the United States earlier. let
Us say twenty years ago. when his music bore
less archaic message than was conveyed last night;
but It was very evident that the music lovers Of
New York found keen pleasure in greeting one
who long ago their respect and admiration
and that, far as they can make IT so, his Vlslt
will be mutually pleasant and profitable The
meeting last night essentially personal one
II did not present NJ. Saint-Saens IN an Impressive
aspect. Except to one number IN the concerts 8
scheme Of pieces he appeared as the composer OF
pretty trihes for the panoforts. pieces that woud
never have won him the laurel which our musi-
cal public glad 20 place upon the brow
the author Of the pianoforte concerto in q minor
the opera Samson and Delilah' the setting OF
the Eighteenth Psalm tho symphony In @ minor
and the symphonic poems "Danse Macaore, LIE
Rouet d'OmphaIe'' and ''Phaston" He played his
fantasia for pianotorts and orchestra emitted
Africa" which NJ. Pugno contemplated bringing
forward but abandoned1 an 'AllsBTo
Appasslonata'' for pianofcrts and orchestra, ana
valse caprice for pianoforte and strings. with the
singular and inconsequentiaI title Wedding Cake.
Why wedding Caks''7 The reason will remain a
mystery till chaos be come again. All thls was
crisp, pretty dashing music OF the style LONG
gone by. Not a measure OF sustained and soulrui
music was the audiences permitted to hear Fer
haps the reason was 20 be found In the present
peculiar capacity OF NJ saint-Saens as a pianoforte
player. Threescors years and ten have passed
over him and left his fingers ninble and flexible
The ability to produce tone sufficiently sonorous TO
assert itself against an orchestra has departed but
a crisp and dainty touch has remained and an
obvious contentment with pretty and playful dalh-
anee with the keyboard. That IS all
NJ saint-Sagns was most cordially greeted. When
he appeared upon the stage, escorted by Professor
Samuel s. Sanford, the orchestra musicians rose
TO their feet and welcomed him with fanfare. A
hundred or more OF his coUntrymen in the au-
dence rose to their feet also to do him honor The
applause was hearty and enduring After the per-
formance OF Africa the conposer-player was re-
called to the stage again and again. and large
floral piece decorated with the trt-color CT france
and the American flag. was placed at his feet
After the pair Of pieces which followed a per-
rornance OF his ''Rouet dOmphale' by the orches-
ira there was a repetition of the hearty demon
stration and It refused TO be sttlled till he had
supplemented the pieces with brief solo-again
a crisp futtertng. dancing allegro. Ike all the
music that had preceded IT.
Besides the music contributed by NJ. Saint-Saens
the concert under the direction Of Mr.. Walter
Damrosch offered the overture "Liebesfrdhlng.
bv Georg schumann. and Beethoven's "Eroica"
eyr,nbonv II. E. x.