New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-24
MUSIC.
A NEW CONDUCTOR AND THE PHIIHAR.
MONIC SOCIETY.

| The last concert of the Philharmonic Society for
| this season will take place IN Carnegie Hall this
evening. The preparatory public rehearsal was he'd
yesterday afternoon. The affair excited more than
the wOnted interest. partly. II is fair surmise
/ from the fact that Mr.. Harold Bauer. who has
his way to popular appreciation OF the solid
sort, was set down to play Beethoven's panOforts
| concerto IN fat and partly because there was 10
be another opportunity 10 observe the art OF an
other Of the society's visiting conductors II Is
dificult thing 10 measure how much real interest
or curiosity is excited by the coming Of men across
the seas to spend few fleeing hours IN the re-
hearsal room and IN the attitude Of command befor-
the orchestra at the public rehearsals ard concerts
OF stad and aristOCratc concert institution II
is easier to note that unless the visitor Is special
ist in a field which permits the exhibition OF some
sort OF sensatOnaIism (Which term does not neces-
sarily preclude high measure Of artistic merit he
Is no longer the prOvOker Of any other attitude
the part Of the experienced patrons OF the Phil
harmonic Society than that OF cordial attention and
discriminating approval That was the experiences
OF NIr Fritz Steinbach Of Cologne, yesterday he.
too has the reputation OF specialist but L Is IN
field which not only does not invite, but positively
precIudes the garish al fresco effects which take
elemental hold or the careless fancy. He Is a
Brahms specialist. and though he had Brahms
symphony in which to present himself that nun
Der was the least effective Of his offerings Eve
those who are accustomed TO judge the musa
which they hear dispassiOnately and without
prejudice and are able TO discriminate BE-
tween the value OF the conductors intentions
and the realization OF them in the material per
formance could not help but feel disappointms1t
with the symphony. The tempt OF the first Two
movements appeared inOrdinately slow, the reading
throughout weighted with excess OF reflection.
One reason Of this, We fancy. was that Mr.. Stein
bach had given too little thought To the acoustal
conditions under which all concerts are given IN
Carnegie Hall The Philharmonic Orchestra IS one
capable because Of its constitution, OF imposing
weight and muschlarity OF utterance but Il has not
the purity Of tone IN all its ch0irs which can 50
saturate a pianissimO that IL will burden all the
vast space OF this acousticaIy freakish concert
room with effective tone. The symphony had been
heard four times previously this season az cor
certs IN Carnegie HalI-OuCe from the PhiadelpaA
Orchestra under Mr. Scheel once from the Bosoon
Orchestra under Mr. Gericke, twice from the NsH
York symphony Orchestra under Herr WensN'-
ner. There Is no need TO institute a comparison o.
the readings Of the different conductors or ts
quality of the various bands; at least not nov"
Those who feel the desire may do IT with measure
OF profit after this evenings concert, when n tn7
natural course OF things. Herr Steiubach and ne
band Will appear 10 better advantage than thsy
di Yesterday. II Is more instructive 20 direct 81
tenton TO the iudubitable fact that Herr stem
bach's attitude more reverent toward the lel-.
and spirit OF Brahmss music than considerate o.
the things which are essential TO bring effects mons
TO an audience in Carnegie Hall The suave oe@-s
of the d major symphony occupied the mino ..
the conductor. Had the men Of the orcnestFa az
their instruments met all his wishes and the mls'
been performed in a smaller room. we can Is-''
that his reading would have been most ingratiauls
II not deeply moving, and there would have va
no listener 10 depore, with the familiar OLD sAl-s
ging OF the shoulders, the opaqueness and want y
charm In Brahmss orchestraton- Most pausl-'
and zealously did the conductor Try 10 bring the
dividual character Of that orchestraton into nous
but IL it is to exert all it's charm the syupa--
must hA heard under the conditions proper "
enjoyment Of chamber mUsc-with aris1O-s,,
performers and aristocratic listeners loineu -
Weber once called angelic wedlocS- s..a--
That there are Drawn and breadth In he,L
bach's conception Of music and uasteriuHl,,.,r
his command OF the conductors art was s.erd
put in evidence in the Variations on an I'D
Theme" by Edward Elgar. and Beethoven -
''Leonore'' overture. The Elgar composition p -
IN the Philharmonic list. 1t does not belons a.
class IN which the orchestra shows 20 o0s
vantage for IL. too requires finish IN ever! s.r
OF the instrumental company; but 10 IS oI'-,
orchestrated. has much variety OF color anu -.
vitality OF rhythm. and Herr Steinbach vas ~,
70 show that Il was welcome enrichment u.
society's repertory Here there was none . -,
heavy foOtedness which oppressed the syNs.5
nor was there any in the overture, which 49,
a spirited. II not unusually eloquent perloii-sss
I But who shall add 10 the many thrilling Me- n,
/ which the words "LeOnOre. No. g. awaken -
Bauer played with frequent splenCor and spoN--s
noble speech OF the concerto. but the perform a.
as whole. not free from perrunctorii''- a
! II the work that everybody Ahse
| therefore called for special effort H. =