New-York tribune., 1906-05-06
MUSIC.
End of the Cincinnati Festival.
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tRy Telegraph to The Trsbune.l
cincinnati, May 5-Ihe seventeenth biennial uu-
SIC TestiVaI came 20 an end with concerts to-
day, one In the afternoon OF a high class mis-
cellaneous OrGer, the other in the evening, az
which Egar's oTatOrio, ''The Dream OF GerOntius"
was performed under the direction Of the COM
poser ana beethOven's symphony In D Minor un-
der the direction OF Frank Van der stucken
Nine. Gadskl sang two OF her most hackneyed
airs IN the afternoon-"Ocean. Thou Mighty Mon
ster' rom Weber's "Oberon,' and 'Dich TheVre
HaHe' from WagneT's ''Tannhauser" Herbert
Witherspoon sang ''Wo Bergo Ieh Mich." from
WeDers EGryanthe." Sir Edward Elgar conduct
ed performance OF one OF his latest compositions.
the Introduction and allegro for strings. dedicated
10 Ffo1essor Sanford. Of Yale and produced early
IN the season Just ending by the New York SYM
phony Orchestra, under Walter Danrosch. The
work Is an interesting experiment in putting new
wine into old bottles. The remaining orchestral
numbers were TschaikOwsky's Symphonic Pa
thetique." the love from Richard Strauss
opera "Feuersnot." ana the prelude 20 Die
Meistersinger."
dgnihed scheme wholly worthy OF the best
traditions OF the festivals. was made manifest IN
the evening In Egars OratOrio the solo parts
were sung by Miss Janet Spencer John Coates and
Ffrangcon Davies. and in the finale Of the sym
phony by Mrs. Rider Kelsey, Miss Spencer, MI
Coates and Herbert Witherspoon. The quartet
struggled bravely but futfely against the cruel
difficulties of the music VIII those difficulties ever
be overcome? II is nearly q century since caro-
line Ungher turned to Henrietta SOntag after
vain appeal to Beethoven to tighten the task OF the
singers a little and said: Let then continue
to torture ourselves in the name Of God" The
torture has been endured by three generations
since; art and nature are all but impotent in the
face OF the task set by the composer In this, one
of his master works.
Sir Edward Elgar has been living at the Country
Club since he came 10 conduct OF the festival
rchearsals. Over a fortnight ago the desire for
privacy to which he gave expression when ne
came has been respected and he has enjoyed the
beautiful scene with which he has been surrounded
and the opportunities for work and exercise which
the conditions offered to the full. He has worked
industriously at the orchestraton Of his new ora
torio which is to be a sequel to The Apostles
and the few who have heard some Of the music
and been privileged to study the structural plan
Of the work speak in high terms Of both plan
and execution. Naturally enough his aloofness
has been disappointing to some Of the musicians
who had come here cherishng the hope Of meet
ing him intimately, but the death OF his father
discouraged all desire 20 intrude. II am privi-
legged TO speak for those who came to the festival
familiar with The Apostles and THE Dream OF
Gerontius"-men like DR.. Frank Damrosch OF New
York. and Harrison Wild. OF Chicago. the latter
Of whom produced 1.-The Apostles in Chicago last
Monday evening I should say that they have IN
all likelihood gained large insight from his read.
ing Of the works. Sir Edward ts not master OF
the technics Of conducting, but he knows how TO
win sympathy for his music When he does not
invites affection for his spirit. The results In
both cases have been altogether lovely.
He has led the singers and the instrumentalists
close to the heart OF tha music. Especially re-
narkable has been the tenderness Of expression
with which he has caused them to iTnbue IT, He
has not cared for brilliant exposition Of the out
ward details. but the atmosphere OF gentleness.
sincerity and devotion has never been wanting. 1t
was fine lesson to learn from a composer who is
a consummate master Of the things which are so
often expected IN this day Of technical proficiency
to take the place OF what I might call plenary
inspiration In music. Sir Edward is a puissant
pleader for the modern reflective manner. The
Dream OF Gerontius'' sounded so moving 90
me before From purely technical point Of view
It had much better performance than Il had two
years ago, not only because there was better
chorus to sing It. but also because the chorus
knew better than the old what It was that the
composer wanted 70 express.
Cincinnati is rejoicing Ia q triumphant outcome
Of the festival idea. which year ago seemed TO be
indssolubly connected with the life Of Theodore
Thomas Meleager's life with the billet Of
wood which his mother snRtched from the flames.
The friends of the festival have learned beautiful
lesson Of seIf-relianoe. The old spirit Of affection
ate interest has been revived and there has been
sincerer devotion to art and a more successful
festival than marked the meetings OF many years.
II, E X