New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-18
CONCERTS

Fritz stenbach. who IS to make his first appear
ance in this city at the last concerts or the PM
harmonic Society this season on Friday ana sat
urday next at Carnegie Hall, Is one OF the most
noted conductors in Europe, and has this year ap-
peared as star with local Orchestras in London.
Brussels and Berlin with great success. He comes
to New-York from London, where a fortnight ago
he met with enthusiastic reception from the
public at the concerts he conducted.
Steinbach bears a cumbersome title which was
given 10 him by the Grand Duke Of SaXe-Meininsen
when he in his service TO enable him
to amass and command al. the available musical
forces in the grand duchy on festival occasions.
lie is a Grand Ducal General Music Director, and
was Dr.. Won BuOws successor as Court Conductor
at Meinlngen in 1856 There he remained until 1903,
when he called to Cologne Municipal Con
ductor and head of the Cologne Conservatory of
Music. succeeding Franz Wullner. Steinbach is
native OF the Duchy OF Baden and born in
1855. He studied Leipsic Conservatory, and car
ried of the Mozart prize. Thence he went TO
Vienna, and a pupil Of Nottebohn laid the fOun-
datons for the special excellence which he is ex-
pected 10 disclose at the concerts OF the Phil
harmonic Society. lie IS not a champion OF the
modern tendencies IN music much he IS
classicist with peculiarly strong leanings toward
Beethoven and Brahms When young. Stenbsch
displayed unmistskabls talent for composition but
soon abandoned creative for interpretative art In
1880 he appointed conductor of the Municipal
Theatre at Mayence. and he held the post until
called 20 Meiningen to be Won Bulow's successor.
or his fame as conductor OF the works Of the
classics. and more especially OF Brahms. He had
made the acquaintance OF Brahms some time previ-
ously. for It he who mad recommended stein
bach The close friendship between the great mas
ter and the young conductor continued TIL the end
Of Brahms's life. Not a year passed without their
meeting. In the summer Stenbach would visit his
friend at Vienna at Isch md every winter
Brahms travelled TO Me!ningeu to hear the court
orchestra discourse Bach for his special delecta-
ton.
The programme will naturally include a SYM
phony by Brahms The conductor has selected
the second IN major. Other numbers will be
Edward Cigars Variations on an Original
Theme which the Philharmonic Society PLAYS for
the first time Beethoven's concerto for pianoforte
in r nat. and the third "Ieonore" overture OF tbs
same composer. Harold Bauer viii be the soloist.
Mr. Wasii Safonon conducted 4 concert OF the
London Symphony Orchestra on February u In
view Of the fact that he has been engaged to con-
duct ell the concerts OF the New-York Philhar-
monio Society during the three years. # is
interesting to read what Of the English CRIT
les thought OF his performance. The principal men
gave him long and serious attention. Nj. Vernon
Blackburn wrote. among other things, In The
Pail Nal! Gazette:
In this hflh symphony land it vas point which
NJ. SafOnoh brought out with great insistence) one
his enormous musical powers TO the utmost, in
reality, barbarian. "smitten by the Zeit-GeiSt."
Understanding all the possibilities civilization
IN part realizing them in music. Tschaikowsky, In
this symphony, shows his terror Of time and yet
mis- acknowledgment OF the march OF time. This
point which was brought out with emphasis
| and with strength by this conductor; time
one felt what artist was Tschaikowsky at an
other time what barbarian ne was; but one al
ways felt what a magnificent conductor NJ.
| SafonOn For. indeed, were shown a this sym
phOny the picture of who laughs without
ever smiling and whose laughter is always melRn-
| choly.
Mr.. Baughan, in The Daily News" gave it
his opinion that the fact that Mr. SafonoT dis
| penses with baton in conducting was not mat
| ter great moment.
An ordinary conductor does rely on his
baton for the obtaining of his effects. but his
left hand well, and, In fact. his whole physical