The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-04

THE FRENCH COMPOSER APPEARS
As PIANIST.

A Long We, e 10 Bring small offerings
TO the First symphony society Concert
walter Damresch and the Orchestra
Acquit Themselves With Skill and Honor
Not since the days OF the Chevalier IN
tome dc Kontski has a pianist whom Robert
Louis Stevenson would have called athe
pink OF venerable sweetness" appeared
before this public till last night. Then on
the saffron lighted stage of Carnegie Hall
Camille S~aint-Ssens, the dean OF French
composers and pianists, strobe into view
at the first concert OF the New York Sym
phony Society under Walter Damrosch.
The young Siegfried Of orchestral music
has not so swelled with just pride since
Tschaikowsky came to help him with the
opening ceremonies Of the hall.
Il was indeed an hour OF pride, for Saint
Saens Is a famous master whose music
has made glad many desert places. His
dainty Omphale, his reckless Phaeton, his
piping Scotch clans and his xylophonic
dance of death are familiar to all lovers OF
good music. All '~cellists adore him for
his popular sonata and there are occasions
when his songs are sung and his piano
pieces played. Last night he appeared in
the dual role OF pianist and composer,
playing the solo part in works of his own
invention. 1t was his first appearance
In America and he seemed to like il.
He was received with orchestral care
monial. The instrumentalists blew him
a fanfare stood respectfully while he
bowed his Acknowledgements Of the APP
plause with which the audience tried to
signify to him that he owned a nook in every
American music lovers heart. After his
first performance he was recalled several
tunes and ushers staggered up to the stage
with the inevitable floral tribute, not ne
glectful Of French and American flags.
After his second performance he was APP
plauded quite as heartily, and considering
what he had just done he must have gone
home with a smile Of Partisan indulgence
for the ~infantile Yankees and a comforting
recollection Of Voltaire's "Toujours Pau
daoe.'
The programme of the concert was as
follows. Georg Schumann's -LiebesfrIh-
ling" overture, NJ. Saint-Saens's Africa
fantasia for piano and orchestra, the'com-
poser being before the piano and the audi
ence at the same time; NJ. Saint-Saens's
symphonic poem, "Le Rouet d'Qmphale';
NJ. Saint-Saens's Allegro Appassionata and
Wedding Cake valse caprice for piano
and orchestra, with the composer in the
same relations as before. and the "Eroica"
symphony of the distinguished German
musician. Ludwig Won Beethoven. After
the second appearance of NJ. Saint Sa TENS
as pianist and composer he was compelled
in response to long continued applause
to add a supplementary number to the list.
IT, s.Gl- II NAs,
is'for the moment missing. But as the
allegro and the valse were new to this city
We have perhaps as much food for thought
as we can at present carry.
NJ. Saint-Saens always writes music
clearly, huently and melodiou sly. He
scores with captivating transparency, deli
cacy and color. He is all that lie elegant,
polite and in~gratiating in his style. He
is nothing il not agreeable and he never
for one instant fdtgets that he is a Partisan
and a gentleman. He never obtrudes
philosophical, ethical, political or soci-
has anything to say which might arouse
acrimonious discussion he has recourse
TO a charming prose style. When his
fancies become too rarefed for music he
commits them to flaments of verse.
Nevertheless NJ. Saint-Sa8ns has COM
posed music with more solidity in it than
was disclosed in the piano compos itions
heard last night. The Africa" was GER
tainly not written under the stress of the
Franco-German dispute about Algiers.
It in a production of most fragile texture,
t~uneful, elegant. and withal evanescent.
As for the other novelties. they would
doubtless grace a conservatory commence
ment, but il seemed hardly worth while to
cross three thousand miles of treacherous
ocean to reveal them to an audience of
New World connoieseurs
NJ. Saint-Sasns played his music grace
fully, with facile technic, but without
much variety of color. Mr.. Damrosch
and the orchestra paid a far more fitting
tribute TO the true talent OF this master
by their delightfully."- finished and piGuant
reading OF the symphonic poem. NJ. Saint
Saens's admirers-and they are all music
lovers-will hope that before he departs
from these shores he will vouchsafe us
a more serious exhibition of his artistic
personality than that which he gave last
night.
Mr.. Damrosch honored the occasion by
bringing together an enlarged orchestra
on a basis of twenty first violins and twelve
double BASES. IL was a good orchestra
and it generally played well. The Schu-
mann overture went admirably and the
first movement of the symphony was given
with stirring spirit and some eloquent
touches of light and shade. The audience
tinKuished guest of the evening did not
ductor who has labored so long and so
this city.
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