New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-25
MUSIC.
Strauss and His Domestic Sym
DhOnu.
phOny.


The precious boon of a second hearing of Richard
Strauss symphonic domestica' was vouchsafed
to New York by DR.. Muck and the Boston Sym
phony Orchestra last Saturday afternoon. In the
vcinase of Boston, it is said it felt that SOL
emn obligation to Art demanded the performance
Of this masterwork since the olfactories of New
York had been found too delicate for the odOrs Of
'Salome." Why that obligation should have ex-
tended to New York is not clear. Monsieur. ma
dame ct bebe had their day in court here some
three years ago under circumstances that looked
impressive TO the outer world. for then IL that
the composer himself first presented his Marvellous
offspring. 1t had long been heralded in the most
approved style commanded by the modern musical
mountebank. but it made little impression that
the hackers Of the Strauss festival, of which it
was the chief illumination. after announcing
repetition Of the work beat inglorious retreat
on learning that the thrifty composer having taken
their money had sold himself to a department store
which dealt in pianofortes Of another brand. Mem
DRY fails to recall that the musical public Of New
York wept because of the deprivation.
Boston might have heard the composition then
had DR.. Strauss not estimated his services as con-
ductor of a concert for the benefit Of the orches-
tra's pension fund at a figure which threatened II
added to the royalty demanded for the privilege of
performing the work. to swallow up all the re-
ceipts. The world has been officially told that DR..
Muck declines to give his approval TO the latter
day compositions of his colleague at the Royal
Opera House in Berlin. This fact. taken in con-
leave the popular mind in state of bewilderment
touching the for placing the symphony on
a New York programme. OF course. it IS not to
be thought of for a moment that il mercenary.
The Boston orchestra enjoys such a measure OF
favor in New York that It needs appeal to
sensationasm to increase II. Besides there were
tangible evidences in the box Office Of the Metro
pOtan Opera House and Carnegie Hall that New
York has had enough of both "Salome and the
symphonic domestica."
one purpose the concert Of last Saturday could
serve, and that 1t did; It emphasized again the
superb virtuosoship of Dr. Muck ana his men. The
performance of the symphony a splendid tech
meal feat. and because It that It brought to
convincing notice the hollowness and impotency OF
the music. Compared with the original perform
under the baton of the composer, IT was Ike
that of Don Quixote' under Mr. Gercke by the
same organization and the festival performance
which followed its heels by Mr.. Wetzler's or
chestra, conducted by DR. Strauss.
On the one hand beautiful finish, wonderful Clar-
ity and effort to produce as much euphony as
possible the other. little else than crudeness and
crassness Of effects. The double figures the end
of the symphony, which the composer told his
friends here designed to depict a controversy
between papa and mamma concerning baby's bath
sounded Ike a CosmiC CataClysm under Strauss
but gentle and almost agreeable under Muck
The performance keenly appreciated. and Dr.
Muck stood with the orchestra 10 acknowledge
the applause which it called forth. And then the
conductor. who is honest his dislike Of Strauss
latest compositions, including "Salome." provided
antidote In the shape Of two compositions by
which Mr.. Gabrilowitsch played the solo part with
fine intelligence and feeling. and the Academic"
overture. He had followed the same plan week
before in Boston. II. E. X.