New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-06
MUSIC.
THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

When the Philharmonic Society made trial OF the
policy OF inviting eminent musicians TO come from
Europe to conduct it's concerts It also instituted
the plan Of giving a pair Of concerts. outside or
the regular subscription. with the conductor who
cost the most or seemed most likely to attract the
attention of the public Concerts Of this character
We're given under the direction OF Mr.. Wetngartner
three seasons ago. and also two under MI
Safonoff last year. Mr. Safonoff IS now the regular
conductor Of the society," but his popularity seemed
great enough in the estimation OF the directors OF
the society to justify a continuation Of the eS-
pertinent begun with the visitors So after the last
subscription concert had been given this season an
extra brace OF concerts was announced Inc .HisI
OF these took place yesterday afternoon and proved
that the directors not mistaken In their esti-
nation of the interest felt their Cossack leader
The subscribers supplied the audience, which was
nearly If not quite numerous as that In at
tendance at the regular concerts Early in the season
a popular appeal was made with a Sunday afternoon
concert at the HippOdrOme, with the same con-
ductor and the same solo attraction offered yes
terday: but it turned out a lamentable failure
The lesson seems plain enough, and might DC
needed a similar lesson ten years ago when
the popularity of Mr. Seidl led to the increase or
the six public rehearsals and concerts to eight
Close students OF musical affairs will not be sur
prised to read that, the extra programme having
been determined upon. q programme was chosen IN
which Mr.. Safonor might display those qualities
which first drew local attention TO him. There was
the Pathetic symphony by Tschaikowsky' Wnich
nearly every visiting conductor wanted to conduct
for obvious reasons, and the ''Tannhauser over
ture with which it is easy TO stir up an elemental
excitement by the simple device of turning loose
the brass in the closing measures and permitting
the horns to drown the melody and the accompani-
ment. with the tenor voice in the harmony nafeo
out II old Jericho's walls were again TO be
thrown down by atmospheric conclusion. The plan
was completely successful yesterday. Symphony
and overture uprOariously applauded. as they
have been before by the same people. and inteli-
gent Judgment fed abashed. Between these num-
bers Mr.. Lhevinne introduced the pianoforte con-
certO in E fiat by Rubinstein. which had been an
nOunced for the first subscription concert or the
and wisely set aside in favor of the fourth
in D minor by the same composer. II is little else
than display piece for the pianOfOrte full or tire
some remplissage and empty OF serious or vital
musical thought. 1t Is Mr.. Lhevnne's battle hoFse'
however. for with it he won the Rubinstein prize
in Berlin twelve years ago. and he played It WIN
tremendous dash and brilliancy yesterday as ne
did In January OF last year. when he introduceo
himself 10 an American audience with II az con-
cert of the Russian Symphony Society. The sans
music will be played again this evening.