The San Francisco call., 1908-05-11


phony. gloomy, chromatic and
huge. Is by many accounted his
greatest work. and though IL
contains an andante which all music's
literature cannot excel for seraphic
charm. the sixth symphony. roman
tically styled the "Pathetique." remains
the most popular and characteristic Of
poser from Little Russia Not only is
this Tschaikowsky's swan song-it is
his finest 1t will be the first offering
OF the New York symphony orchestra
next Sunday afternoon, when Walter
Damrosch lifts his baton over the ini-
tial concert of a series OF history max
ing recitals in San Francisco
Each recital during the week is to
be devoted TO some one composer or
school or department OF the musical
art and the first is 10 be. according TO
the advertisements. a grand symphony
concert" While the question might
cautiously arise whether the first con-
cert is really typically symphonic"
there can be no doubt that II win be
grand
Hero are the numbers to be pre-
sented:
Tsehsitowsky,s Symphonic Pathetique." the
andsnte and finale from GOunod's Little
SYMPHONY for wind instruments. ''LOhengrin''
prelude. Wagner: q string air and Gavotte IN
z. Bach. and Smetana's symphonic poem, The
River Moldau.
You see there isn't a real symphony
in the list. Smetanas contribution to
the program is frank program music"
written as part OF the Bohemian
composers tribute to the scenic glories
Of his country. and part Of his plan 10
infuse natiOnalism into Bonemia's art.
which German. Russian and French in
huencss threatened to swamp Gounod's
little symphony will be welcome
novelty. as Will the Bach numbers
played in hnison by the violins But II
there are no really typically SYM
phonic numbers on the symphony
program other concerts viii present
them. and for interest and beauty no
concert of the season will contain more
of interest and beauty than the first.
next Sunday afternoon
Never before has an orchestra of the
reputation and excellence OF the New
York symphony orchestra visited San
Francisco. Its coming this season is a
piece of managerial enterprise, for
which thanks are abuncantiy due Will
Greenbaum. II the patronage is IN any
measure commensurate with the op-
portunity, we are promised that the or
chestra's visits viii hereafter be an
nual. So 10 purchase a season ticket
this year is 10 gain immediate musical
joys and to insure those Of the years
to follow. IF San Francisco does not
crowd Dreamlar.d rink 20 welcome
Walter DamTosch and his artists and
soIoists il will b. z eItain indication
that we are Indifferent TO present and
future musical opportunities, for next
year. in that event. SIR. Damrosch Will
cut us of his visiting list and Manager
Greenbaum will not dare TO assume
the financial Iisk attendant upon the
enterprise.
Next Sunday evening the second re-
cital OF the series will be given IL
will be a grand popular concert and
the classics, which by repetition have
become understood and loved by all,
will be heard in fine quantities. The
overture "Robespierre" by RimSky-
Korsakof Will be played 1t is de-
scriptive of the reign OF terror during
the French revolution and was last
heard here when Sousa's band gave il
brazen and inspiring ntterance. Fol-
lowing is the popular program in full:
Overture to .'AIignon.' Ambrose Thomas;
Robesplerre, Rlmsky- -horsakon: Ballet
Music Delebes; The Farewell March,. from
Rats Leonore" symphony; novelties by Czi-
bulka, Lacombe. Liszt, Strauss and Others. Spe-
cial features VIII be g SOLO 6y Nine de Moss
a set Of humorous variations By Ochs. In which
the composer scores for full orchestra a little
German folk tune after the rHsnner OF Bach.
Haydn Mozart Strauss. Verdi GounOd and
Wagner A "Serenade'' by Saint Saens viii De
interpreted with Walter BamroSch at the plano
and solo riolineellist and Viollnist.
Damrosch's tendencies. training and
experience make the program for Mon
day evening particularly attractive.
for it is TO be Wagner night" No
one who heard his Illuminating lee
lures on Wagner prior TO the Grau
season of grand opera in this city will
be willing 10 miss Damrosch's inter
pretations of his favorite composers
master pieces. There is nothing mawk-
ish. pedantic or laborious about Dam
rosch's sympathies for the great Bal
reuth composer. His leadership of
Grau's singing and Instrumental art
lists when the entire Ring was pre-
sented TO San Francisco at the Grand
opera house several years ago is a
superb memory. This time, while lack
ing the vocal portion of Wagner's
compositions. the numbers which the
orchestra will interpret have been