New-York tribune., 1908-12-12
MUSIC
THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

There was one piece Of unfamiliar music in the
programme of the third afternoon concert Of the
Philharmonic Society, which took place IN Car
negie Hall yesterday. 1t q fantasia in c for
panoforte and orchestra by Rubinstein the solo
part of which played by Josef Lhevinne- IN
like the concerto in fat by the same composer
which Mr.. Lhevinne played at the first concert Of
the Symphony Society this year, this fantasia is
well knit composition which. with all its bra
Vura stills falls agreeably into the because or
the real cogency and downright beauty OF its
themes and their development These themes are
finely contrasted, and the principal one. OF hymn
Ike character. is plastic capable of beautiful
and varied treatment 1t ought TO take place for
a time at least in the lists of pianoforte vtrtuosi.
which have been hackneyed for years, but against
such consummaton there weighs the fact that
1t has moments OF terrifying technical difficulty.
Mr.. Lhevfnne has placed all of these under MS
feet however he has the brfsting terrors Of the
fat concerto. and the fantasia went of with
superb elan and brilliancy yesterday
Before the fantasia the orchestra played SINE
tana's delightfully."- melodous and descriptive SYM
phonic poem, The MOldau.' which the Boston Or
chestTa played here a week ago. and after 1t
Tschaikowsky's Manfred symphony. the second
work based on Byron's dramatic poem which has
graced the lists of the society this year However.
the symphony IS of Mr.. Safonofs battle horses,
and his vivid reading of it fails of its effect
There was rather more than usual of the rushing.
roaring and seething OF Bohemian river when
the rapids Of St John were reached in Mr. Safon-
Oh FSISiOlB Cf1aru or the superb
ton unmarried, while It's climaxes were al en-
HANGED by the fine sorority of the band. The wealth
disagTeeabe in the extreme but the society
afternoon audience was in full force. Herein
TO be the great asset of good will which
comes up for consideration whenever there Is Talk
las there is every few years. of changing the
stitution and character OF the venerable organza-
ton Gossip has been busy again for several weeks
with proposed plan TO reorganize the society, and
among those concerned in It are some OF the same
We f0dIv no 81 q
outset Of Mr.. Walter Damroschs brief administra-
ton. came forward with a promise OF an endoW-
ment Of s25 o00 year for four years provided the
society would submit TO q reorganization OF its
administration methods and admit others than its
members into its directorate The offer was con-
sdered by the society several months and then
rejected II is a great pity that projects Of this
kind often enanate from the tea table and
never become anything more than table talk.
There have been dozen OF them in as many years,
and not can be recalled which did not grow out
OF feminine admiration for a conductor. When Mr..
Seidl had brought the Philharmonic Society to the
climax Of its popularity a number Of ladies began
movement to raise fund to be used in creating
an orchestra for him The old plea was used of
the need Of permanent orchestra, and the col
lection OF million dollars talked about ss II It
wers the merest bagateIe. A suggestion that if
fund raised 1t should be used to endOW the
Philharmonic Society treated with contumely
even by Mr.. seidl himself. In the midst OF the
agitation Mr.. Seidl died. and never word more
heard Of the crying need of q permanent
orchestra
There was another hue and cry which had for
its purpose the glorifcaton Of Mr.. Weingartner,
but il lost in the echoes. Mr.. Safonoffs en-
gagenent for the Philharmonic secured by
subscription raised by committee Of ladies, and
that IL is approaching its end the Of
Mailer Is being used to conjure with. It is pos
sible that the present administrative methods OF
the Philharmonic Society are antiquaJed and Ill
adapted to present conditions: but they have been
a glory heretofore, and there is no brighter page
in musical history than that written by this
cratic and communal organization Of musicians.
Nothing should be permitted dim it.
K.