New-York tribune., 1908-02-16
MUSICAL COMMENT.
NOTES ON A SATURDAYS D0INGS.

Mr. Fritz Kreisler began his recital OF violin n'i-
sic in Carnegie Hall yesterday afternoon WIN
Bach's suite in E minor and the prelude ano ga
Vote from the suite in f major Bach wrote 'his
music for violin alone but Schu:nann, out or MS
great admiration for the master, and prooao4s u
some extent also out of Difference TO tne popular
taste of his time. provided it with an accompani-
ment for the pianoforte. The Bach cuit Which
has grown up among musicians since. has pre-
served the suites in their original FORM and IL is
seldom that they heard in public except as
unaccompaned solos The performance yesterday
must have left curious questonings In the
mind of the sturious listener The fuller harmonic
substratum provided by the panoforte and the
greater variety OF color and also dynamies ought
to be grateful to the listener. especially since
schumann in spirit OF lovely devotion was
careful not to attempt any modern!zation OF the
style. And yet after all over, there remained
doubt as TO whether or not the music had really
benefited by the additions The doubt even OBJ
truded itself in the familiar excerpts from the Z
major suite. in which the ingenious limitations OF
the pianoforte part were particularly interesting
But Bach's improvers 4 must be dscouraging
to find that, even while writing for specifically
melody instrument like the violin. he managed to
say much that he left extremely little that
could be added Mr. KreIser played the music
with splendid vigor and stirring rhythmical in
csiveness but less finish than he has disclosed on
other occasions and than he did in his later NUM-
bers. He pursued the policy which he seems 10
have set for himself at the outset OF the prese
OF the eighteenth century by playing ~the familiar
variations by CoreIH known la Folia. and
a set OF transcriptions of melodies by Giuek Por-
pora and Coupern. ending with three modem pieces
designed send his serious listeners away
in pleasant frame of mind
Donzettf's Lucia" had another repetition at the
Manhattan Opera House yesterday afternoon. when
Nine. Tetrazzini again induged in pretty rivalry
with the flute. while the foolish and feeble drama
,F ut1r iHarl ltSl
out of sight. At the same time. in the Metro
poitan Opera House. the management brought for
ward the fairy idyI 'Hansel und Gretel," and then
hastened to erase the lovely impression which II
made with "Pagliacci." in which Cavalier acted
and Caruso sang Humperdincks little opera has
marked high water this far as the sing
ing and acting of the impersonators of all It's char
acters-Miss Alien Miss Mattfeld. Nine Homer
and Mr.. Goritz-are concerned. Its only defects
have been in the mechanical department. and
particularly stupid blunder in the handling OF the
scenery Inarred an otherwise ideal representation
yesterday
Carmen was the opera at the Manhattan
Opera House last night, with Nine Bressler-Gi-
anol Mime. Zcppiln, NJ DaIrnores and others, who
much popularity FOR the opera on earlier
occasions, in the cast. At the Metropolitan the
opera was Boto's "Mefstofee.
II NJ. chaliaplne's last appearance IN MS
demoniac role. and the opera drew forth a fairly
large audience. There noticeable moderation
in the Russian singers stage manners and voice as
contrasted with his earlier performances or the
part and the display OF temperance vas welcome
one. In the Brocken scene, which NJ Chaliapine
has heretofore chosen opportunity for acting
a devil far removed from GOethe's gentlemaniy
fend he hid a trfe of his nudity than at his
first appearance; what the characterization lost
here in bestiality was than atoned for by
well tempered singing. II must said, however.
that NJ Chaliapne's voice lacked power at times,
only at this trying juncture, but on other oc-
casons Miss Farrar's Margarita was demure
neither in song in appearance: there was in her
portrayal all that might expect Italian
Gretchen would demand and her exquisite voice
lent most un-Goethian voluptuOusness TO the part
at times. VI. Martins fine vocal material was In
evidence In the part of Faust. but also his
hard, unyelding style Nine Rappold sang the
part of Elena. Nine. Jacoby that OF Pantalis and
Grerd that of Marta