New-York tribune., 1909-11-29
M USIC
Il Ne1o Concerto by Rach-
maRinof.

The fourth sunday afternoon concert OF
the symphony Society, which took place az
The New Theatre yesterday invited atten-
uon 10 several things. each one OF which
might have furnished forth material for
wide reaching discussion. There was a
new phase OF the experimentation which ts
In progress TO determine the question
whether or not the acousticaI properties Of
the playhouse are such as make il a desir-
able concert room. a Russian composer
WHO nils a large place in the public eye. n
not IN the public ear. brought forward
ne" composition In the largest form adap-
tabie TO the pianoforte. and himself played
the SOLO part On the programme also was
an unfamiliar work for orchestra by a
rrench composer OF established reputation.
large capacity for musical enjoyment. a
great patience and much physical intellect
uai and emotional endurance are required
OF a wide observer Of New York's musical
doings II he is 10 enter with zest upon the
work OF a new week which has such a be-
ginning without the rest OF a single day.
let the audience yesterday was prompt in
appreciating the delights OF the concert and
unusually enthusiastic in its expression OF
gratitude and approval For the subscrib-
eFs there was peculiar ground for gratihca-
uon IN the advance which the concert
marked over that Of week before The
orchestra played better, the solo feature
was Infinitely superior and the music was
hearc 70 greater advantage. property"
scene tnclosed the stage. and did so more
completely than the pretentious set prepared
especially for the purpose. and the voice
OF The band came out fuller and with more
homogeneity than before. II still wanted
of ha
tone of which the fine organization is capa-
bic, but the improvement over the preceding
concerts showed that those qualities are
now within reach.
The programme consisted OF Mozart's
symphony in G (called the JUPITER. a
concerto In d minor, No 3. for pianoforte
and orchestra. OF which the solo part was
played by the composer. Sergai Rach-
maninon and two short orchestral pieces.
Arlequin'' by LalO. and 'Marche
Joyeuse.' by Chabrier. OF which the former
vas new 10 the local public A spirited
performance Of the symphony put the audi
ence in mood which something less NOV
Ing than the concerto proved 10 be would
rave raised 10 enthusiasm. As II was the
Russian, who is likely soon 10 be hailed as
the nnest representative Of his country's
music, enjoyed a triumph so emphatic and
spontaneous that he did not hesitate 10
show his own surprise as well as deep
satisfaction. His playing Ike his music
was ingratiating in manner and matter. A
frank, manly, unaffected bearing put him
in pleasant communion with ms listeners,
and his obviously unconscious Indifference
10 The customary devices Of the virtuOso or
composer on exhibition held him there and
developed the feeling into a sweet and sane
intimacy. His concerto is overlong not
only in the movement which discloses most
labor and reflection Ohe irsU. but also in
the second (which. treated as an inter
mezzo. passes from revery 10 playfulness.
and were il not for its structural character
might serve as much more than an intro
cuctiOn 10 the hnalei and the last which
when II reaches a dashing march rhythm
II spirited and has so much in IL that
sounds ike a spontaneous outpouring that
il is a pity the general impression is marred
by Unquesuonable overelaboration The
incessant employment Of the solo instru-
ment initiates against the notion which
cnCe prevailed that "A concerto should in a
way represents q contest between the solo
instrument and the band; but Mr. Rach-
Eaninof has not sighted the accompany
ing factor, but given II many proclamations
Of pith and moment. Mr.. Damrosch di-
rected the performance as II his heart was
in the work. and his rejoicing in the
triumphant outcome was obviously sincere.
The concert Will be repeated next Tuesday
evening in Carnegie Hall. H r X