New-York tribune., 1909-10-03
THE BRAHMS FESTIVAL
REJOICING AMONG MUSIC
LOVERS At MUNICH.
Complete Success of the Meeting
Wonderful ChOriSterS from Co
IOgnc-The Conductor.
IFrom a Special Correspondent Of The Tribune
Munich Senfemher is


Munich, September Is.
For week the hearts of all lovers OF Brahms
have been filed with rejoicing. The first German
Brahms festival has come and gone in a blaze
OF glory. II carried through with true Teu-
tonic enthusiasm in the very town in which the
muse OF the great Johannes has heretofore had the
greatest obstacles 20 overcome In which the
powerful Wagner party Calas. that there should
be so many musical parties in EuropeD opposed
Brahms with great bitterness in the town In which
Brahms was more than coldly treated by the pub
lie after the performance OF his first symphony
thirty years ago That the time when the
subscribers TO the Academy concerts went so far
TO threaten a withdrawal OF sther subscriptions
Il Levi, the conductor, dared 20 put another such
symphony on a programme. OF course, this feel
Eng of antsgonism subsided gradually years ago.
People have become much catholic in
their tastes; still, nobody would have been more
surprised at the radical change OF feeling here
than the great Brahms himself. When, on the
morning of September 10 0he first day Of the
Festival the Mayor OF Munich greeted the assem-
bled guests in the beautiful old "Rathhaussaal"
with impressive speech, thanking the Brahms
gesellschaft 10 whose efforts the festival due.
for the honor conferred on Munich in making It
the first home OF the Brahms festivals; when the
chorus sang as an introduction to. this ceremony
The wonderful 'Festspriche'' in equally wonder
ful way and the whole crowd OF Brahms lovert
nearly shouted with enthusiasm. one could not
help regretting that Brahms himself had not lived
70 see such recognition OF HIS genius. People from
every part OF Europe came 10 hear the fve big
concerts that had been arranged under the direc-
tion OF Fritz Stenbach, of Cologne. who Is not un-
known TO the New York public. Members Of the
court of Meiningen-alWsys great patrons OF
Rrahns-Prince Friedrich Wilhelm OF Prussia. the
Grand Duke Of Hesse musicians like Safonof.
chsTpentier. r. Hahn many Gsitics OF the leading
German papers, amateurs from Leipsc. Vienna,
italy came. and was only astonished 20 find so
very few Americans IN this musical crowd.
The festival planned for four days-thTee
evening and two morning concerts, in the Odeon
Seal- The first evening OF the series, with the
German Requiem and the minor symphony on
the programme, was perhaps the best and most
delightful Of the five Steinbach had the former
Kahn Orchestra at his disposal-it is called
the Tonkinstler Orchestra-and to it he added
some Of the woodwind and brass instruments OF
the famous Meiningen band. which still retains
some OF the traditions and atmosphere inspired by
DR.. Bdiow's training. The combined forces
made very creditable orchestra though some
times lacking in the finish which comes only from
long association. Steinbach also brought from Co.
logne two hundred and sixty members OF the Cur
zenich concert chorus, a splendid body OF singers
that did wonders. The performances OF the Ger
man Requiem" was truly memorable one and
reused the audience TO such pitch Of enthusiasm
that II was hard 10 believe that this would be
surpassed after the glorious last movement OF the
trst symphony, played with unusual fire and spirit.
The second, a morning concert was devoted 10
smaller works. We heard the well known C minor
quartet for piano and strings by Mr.. Friedberg.
pianist, and Messrs. EldeTng, Klemmerboon and
taken. The performances was rather a disaDpoint-
nent for hearers used the Kneisel or Rose quar-
!. tets playing. However, this number was easily
forgiven and forgotten during the next three vocal
quartets, "Heimath." 'Nacht" and ''Wechseuied
~ sung by Mrs. Canbley- -Hinken. Miss PhiIippi Mr.
y Walter and our celebrated heder singer Me-
schaert Nhe soloists OF the festival. Such ex-
qusitey pure. delicate fervent singing as these
artists put into the three gems Of song made the
group one Of the most delightful Incidents of tho
Whole festival Meschaert, with his fine and beauti-
1uIiy managed voice and his unique interpretation
made the audience happy by singing five OF
Brahms's best known songs, and a repetition of
The "Festspruche" ended the delightful concert
The same evening brought q whole army OF
5rahInss biggest works. the second and third syrl-
phonies. variations on a theme by HAYDN the
Song Of Destiny" for chorus and orchestra and
the Rhapsody, for contralto solo and male chorus
ne cLoFal works and some parts OF the syrnpho-
MES were splendidly performed. In the first move
nlent OF The second symphony more srace v,ouId
nave Deen acceptable and lesser orgy of power
N the hnale. Steinbach is an ardent ana davo,ad
"orshipper oi Brahms and threw himself body
4HG SOU INTO his task. sometimes with sptIest
results, at others showing a certain ,endenc,, -
eNaggeration, very frequent IN modern musical
ne In his eagerness to bring out every detail snd
every beauty. he not only-as a German critic sata
let Brahms speak, he also let him scream he
loves 70 emphasize every accent 20 put n on 81
ways still more strongly, If possible Still thers
was great deal to be honestly admired and MT
The least his untiring energy and his unasrgin0
zeal 10 the very end OF these enormous rro-
grammes. "
The second morning concert brought some more
ot these delightful vocal Quartets, only one or
winch, however, the "AbendIied," took the audi
ence by storm. The trio for piano clarinet ana
violin, one Of Brahms's least happy works in
spite OF the beautiful adago, not impressively
played though making splendid background for
the 'Liebeslieder." which followed the best known
and most charming OF his vocal compositions The
four singers outdid themselves in exquisite per
fOrmance
And now there remains nothing TO tell about ex-
concert There was indeed much that was beau
tful-four crowning works. ''Trumphlied," ''Ce-
sang der Parzen," violin concerto and fourth SYM
phony-the chorus again admirable. Seldom have
heard such singing. such mems voices, Ike deep
bells; such sweet altos. such perfect attack such
enthusiastic following OF their leader. II was d
pity that the hall-wonderfully acoustic-should be
too small for such a body Of singers for orchestra
and for such a high spirited conductor Sometimes
during the 'Iriumphled," and also during parts
u the fourth symphony, the very walls seemed TO
shake with the masses Of sound. At the end the
public expressed frantic enthusiasm-it Iained
flowers Wreaths laurel trees the Brahms
FESTIVAL seemed suddenly turned into a festival for
the performers. Stili, even II this would have
amused the sarcastic Brahms, who never had so
many laurels in his life given 70 him, II good
10 hear such expression OF JOY and thanks. The
gratitude OF to-day goes TO the performers: the
gratitude Of centuFies 20 come viii stay with
creating genius-W1th Johannes Brahms.
PAULA GERICKE.
RUSSIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.