New-York tribune., 1910-11-02
MUSIC
The Philharmonic Society.

me Fnllnarmonic Society opened its
siAty-ninth season brilliantly last night
one might say very brilliantly If the reader
were 10 limit the statement 10 such ele-
msnts as the quality of the hands finest
utterances some of the features OF Mr..
Manlers reading of the familiar works
ON the programme end the appearance OF
the audience A gladsome beginning TO
the entertainment was given bv the hearty
reception which Mr.. Mailer received. and
the signs or appreciation so far as the con-
ouctor was concerned were continued after
esch number. and even at the end which
came after more than two hours of music.
considerably too much, especially when
wearied listeners were compelled To go
Rome with the CaCophanous coucIud-
ing measures of Richard strauss 8
Also sprach Zarathustra' haunting the
ear and outraging the aesthetic sense
ana fancy. There is an old story
told OF how q wicked waE once visited
Mozart when he was sick abed. played a
Few chords on the pianoforte and left the
room after striking a dissonant harmony.
Mozart's cries availed him nothing: he had
to get out of bed and himself provide ease
for his tortured sense and soul by
proper resolution. Last nights audi
ence was not so sensitive as Mozart.
but it was vet noticeable that it pre-
ferred to get into fresh air rather than
stay and emphasize the enthusiasm with
which ii began the pleasures Of the evening
AS it was Mr. Mailer curtailed the pro-
gramme as announced considerably and
considerably. Instead of the ballet music
from "Idoreneo" he played only two num-
he nd ,aiIf
of the five which make up the ballet in
MOZarts opera; Of the same composers s
German dances CDeutsche" as they
used 10 be called in Vienna. "Teitsche.' as
Mozart called them he played only one
But these numbers made a refreshing in
termezzo between Schubert's c maior-of
excessive length though the length be
heavenly" as Schumann said-and
Strauss symphonic poem Very beautiful,
graceful and piquant they were, especially
the gavotte. which former delightful pen
dant TO the gavotte from Bach's D major
suite, Mr. Mahler's arrangement of four
movements from the minor and D major
orchestral suites. which was played several
times last season, being again chosen to
open the concert.
The orchestra seemed TO be in excellent
condition and the hne string tone-muscu-
lar is the favorite descriptive word-was OF
thrilling effect when not overwhelmed by
the brass and the fairly ear-splitting ket-
tledrums. This happened frequently in the
symphony and the symphonic poem. But 1t
will soon become as great a weariness to
the flesh to mention il as il will be 70
endure 1t. There were many curious and
inexplicable dartings, fashings and eddy
ings in the current OF Schuberts work
especially in the slow movement-many
points Of emphasis which had singular
effect in the amiable and adorable old
music, many moments in which there was
a painful absence of the lofty and essen
ttal quality of repose. but never want Of
eager and pulsing vitality. And, there
fore, the symphony gave keen pleasure.
As for the symphonic poem. if il could
have been redeemed by the superb sonor-
tty of the band. the elastic reading of Mr..
Mailer and the fine playing Of the con-
cert master and his associates at the first
desks of the violins, violas and violon-
cellos, IL would have achieved redemption.
H z. K