New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-06
THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

Fortune has not smiled on either the
historical or the Beethoven concerts of the
Philharmonic Society this season. and the
fifth of the former series. which took place
last Friday afternoon, was attended by a
wofu1ly small audience, notwithstanding
that a popular pianist had been announced
as q solo attraction. This was Nine. Sama-
rolf, who was expected to play the piano
forte concerto in G. major. But as was
told in the newspapers of Thursday, the
lady was taken i'll and Mile. Iolando
Nero took her place. The substitution COM
PEELED change in the programme, Nine
Nero playing the second concerto-that IN
c n1inor-in place of the fourth. Her play
ing was of the straightforward, honest or
der, less brilliant. we fancy, but also less
affected, TO Judge by her other work this
season. than it would have been had it
been fresh in her memory The printed
page called for her attention.
The second concerto is seldom heard now
adays. but still less seldom the overture
in {, OPP. lis. to which the publishers OF
a later day gave the title Eur Namens-
feier.' for the reason that the composer
once purposed to have it performed at d
celebration of the name day of the AUS
trian Emperor. 1t was not performed, how
r.
when given out for performance long af-
terward all allusion to it's occasional
character was suppressed. Its chief histor-
icaI significance lies in the circumstance
that il was in A. sense and in some degree
a study for the finale of the Ninth Sym
phony.
The overture began the concert, which
was concluded with the Seventh Sym
eloauence, emphasizing its rhythmical
characteristics but not overemphasizing
Them and indulging in dynamic extrava-
sance only in the holding notes of the
trumpet III the trio of the scherzo.
The programmes OF the society are grow
ing more varied and interesting as the sea
son approa aches its end. For the concluding
concerts of the subscription series next
Thursday evening and Friday afternoon Mr..
Mailer announces, besides the violin con-
certo by Brahms. DebussyS exquisite
.L'Anres-midi dun Faune." Richard
strauss $ Tod urd Verkldrung'' and a suite
COMPOSED of pieces written by Ferruccio
Busoui as incidental music for Gozzfs COM
e.lv 'Turandot." This is a play with d Chi
ncse subject and Chinese environment, and
SiSnor Busoni has made use of Oriental
melodies for his themes, though they
are not all Chinese, Tho plot of "Turan-
dot" turns on the adventures of prince
who. bauished from! his native land, comes
to the imperial city of China and falls In
love with the Emperor's daughter through
a sight OF her portrait. His prospects be-
ing at low tide. he resolves IN desperation
TO sue for the hand of the Turandot, the
Chinese princess, though he knows that
all suitors are required TO answer three
riddles which she propounds Failing in
this they are put to death by decapitation
and Prince kalafs first experience is see
ing a head added TO the CHASTITY trophies
which ornament the city gate. He solves
the riddles but the princess seems unWil-
ling in her pride 10 Yield 10 his claims
yyhereupon nc offers to release her provided
she discovers his true name. She sends
spies into his sleeping room, and one OF
them brings word that in a dream he had
exclaimed. "Oh, unhappy Kalaf.' With this
knowledge the princess is able to redeem
herself but at the last she confesses that
she has learned to love the prince and all
ends happily.
Signor Busoni's music, which has been
handsomely printed in score by Breitkopf
&, Hartel. consists of eight numbers The
first pictures the city gate. with it's grew
soma trophies: the second Is a grotesuue
march delneative of Truffaldino, overseer
of the euuuChs; the third Il march of the
old Emperor Altoum; the fourth a march
oF ti}a. Princess Turandot: the fifth and
sixth deline2tive OF tho activities in the
wotnen's apartments in the palace. with
dancin,. and singing uhe MacDowell Choir
rs Will assist; the seventh nocturnal
waltz" accompanying the uneasy sleep or
Ea1af and tine eighth Ii mock solemn march
oc Turandot and Turkish finale. The
score WAS printed In 1905 and is dedicated
to Dr. Muck. II. T.. IL.