The Detroit times., 1911-02-23
ALL-wAGNER PROGRAM
DELIGHTS BIG AUDIENCE

That the music OF Richard Wagner
should live to enthrali an American
concert audience, made up largely o.
1.-THE Masses" for two and one-hall
hours, as II did Wednesday evening
I'm the Light Guard armory. would
have seemed unbelievable 20 years
ago, as that man should conquer the
air In wireless telegraphy and the
aeroplane. Two decades ago, ant
even less, II was the fashion to poke
fun at those who accepted Wagner al
great composer, and he and his ad
mirers were the butt OF the PROBES
sional humorists' pens. Now, sucf
Jokes are classed In age with that Of
the mother-in-law jibe.
Conductor Frederick Stock and his
men OF the Theodore Thomas Sym
phony orchestra played one OF the
most beautiful programs OF music ever
heard within the walls OF the cheer
less, chilly old armory. They made
every loyal American feel In mel
low mood toward German music by
prefacing the Wagner scores with q
splendid, stirring rendition of Amer
ica," In recognition OF the natal ami
versary OF George Washington, while
the big audience stood In patriotic
respect and wildly applauded at the
finish. Conductor Stocks action was
graceful bit OF patriotism. Despite
the date and place there was not q
national emblem In sight.
The program numbers began with
the overture to THE Flying Dutch
man" and ended with the overture to
die Meistersingers" with excerpts
from die Walkure," "Siegfried,'
"Die Gotterdammerung," Tristan und
Isolde" "Parsifal" and the lovely pre-
lude TO "Lohengrin." To the Wagner
devotee whose knowledge Of the com
poser might have been gained In Eur.
ope or in frequent hearing of the
music dramas in the Metropolitan
opera house, in New York, Conduc-
tor Stocks Interpretation might have
seemed what Is known in musical par.
lance as modern" No one could
gainsay the fact, however, that he
brought out every beauty of the score
before him and lifted the rendition
far above the ordinary concert read
ing of Wagner composition. The
modernism" of Mr.. Stock made the
program all the more interesting. He
put life and fire into what is usually
treated in a half-afraid and wholly
conventional way. His attitude of en-
thusiasm was happier of results than
the heavy reverence with which most
conductors approach Wagner. The
music was beautifully interpreted and
admirably played-no less praise
rnttIA he Ofunr hxr nIn
sic Wagnerite. The organization i'm
proves every day and the west should
be proud to own the Thomas orches-
ira and Mr.. Stock and to be able to
refer to 1t as ''our splendid orchestra
and conductor"
In spite of many Washington
birthday banquets and balls and other
social festivities. which naturally
might be expected to claim the pres
ence OF many regular concertgoers
and the patrons Of the Detroit Orches.
trail association series OF concerts, the
audience was a very large one, few
vacant seats meeting the eye as one
looked over the auditorium. Atten-
ton was profound and applause long
and sincere and from many view.
points the concert to the music lovers
was one Of the most enjoyable and
successful that Detroit has expert
enced this season.
The final concert of the series will
be given, in the armory. Thursday
evening, March %, by the Cincinnati
symphony orchestra, under Conduc-
tor Leopold Stokovsli and with Nine
Jeanne Jomelli, soprano, as special
soloist.