New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-27

Very naturally. the large interest Of the
afternoon lay in the concert Of the Phil
harmonic Society. in Carnegie Hall. where
Mr.. Stransky conducted the Pathetic
symphony, by Tschaikowsky, for the first
time. \ blessing for all conductors is that
symphony. partly because Of its uniustiied
title. TO which the publishers nave chung IL
defiance Of the expressed wishes Of the com
poser. but more because the character OF
the music Is such that every conductor can
make a success with It. no matter what
his reading. In fact. as the New York pub
lie have had opportunities to learn, the
more extraordinary and outre the reading
the greater the success. II is dramatic,
even spectacular. music The composer
knew that it reflected things which were
going on in his own soul while he was
writing II: but he did not dare to tell what
they we're. and those who knew him init
natelv Go not wish 70 publish their guesses
now that he is dead.
But this has no bearing either one way
or the other on the beauty of the music
az such. and so the symphony has won
its almost unexampled popularity That
Mr. Stranszy presented it wildly. pictu-
course after what has been said hereto
fore Of his skill as conductor. The rest
lies in that dubious region Of interpreta-
ton IN which judicious men may well re-
fpsa 70 venture when asses bray go loudly
as 10 stile all other voices-as IN TINS
blessed period of St. List. Wherefore,
perhaps. there is also no need to descant
on the policy of performing transcription
Of a List Hungarian rhapsody at q con-
cert Of the Philharmonic Society. Time
vas-half a century or more ago-when
that would have appeared natural enough.
Time also was-in a later period-when
the Philharmonic Society stood for only
the .,reat things In music-when such
proceeding would have been impossible
even in a Iiszt celebration.
There was a novelty at yesterdays con-
cert-a work by a local composer, which
had its first performance anywhere. 1t was
symphonic poem, entitled "Consalvo,
after a poem by Leopard composed by
Nicola L,auceIa, one Of the hautists of the
orchestra The work, recently finished, is
dedicated 10 Mr.. Stransky and the society.
The composer is a young man; his educa-
ton has been acquired in New York,
though he is a native of Italy; he dis
plaved no little skill in his choice Of
subiect and no little ability in the inven-
ton Of themes 20 illustrate the moods Of
!. eopardTs poem. The subject IS an excel
lent one for musical delineauon-a dying
poet burdened by physical and mental
misery. whose last moments are frightened
by the benignant presence Of a woman,
whose kiss tells him that, after all, "love
and death" are desirable-this is a motive
which almost Graves for musical expression.
The young artist took up his task
with more than cleverness, but dis
closed his apprenticeship in the hurried
manner in which he reached his climax, and
ofter that his conclusion. When Wagner
oonnosed his work which with unusual
modestv ne entitled "A Faust overture
rjszt called his attentch 20 the fact that
he had neglected the feminine clement The
same criticism might be passed on Mr.
/ I.aucenas symphonic poem Ills delinea-
tion of the poets gloomy outlook on the
world is out of proportion to the glimpse Of
PARADISE which gives turn 20 his philos-
ophy at the end and which naturally pro-
/ yides it's close. Yet IL was pleasant-not
only that but comforting and encouraging
also-to meet young composer who seem
ingly did not think it his duty 20 modern
conceptions Of his art to assault the ears
of his listeners as long as police laws
which unfortunately do not apply 10 musl-
. cal performances, so far as we knoW-al-
low Having said what he had to say he
/ stopped-somewhat abruptly, it must be ad-
mitted As for the rest il is pleasure TO
recognize in Mr. Laucella the capacity Of
inventing significant themes and giving eX-
preston 20 poetical moods. With encour-
agement the rest will. no doubt, come. Mr..
/ LaucelIa had a foretaste In his calls be-
/ fore the orchestra.