New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-09
MUSIC
Mr.. NIKISCH'S RETURN
First Concert of the London Sym
phony Orchestra.

Not the orchestra which has come all
the way from London to give us taste
OF its quality. but Mr. Arthur Nikisch, who
has come TO conduct a series Of concerts
which it is to give in the United States,
has been heralded loudly throughout the
country for nearly year past. Perhaps
this Is as IT ought to have been. y long
season OF symphonic music has closed
and New York has been asked to hear con-
certs by it's own Philharmonic. ymphony,
| Russian. Peoples and Nolpe orchestras, to
say nothing OF the 'popuars" on score
OF Sunday nights by the very admirable
hand Of the Metropolitan opera House. by
various companies Of "yagrom' musicians
gathered together for occasions. besides
the very welcome visitors from Boston who
come to us regularly tand are az welcome
as they are regular, and the Minneapolis
and Theodore Thomas organizations. which
came out Of the West to show New Workers
that the East did not monopolize all the
good symphonic music Of the country. OF
course there were some New Workers
familiar with that fact who know that
good music Of the highest order is making
in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, St. Louis, New
ia ell pfdNlitt san an tE'p CIV N''''
places Some day We may expect visit
from all Of them for uneasy rests the or
chestral head which las not tried at least
to win crown IN New York
But visit from fer across seas was an
other matter Perhaps II would never have
been dreamed of mad there been no Nikisch.
for II Is many years since an agitation first
went out to bring him over with the Berlin
Orchestra. Of which he is the regular CON
ductor. But shreWd manager took coun-
sci and decided that the experiment would
he too venturesomc. despite the great pop
ularity which Mr.. Nikisch won during his
American sojourn OF four years. His Lon
don managers were less timid. whether or
not they were less wise will be known after
the end Of the tour. The audience last
night was not altogether ercourag ing. De-
spite such a beggarly array Of empty boxes
as was disclosed. there was what would
ordinarily be called good audience In the
stalls. but there was as little occasion TO
compare It I'm numbers with the audiences
which attend the Boston Orchestra's CON
certs as there was to compare the two
hands in quality
This Is not TO say that the London or
but only that in general cuphony It does
not hold a candle TO the men from Boston.
and never will so long as il retains its
tenuous and acidulous oboe. its strange
flute and stranger clarinet. with voices and
styles which seem TO belong 10 no COM
mon school and 10 have singular an
tipathy 10 mixing in a beautiful harmony
or, let us say, COusonau,e. so as 10 avoid
as much criticism as possible AS for the
rest. the band has good muscularity OF
string tone, and shows admirable obedience
10 the mastery hand OF Mr.. Nikisch.
Admirable obedience describes the sit
uation as we'll as any words We can think
Of in the hurry Of writing after concert
that began tardIly and contained Beetho-
yens overture "Leonore. No. D. Brahmss
first symphony. Tschdikowsky's Francesca
Ga Rimini' and tho "TannhHusor' over
ture when Nj Niklsch commanded IT
struck like a thund"r"olt. and also when
commanded II whispered Ike a zephyr. II
was all Mr. Nik!sch. in whom the music
lovers who knew him recognized a con-
duCtor with all his admirable quail
dies Of old, but ripen"d. mcllowed. where
they needed H. and raised 70
q higher power. He was more the
NiklSh Of 1888 than u!m Of 1892. for hy
tho time nc left Boston he had begun 20
acquire foW cNtravaFlnces which caused
= little shaking ~ critical heads. especially
I'm his Interpretation ~ Reothovons sym
phonlce When mo came +, was easy and
pleasure 10 say Of him that, coming into
the command Of marv"llouslv trained or
chestra. no was ~ once useful stimulus
10 musical thought, perhaps little moro
I'm Boston than New York He gave
the complacent Cues something 70
think about-permitted no stagnation Of
eVpoundcr. commentator. but not a sensa-
tlonalist, as he threatened 10 become later.
lie was safe for the musicians because OF
his perfect and easy command OF tho
technics Of conducting; he vas safe for the
composers and public because. though
thoroughly romantic he neglected mono OF
the canons Of good taste. violated none OF
the laws Of beauty II was his aim 20
get at the warm, throbbng heart OF the
music and make Il felt; but he cared for
no hidebOund traditions. So also las; night.
His contrasts in tho Brahms symphony
were from extreme to extreme OF nuance.
hut the broad, fluent. beautiful contours OF
all the themes were there. and his climates
were thrilling. II anything could Justify
an eighth performance OF the work this
season Il would be another Ike that he
gave last night II. r. Is.