The Washington herald., 1913-02-14
|STOKOWSKI MAKES
INITIAL BOW HERE
Philadelphia Orchestra, with Ysaye as
Soloist, Pleases Large
Audience.

The Philadelphia Orchestra, with Ysaye
as soloist, appeared yesterday afternoon
at the National Theater This was Wash
ington's first opportunity to enjoy Mr..
Stokowskfs readings. Mr.. Stokowski
succeeds Mr.. Pohlig as conductor of the
Philadelphia Orchestra After his master
iN reading of Wagner's overture to the
Meistersinger's the audience gave him
an enthusiastic ovation, and the tribute
was well deserved, as his reading of the
entire programme proved. The accom-
paniment OF the Viotti concerto was
marked by a sympathetic understanding
OF that masters orchestral part In the
composition. ..
AS a work of pure melodic loveliness.
nothing surpasses Tschaikowsky's fifth
symphony, of the second andante move
ment, this Is especially true. Mr.. Sto-
kowski, in his reading. reveals every
charm and accentuates the loveliness OF
the concordant elements by emphasizing
the few passages in which discords pre-
vail. To the waltz movement he sue
ceeds in giving sensuous rhythmic IN
depreciation, yet preserves symphonic
dignity and breadth. This he accom-
plishes by minute painting of every de-
tail, and by making the most possible
of fine gradations of phrase and shading.
Mr.. Stokowski is conductor of the
scholarly type one who bends the emo
tionaI element TO stimulating and VI
talizing the intellectual. A clear vera
cious reading seems to be his highest OBJ
ject, yet into everything he infuses the
greatest warmth of coloring and dra-
matte expression consistent with artistic
beauty. Personality counts for much In
a conductor, and Mr.. Stokowski has
the bearing of authority; quiet, simple
n Ohar nSn TnnVanpnf
yet in a hundred intangible ways he an
imates his orchestra with the emotional
intent of the composer.
Ysaye Is Supreme.
The Tschaikowsky symphony has never
received a more mastery Interpretation,
certainly never in Washington. As for
the Meistersinger overture, ii is doubtful
IL it has ever had the Illuminating read
ing here that II received yesterday.
Ysaye was supreme in the adagio OF
Viotti's concerto in minor. Viottfs
music is of the absolute simplicity of the
best traditions of the eighteenth century
musical feeling. The adagio and the
finale of this concerto are entirely lovely,
and Ysaye gave to the adagio. especially.
his finest skill and wonderful variety Of
tonal shading. of which he alone, Of
present-day violinists, is capable. No
ether violinist throws his whole soul
into the utterance of a lovely theme as
does Ysaye. His skill is of that artistic
maturity which lends itself not to empty
virtuosity, but to the actual ipterpreta-
ton and vitaliZing Of the composer
work.
The Saint-Saens concerto, No. 5, B
minor was beautifully rendered by both
Ysaye and orchestra. 1t is interesting
to note the growth of Importance of the
orchestra in concerted work between the
Viotti and the Saint-Saens period. In
the Viotti concerto the orchestra fur-
nishes a subdued, though perfectly ade-
euate. background for the painting OF
the violin melodies; in the Saint-Saens
concerted work has progressed to the
point of really concerted work, in which
the orchestra takes its part in working
out the themes. There is the additional
difference between the pure classic beauty
of the viotti and the romantic beauty
of the Saint-Saens.