The Washington herald., 1913-01-08
URACK AS CONDUCTOR
OF BOSTON SYMPHONY
First 'Cellist Appears in Place Of Dr..
Muek-Reger Composition on
Programme.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra pro-
gramme, at the National Theater yester-
day afternoon, was not one of pure lyric
sweetness, but none the less the most in
teresting one could well imagine Max
Roger, Bach. Richard Strauss, and Mo-
zart, were the composers.
To the surprise Of the audience Dr.
Muck did not appear, but Mr.. Otto Urack
took his place. Mr.. Track came oyer
from Berlin this fall with DIR. Muck
under contract as first 'cellist, instead
OF Mr.. Schroeder, who had resigned. Mr..
Urack formerly conducted an orchestra
in Barmen, Germany. and gave up q
five-year contract In Berlin to come to
America Mr.. Urack holds the position.
In addition to first 'cellist of assistant
conductor to DIR. Muck, a quite new ar
rangement In this country. He has con-
Quoted several concerts in America this
fall and he proved himself yesterday to
be careful and intelligent reader of the
score. Especially in the Bach suite and
the songs, the concerted playing with
the flute and the accompaniment to the
lieder was accomplished with sympa-
thetic understanding.
Whether II was coincidence or by de-
sign that the Bach OF the eighteenth
century-the great Bach-was placed side
by side on the same programme with his
disciple of the twentieth is not impor-
tant; the important thing is that the
great Bach did appear. in one of his few
orchestral works side by side with 1--WE
will not say the little Bach, for Max
Roger is too near and new to judge) the
great Bach disciple OF the twentieth CEN
tury.
To say that Max Roger is not under
stood in America Is not to say much,
for he is not understood anywhere. There
Is much confusion OF expert opinion
u l..
who find him quite wonderful''-greater
than his master. There are others-equal-
ly qualified to judge-who cannot in the
least understand what his music is all
| about" One thing Is certain about the
Roger music. 1t is written in strict clas-
sical form, and that II is revival OF
the pure contrapuntal Is also clear. Those
who do not like Roger say he takes too
much freedom with his harmonic pro-
sic of unnecessary difficulty: that IL is
not worth the tremendous trouble.
| Roger Is a most prolific writer. the
number OF his compositions approaching
the 100 mark. The Concerto in Ancient
Style one OF his very recent works
was first performed in the fall Of 1872
at Frankfort-on-the-M Main. II was heard
in this country for the first time in No
vember in Boston. Mr. Track conducted
I
day in Philadelphia. DR.. Much conduct
| ing. The concerto has few well-marked
| themes in the first movement. and there
are many nuances OF modulation and
phrasing. In the second movement a
melody strayed in here and there, and
these were OF exceeding beauty. The last
movement was an interesting fugal piece.
II must be said that clear threads OF
melody are rare. and that the harmonies.
| in a great measure. blur and confuse
! the melodic threads.
| In the Bach suite Of six old dances
and an overture there is no doubt about
| the title to ancient style. The sarabande
and bourree. at least are of a respectable
antiquity. The question o. pace and Of
strict, direct even tempo always arises
in the Interpretation of these old dances
by modern players. Mr.. Andre MaQuar-
| re. flutist, played the solo part in these
dances with exquisite delicacy.
| Miss Elena Gerharit sang five songs,
| two old Italian arias and three songs
by Richard Strauss. Each OF her songs
was a clear-cut gem. There was no
slurring over OF the words. Miss Ger
hardt's greatest effort is directed simply
to the understanding of the subleties OF
the text. She makes the song vital. not
only by artistry of voice. but she sings
the words so that the listener can hear
and understand them. This is her art:
to make the poets intent vital with
meaning. She has something to say and
sings as IL she mad: she tells story
| in every song. Her voice Is not extra
ordinary. but is controlled. even and
clear. that is all. Her greatest skill is
directed TO the poets utterance.