New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-21
An Unfamiliar Work by
Verdi Heard in Car
negie Hall.
A COSTLY CONCERT;
MODEST ATTENDANCE
Music by Verdi, Zandonai, Pur-
cell. Schubert, BorOdin and
GretchanlnoW.
By ~. T.. KREHBlEI.

To Judge from the programme OF the
concert given by the MacDowel chorus
in Carnegie Hall last night much needed
lesson in moderation was learned from
the somewhat woful concerts Of last year.
There WAS no dubious pretence of educa-
tional purpose I'm the scheme Of pieces.
rs was the case when the Schola Canto-
rum illustrated the development OF the
opera by compositions which. antedated
the invention of that art-form, but
ignored its invention and nearly a century
Of its growth. Neither was there an ex-
hibition OF that unwise ambition 10 do
much more than lay in the capacity OF
this choir or any other to do Instead, the
] list OF pieces was well within the powers
Of the organization. and Difference was
| paid to the entirely reasonable desire Of
/ the listeners to be entertained, as well as
/ instructed. The most successful features
Of the affair were those in which Nine.
| Culp took part, in, which no effort was
made at preachments OF the gospel OF
new thought in music, but which pro-
/ claimed pure beauty for beauty's sake.
/ Yet there were novelties Of an interesting
| kind. Before attention is given to them
| IL will be brief Of necessity-it ought TO
| be recorded as a significant fact In the
annals Of the present days musical
activities that what was unquestionably
| the most costly musical entertainment OF
| the season drew an audience OF rather
modest dimensions, by no means so large
a one as Nine. Culp attracted when she
gave her recitals. The phenomenon is not
an unfamiliar one. Mr. Paderewsh can
always command at least a thousand
more hearers when he plays alone than
/ when he appears with an orchestra. There
is an explanation, no doubt. but time is
| lacking 10 inquire into it now.
The concert began uninterestngly with
the Cherubic Hymn Of the Russian
| lithurgical service in setting by Gret-
channow. Sung by the choir Of men and
boys of the choir of the Cathedral of St.
Nicholas il would have been an uplift
for all that followed. But sung sluggishly
as it was last night. and lacking the vocal
color contemplated by the composer and
provided by the characteristic compost
ton Of the choirs OF the Russian Church,
it was anything but inspiring. II was
followed by an interesting novelty, which
would undoubtedly have been better re-
ceived had the emotions and intellectuals
been warmed by bit Of inspiring music
at the outset. The novelty was "Stahat
| Mater" by Verdi-one of the four sacred
| pieces which were published in 1898. Two
of the four pieces, the Ava Maria" Quilt
on what Verdi called a Scala enig-
| ..ff nd
have been sung here by the Musical Art
Society; also unless We are mistaken the
paraphrase Of the "Pater Noster," which
in another setting by Zandonai Tor
mems voices and orchestra, followed
the Verdi number last night The
"Stabat" differs widely from the others
in other respects than the fact that IL
| has an. orchestral part which Is of great
Importance i'm il. The q cdpeiiG pieces
| are examples of ecclesiastical music in
the classic sense; the "Stabat' is a dra-
matte composition in which voices and
instruments strive TO give expression to
the varied emotions of the different
stanzas Of the old hymn. II is full OF
color. full of poignancy and full also OF
serious beauty, and despite its dramatic
spirit in no sense theatrical like the
| Requiem" No judicious critic would
think of calling it an opera in ecclesl-
! astical vestments," as DR.. Won Bulow did
| the Requiem" when il was first pro-
duced. There was more OF this spirit In
Zandonai's setting OF Dante's para
phrase of the "Pater Noster," though
this. too. had its moments of impressive
nor
functorily performed, and the hearers
were not lifted out of their mood OF
indifference.
To quicken the interest Of the audience
required the coming of Nine. Culp. She
sang the farewell song Of 'infeliX Dido, -
from Purcells opera dido and -Hneas,"
the song which Hogarth in his Memoirs
of the opera" said sounds like the dying
murmur of a broken heart'-"When I am
laid in earth" II is a wonderfully pa
thetic song despite the fact that it is
built on a ground bass Ca descending
chromatic phrase which Bach used sew
eral times-in his cantata "Weinen,
Klagen," the "Crucihxus" of his b minor
mass. and the playful "Capriccio on the
Departure OF a Beloved BrotherO. Nine.
Culp poured out her glorious voice with
a generosity and passionateness in the
song which warmed the hearts of the
audience, and after it and the chorus
which followed the ice was broken, and
the rest of the concert was received with
sincere expressions Of delight, the climax
OF enjoyment being reached in the
Schubert serenade, "Z0gernd leise," for
mezzo- soprano solo and womeu's chorus
an exquisite performance in every re-
spect, in which Nine. Cups luscious
voice was most beautifully and sympa-
thetically consorted with the pure so
pranos and rich contraltos Of the choir.
The meeting came 10 an end with the
choral dances from Borodin's opera
Prince Igor" which were feature OF
the concert given by the MacDoweH
Chorus in March 1911.
OBITUARY