The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-08
BEETHOVEN SERIES
COMES TO FINISH
Ninth symphony Well Per-
formed Before Attentive Audi
ienrc AZ Carnegie Hall.
EXCERPTS FROM "FIDELIO"
Oratorio >oriet, Chorus and
SOlOists mite With OrchcS-
ira in Closing Concert.

The Beethoven festival Of the sym
phony Society came to its conclusion last
evening. ON this uc, aston the concert was
given IN Carnegie Hall because the audi
torium OF Neolan was not large enough
for the purpose. Tie programme com
urised tn. "l.conCrc' overture, No. the
scene called "Abscheulicher' and the
quartet an from Beethuvcns one opera
'Ffdelio." aud the ninth symphony the
forces assembled for the performance con-
sisted Of the symphony orchestra. the ora
torio Society chorus and Tn" following
soioists: Jeanne Jomelli. soprano. Chris
tine Miller. contralto. Reed Miller. tenor
and Arthur Middleton. bass
The festival has been spread out over
n considerable period of time and this
was to be regretted. Unfortunately IL
seems impractical" in this crowded musi-
cal town to bring about any festival series
In conditions altogether satisfying. only
tyo suditoriums OF suitsb bile character are
available and these are engaged 80 Tar
ahead for purposes Of various organlZa-
tions and solo performers that such a
festival as that ended last evening would
have to be planned about dhree years be-
fore II began IN order to arrange tts dates
close together.
In the circumstances the interest IN
this festival has been large and well sus-
tanned This is something for which all
honest lovers Of good music should be
grateful. With the air allied with pre-
tentious tvaddlc about "educational
schemes plans to teach the common peo-
pie to love grand opera (which when
really grand ~ too expensive for
them to love) and other plans To turn
the entire population into musicians II Is
comforting to know that the town con-
tsins "A safe and sane body OF music lovers
who perceive the true mission OF the ART
and who are prepared to unite in a gen
eral thanksgiving for the creations OF one
mighty master whose mind bequ"athed
more real musical culture to the world
than all the so-called educational schemes
ever cortrivcd by seekers after second
hand fame.
Little need be said about last evening :
concert Much might be-. but II does not
seem essential. The climax Of the enter
tainment was Of course the ninth SYM
phony. II had been prepared with great
care and Us performance was IN the
main one Of high excellence. Some fastid-
ious Beethoven lovers must have depre-
Gated the excessive speed OF the latter half
OF the scherzo. but they could have found
little fault with the beautiful reading OF
the slow movement. in which Mr.. Dam
rosch permitted clarity. suavity and dig
nifty Of instrumental technic to publish
Beethovens deep poetry without any at
tempt on the part OF tn" conductor 10
maxi pointed interpretations.
L. fh- last movement sincerity OF pur-
more mad To atone FOR some shortcomings
The quartet lacked balance. for IL was in
deed mostly Mime Jomelli except in the
frst fecitativc, which was respectable
sung rs Mr. Middleton The chorus
labored Valiantly and with some success
but as usual with chpruses In This worn
il tired toward the end.
Mr. Damrosch showed much skill In
holding up his choir when II seemed ir
danger OF sagging for good and all. The
men sang well In ''Seid umschlogen NIL
lionen." but the sopranos were not always
steady However. II was on the whole
good performance. presenting the splen
did work with elevation OF style anc
virility OF spirit. Mr.. Damrosch deserves
great credit for the work he has done II
this festival