Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-07
MUSIC

Inc visit OF the Philadelphia Orchestra
TO New York, briefly reviewed in this pa
per last Tuesday, brought an interesting
variety OF comment from the New York
reviewers. The critic Of the sun found
that the playing OF the orchestra was
technically excellent but the
tonal qualities. especially the strings. left
much to be desired. The VIveldl
concerto was dull because tho
tone was dull" with this In mind. tho
comment of the reviewer of the Mali be-
comes especially acute; "The outstand-
ing quality Of Mr. stokowskis band were
the volume and quality of It's string
tone" The same reviewer finds the
greatest weakness in the trumpets
which were constantly overwhelmed by
the trombones. The horn quartet had
power and precision, but little sweetness
OF tone" The Evening World also found
the strings in fine. sonorous, singing
tone" The Evening Sun was partial to
the "Asiatc fury" OF the finale OF tho
symphony The Musical Courier, more
enthusiastic than any daily, praises or
chostra, master and soioist Mime Sam
comments everything but agreement.
Excessive nuance," femlninlty. mascu-
line hardness" deep sympathy, lack OF
sympathy were among the thinga dis
covered In her playing of the "Empe-
ror.' The one point on which the critics
agree ls that Mr.. Stokowski dragged GER
tain poru ms of the symphony with the
natural ~, lit that allegros seemed reck-
lecsly rapid and uncontrolled. 1t is n
fault which was noticed here on only one
occasion, the playing of the "Rienzi"
overture. Mr.. Stokowski, II he chooses
this means of making his distinctions,
has excellent company. Mr.. Nikisch in
varinhly retards his andantes. But Mr..
stokowsh hardly needs to.
Ropartz in Retrospect
1t will hardly do to assume that the
unresponsive acknowledgment OF Ropartz
in this city was due to the provincialty
of our musical public. Provincial Il
would have been had we taken the signed
and scaled approval of any metropolis
instead of passing an individual judgment.
The audience last Monday night was GER
talnly willing to listen; the pity is that
II listened with so little pleasure
II was none the less grateful to Doctor
+@NNN 'SA NhpSSiib Nit SS anu
grateful to his band for the beautiful |
playing of It. In the Ave visits of the |
Boston Symphony one may prohtably
be given over to a novelty or to an
unfamiliar work. Last year brought
Mahicr; II this year was not so felctous
1t is pity. But Doctor Muck did we'll
to let us hear what the French musi-
clans of today have done.
Pavlowa
When the synthesls of the arts, dreamed
by Richard Wagner. Is made and opera
Is no longer a hybrid-but there is little
use in prophcsying an event which is
not for our time. What Ia In our time
s synthesIs OF two of the arts which
'pera employs, music and dance. They
ire the two which make opera worth
rearing and seelng-one could so easily
iispense with operatic singing. And all
II this Is merely a prelude to the an
'ouncement that Anna Pavlowa returns
o Philadelphia for two performances
Saturday, January %.
Comic Opera Again
When Maids of Athens' was produced
n New York last year It bore the name
t Franz Legar. Inside dope" on that
ccasion credited Mr.. Lehar with pre-
isely seven of the % numbers The Others
'ere substituted for Mr.. Lehar's orig
,als with the avowed purpose of pleasing
he public. The ungrateful public was
OF pleased. happier case is now au-
ible In Philadelphia. The original I
core of The Peasant Girl" was by Os- f
IT Nedbal 1t was formerly written for 9
large orchestra, and depended as much '
n orchestral effect as on catchy tunes. +
he music is stlll good but to avoid its a
tcessve goodness there has been added 3
dose OF Friml-plain. That is, more tho :
riml OF High Jinks" than the Friml n
THE Firehy." During the prog e
ss of The Peasant Girl' here some d
the suppressed Nedbal score has been
turned. 1t Is good stun" and music A
vers would do well not TO sneer at 1t o
erely because 1t happens to be at the n
yric instead of at the Academy. Mr. p
okowski recently disposed OF the mu- a
cal snobbery which shifts at rags"
is time to dispose of the snobbery
hich desplses the popular aria, the
lltz-dream and the patter song. At
ntive study OF the scores of Beethoven's Z
mphonies is the greatest antidote for Z
o ragtime snobblsm. Musical generos-
?, or democracy pure and simple, is all
at is needed for the rest, a,
We, Frater, Atque Valet @
Mr., Caruso is departing these shores '.
xt month. Before he goes he will be b
ard here at least once more, At least to
ce more the finest tenor OF our time ~
II move his hearers TO wonder and to -
ar. Because this time II is to be Canio, a.
"Pagliaccl." Mr. Mascagnis inevi- n
Dle companion piece will be produced. =,
In Destinn. After Caruso goes the :.
of the Metropolitan viii be q,
IS FsrTar as Nine Sans-Gene land as ~
ything else she cares to play) ana
; Amato as Napoleon in Mime. Sans ~ ~
ne" 1t viii not be overlooked that az
:. Amato will be heard with caruso y.
Tuesday night And deserves TO be ~ ~
that company ~