Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-02
'SPALDING GIVES
FINE PROGRAM
Audience Far Too Small; Har-
risburg Did Not Appre-
ciate Offering
tBy John w. PhiIIips)


There are at least two good reasons
why people go to concerts. One reason
may be because of a sincere desire
to hear and enjoy the music, while
the other may be accounted for by
desire to really see the artist and be
able to say so afterward.
Many artists with a worldwide rep
utation are extremely overrated
Clever and exaggerated advertising
does not make an artist. but it makes
the public curious, and-the public will
pay to satisfy finely whetted curios-
ity.
Ask any ordinary concert goer which
they like best among Kreisler, Spald-
ing, Elman or Zimba1ist. They will
name one of them. Then ask why the
one they name is better than the others.
Not one in thousand can give a real
reason. Certainly not. The adver-
tfsing genius does not care for reasons;
ne is working for box office results;
ana Tor that reason from now on, visit
ing artists will be judged on their
merits, irrespective of what other cit
les say, or what press agents say.
We might Just as well let some one
tell us what to eat, what to wear, what
TO read, what to think, ETC., as to
have our independence in musical
thought stif1ed and individual musical
growth killed. Harrisburg will grow
raster musically, IL honest opinions are
expressed, and 1t will Furthermore tend
to serve notice that mediocre affairs at
nigh prices will not be welcome.
The Spaiding Concert
Ihere was very high class concert
at the Orpheum theater last night
harrisburg was not discriminating
enough to know it. Albert SpaIding
has been honestly advertised as Amer
ica's greatest violinist. This title is
modest, but hardly just. If Europe
mas any better, where are they? Did you
near Spalding? No? Well then of course
you can't discuss the matter, and COM
pare him with others you have heard
He opened his program with the Spohr
concerts in A minor, and revealed at
once the fact that his mastery of tech
mic and tone is even more impressive
than his last appearance here. He uses
full bow in the legato passages and
consequently secures more singing
quality in his tone.
Spohr was fond of embellishing his
musical outlines with frills and lace;
vet they require nimbleness of arm and
hnger. Mr.. Spalding offered for his
second group. four short rambers, we'll
contrasted, requiring however, vioIinis-
tic powers of high order.
The moto perpetuo was cleverly DONE
Mr.. Spalding using the middle part of
the DOW in fact about three inches of
horsehair was used in this portrayal
OF perpetual motion. The Letter de
Chapin, written by Mr.. SpaIding, is a
quiet poetic number of much charm,
played with a serious and reyerent
feeling that conveyed thoughts of the
great master. The Spanish dances by
Sarasate were played with a fire and
abandon, not equalled here before. The
closing group contained Hungarian
lance NO. /, by Brahms, Joachim,
Abendlted, Schumann and Pollonaise in
D. by Wieniawski. This was a de-
lfghtful group. The Schumann number
was played so beautifully 1t had to be
repeated Schumann could write beau
tiful melody without resorting to the
saceharine or banal. Mr.. Spalding was
recalled many times and was obliged
to add some encores.
MN. Loretta Del Vale, soprano. was
very daring offering the Bell song from
Lakme, as her opening number, but she
negotiated all the difficult runs, stac-
cato bits, high notes, including the high
u, with clarity and control proclaim
ing the finished artist. Her tone is
musical and well produced.
She also offeredsa serenade by Brahms
fine, rousing song: mandoline by De
BUSY; and waltz song by Johann
Straus. Nine. Del Vale did some very
fine coloratura work in the Straus song
and the audience brought her back
She responded with Beach's "The Years
at the Spring." taken at a rather slow
er tempo than we are used to hear
ing.
Andre Benovist in addition to being
very capable for both artists appeared
also as soloist In O Sarabande bv Hi
Ter and Polonaise in e by Liszt. Ills
playing was enjoyable to a high de-
gree. Clean. firm technic and inter-
pretable power unmistakabIe brought
spontaneous and appreciative applause
from the audience.