Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-13
STROKOWSKI AND PHILADELPHIA
ORCHESTRA DELIGHTS AUDIENCE
Harrisburg Choral Society Sings "Aonemenf Before Capa-
city House at Orpheum in Annual Spring Concert

Leopold Strokowski, and the Phila-
delphia Orchestra ceived d a
tumultous and enthusiastic greeting
yesterday afternoon at the Orpheum
Theater before a sold-out house.
The program opened with the
Brahms Symphony No. 2, in ID. Major,
containing four movements as fol-
lows:
/. Allegro ma non troppo
IL. Adagio ma non troppo
III. Allegretto grazioso
~. Allegro con spirito.
The first movement suggests pas
toral simplicity, contentment and re-
pose. This is the consensus of opinion
among critics Brahms left us no
story relative to this symphony. How
ever, If the scheme is pastoral in
thought what better source could be
drawn from than nature itself? 1t
can easily be imagined that as the
music developed a few strong emo
tional passages would here and there
express themselves.
The second movement is in more
serious mood and with undoubtedly
deeper meaning. 1t suggests one OF
Brahms serious days.
In the third movement he is his
cheerful self again, radiating humor
and gaiety and yet carrying through
a melody with a fine outdoor atmos-
phere. This melody is distinctly Ger
man in character although ii Is remi-
niscent in a slight degree, of his Hun
garian dances.
The fourth movement opens briskly
with what might be termed a country
dance. 1t suggests young life out FOR
a holiday. In fact, II has Carnival
touch.
Broadly speaking Brahms turns to
the ancient and legendary for his in
spiration. He found modern times too
cold and practical. Brahms is always
poetic an da master of detail; al
though he has not the depth of SYM
pathy so pronounced in Beethoven.
The orchestra did Brahms full JUS
tce. They played the work brilliantly,
ferVently and sincerely. The tonal
quality of the orchestra is beyond
reproach.
Thaddeus Rich, violinist, appeared
i'm the Wieniawski Concerto in ID
Minor. 1t it were not for the fact
that good violin literature is scarce
this concerto would not be consider
ed of any great importance. True, II
is fairly pleasing to an audience and
Mr.. Rich performed it well. He has
a good bowling arm, a clean and sure
technic and pleasing tone. Possibly
there was a slight lack of authority
in the handling of the broader pass
ages and here and there a slight thin
ness of tone but the more dithcult
passages were handled with an ease
and clarity that satisfied and de-
lighted.
A recent book told us that Richard
Wagner's music was aging rapidly We
don't believe it! 1t is true that at
times Wagner sounds boisterous and
even pugnaCious but there is "A
strength, a daring, skill and a
verility that grips and holds. The
"RienZi" overture is a wonderful bit
of writing and it was wonderfully
played by the Philadelphia Orchestra.
There was boldness and vigor coup
led with strong dynamics and stirring
climaXes that quickened the pulse
beats.
MIR. Stokowsk belongs in the first
rank of living conductors. He has
command of his men, thorough COM
mand OF the musical task before him,
and also. complete command of him
self. He is always master of the
situation, he is graceful in his work
and yet he can add tremendous
strength when the occasion demands.
He and his men, as well as the soloist
of the afternoon, received generous