Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-20
Elgar Enigma
Gayly Played
by Orchestra
British Conundrum De-
lights and Slightly Bores
Its Auditors

what Is this passion FOR musical rddlcs
new and old, that is sweeping our concert
stages? II used to be bad enough with
Richard strauss and his unprOgrammcd pro-
Eram-nusiC. But nowadays the conundrumS
have go be cracked nearly every week From
the autic and poignant Michel pvorsky
and hts "ChrOmatCon' TO Sir Edward EIEar
AMI his Enigma we leap, with n bare
seven days breathing space between. Mr.
St1llOwslti. whose Interest In the British
composer lately has suffered an apparent
lapse since he quit Cincinnati for Philadel-
phia. is responsible for the latest piece OF
piCturc-puzzlc variations. They were PLAYED
Yesterday afternoon with Eusto by the or
chcstra, and heard with varied emotions hv
the usual large audience. Genuine pleasure
formed q gOudly part ut the houses feeling,
and little boredom. The pleasure pre-
dominated. only. one regretted Sir I'D
wards popularity Musical embroidery on
themes representing ones friends Is admir-
lhIc-to the number nl slN or seven. Four
teen portraits. at least In variation FORM
crowd the walls
Sir Edwards fr,cnls are as different as
can be- ag different as the beat, method,
spirit and tonalty Of each Of the fourteen
movements. each of which rs prefaocd with
initials or cryptic names one is LOFTY, an
other frisky. Yet another is as bosterous
as the drums on which his personality Is
beaten out one longs, quantity, like a
Frcuchman. The merry, the wistful ana
diguincd. the dulI--al are represented.
| There Is even a recognizable sketch Of the
| typical Auglo-SaSon gentleman. toward the
| close. and il that oboe solo at the beginning
! rs not a painting OF some worthy like unto
! s Pccksuir. the architcctooralooral, we
didn't hear It Alright.
Tho ladies' Uhcrc arc at least two. and
/ there may he morc) are, naturally scuti-
/ mental "Ngobcl" is charming. Also she is
/ given to Eusty sighiug. "Dorabclla' is
. tanner. But be they tame or charming, they
] .tr. oil f.N.4 ttI "A
| ing aud with considerable Clcvcrucss in APP
| plvIug the modern orchestral color cul-
/ mjnatiug in one of those smashing rhapsu-
| dies which so delight Elgar. In these
| variations he delights MS, too. because there
! ls more circumstance than pump. one cant
| help being Interested in all these rdmcless
| vet exceedingly vivid and varied people.
| That is especially true when the orchestra
plays with much dash as II did yesterday
! in the "EuiEma'
The program was long ON numbers and
| short on time. not the least desirable sort
! Of concert. either II was never lcadcn,
| though Mozart has certainly been more in
| spiratlonally treated. To turn the en-
trancing q minor into such slow musical
| distress is not Mr.. Stukowslds custom.
As led by him 1t always has a distinct
daintiucss. a definite perfume. Blu: ytster-
day the daintincss dcgencratcd sometimes
into mouotouy, and the whole fabric OF the
work lacked body Usually It was tunereal
when II ought to have been stately trihe
precious" instead OF spirited. Flashes OF
splendid vigor came into sight at nor ents
II was an uneven performance.
Philadelphian, Horatio Conuell, was the
soloist This baritone Is well equipped for
the work hc essays, His nice sense Ct Mt
ness his clear and impressive phrasing
his knowledge OF the art Of song intcrpre'
tation, could be sensed in the numbers by
Mahler - the delicately scented Linder
Perfumc"-and schubert Tie Is an artis'