Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-13
DIR. MUCK'S BAND PLAYS
BALANCED PROGRAM
Boston Orchestra Leader Shows
Critics of His Previous Lists
He Knows a Thing or Two

Critics here and at home in the Hub who
nave cried "monotony" and other things
at the programs Of the Boston symphony
orchestra this and last season were an
swered by Or Kari Muck last night in the
fourth concert OF the thirty-sccond Phila-
delphta series. which brought out the bands
faithful clientele to the capacity of the
Academy of Music
Mr.. Stock. Mr. Stransky Mr.. Stckowski
could not figure out more varied and better
proportioned list than that which included
Tor symphonic piece de resistance Beetho-
Nens eighth /: for solo number Bruch's
fantasia on Scotch airs, with Anton witel<
the dist nguished- looking and distinguished
concertmeister or the organization. as eN-
ecutant, and the Smetana "Bartered Bride"
overture and the Strauss symphonic poem,
Don Juan. ms complementary numbers.
The performance was invariably one Of
beautiful mechanics and generally Of beau
tiful art The metiCulous precision Of the
physical movements Of the hddlers IN the
forepart Of the stage picture was one To
win the eye, and the exact eNaluation OF
each note CaptiVated the ear with it's
ndety. Here in everything was the perrec-
tion of a Greek statue in contour hut IL was
often as marmorcallv cold as n phidiau
masterpiece. There was none ot the rap
turous romapce of BenNenuto Cellint
Greek gods In marble, established on OIynl-
pus in dignified estate. not Greek gods the
young and beautiful gods, roaming and
wantoning as in the days when myths were
vital-this comparison torn from one of
Musics sister arts still characterizes the
Boston symphony Orchestra under Doctor
Muck
Momentarly. while Mr.. witek played.
there were added an individuality and dis
tinctiveness that took the band out of it's
classic calm. The Bruch fantasy seldom
played here and If memory serves Alright
doubtedly the masterworN of its octogenar-
ian composer In the familiar q minor
concerto and in the symphonies Bruch is
master of counterpart. but lacking in in
ventveness. He is not inspired in them.
In all the range of his work there is a
deficiency of subjective inspiration. When.
however as in this work Of last night he
has objective inspiration. he can achieve
marvellous effects Mr.. Wtek showed these
effects at their best. His playing was mas
terly in its technical control never exu-
berant in its character, but graphic always
even in its confluence.
The Smetana was played sheerly as
lovely music There was no comic feeling
no tang of the soil such as befitted racy
folk music II was all romantic national
music seen through Mozartean glasses
The early Strauss (the opus number OF
Don Juan Is twenty, no longer conta ms
shock even for a conservative Boston Sym
phony Orchestra, SraNlnsky and SCriabine
and others have relegated what was once a
musical sensation to the classics, almost. II
Ia not music temperamentaly adapted to
Doctor Muck or the training he has given
his orchestra. Last nights performances
will breed no lasting memories. One could
never imagine the Boston Don Giovanni In
an amarous intrigue.
But in Beethoven the Boston Orchestra
was in its element. Possibly some of the
D1idwpStarD hands would do this late
Beethoven with more elan---and crassly by
that token. The Boston Orchestra has other
ideas about Beethoven. 1t regards him as a
classic of form as well as a classic of time
| The thought of Doctor Mucks performance
| of the Eighth will abide. W r NJ