New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13

at least 10 of such affairs, not count
ing the twenty-five concerts 1.-TWO OF
them choraD given on Sunday nights
at the Metropolitan Opera House. There
were ninety-fve concerts this season,
counting those of the Metropolitan
Opera Company, which we have CLASH
fed as miscellaneous, for want OF
better definition, in many of which or
chestras took part. Altogether, we
should say that, emitting many char
liable affairs, more or less hastily ar
ranged and given in places not usually
devoted to musical entertainments, the
New York public have been asked this
season to patronize no less than 600
concerts-on an average, four every
day. OF recitals, which, next to orches-
trail, oratorio and chamber concerts,
must be looked upon as the highest
manifestations of musical culture, we
have had at least 178 by singers, lib
by pianists, So by violinsts and IL by
violoncellists. By these figures we are
trying to indicate the activity of solo
performers only. When two or more
artists appeared in combination, as they
did with greater and greater frequency
as the season drew to its close, even
the most eminent of the virtuosi re-
sorting to the expedent, their concerts
have been classed either under the head
of miscellaneous concerts, or, If sufh-
GENTLY dignifed in the character OF
their programmes, as chamber concerts.
OF chamber concerts we count sixty
four, a large increase over last seasons
record, and of choral concerts twenty
three, this figure not embracing con-
certs given by private clubs, like the
Rubinstein, Mozart, etc, for the delec-
tation Of their subscribing members
and friends.
We have already indicated that we do
not pretend to be absolutely accurate
in this summary Of the number Of con-
certs of all kinds which have been
given. Neither can we say that the list
of concert-givers which we append is
complete. 1t represents the names
which found their way into date-book
and calendar and does not include the
performers who confined their activi-
ties to concerts given by larger compo-
site organizations. For instance, the
members of the opera company who
sang only in the Sunday night concerts
at the Metropolitan Opera House are
not included. CHANGING at similar lists
published last spring, it is noteworthy,
as indicative of the transient character
Of the recitals given by pianists, sing
ers and violinists, that very large
proportion Of the performers disappear
from the local record after single
performance in the season. Thus, of
the l27 singers who sang in recitals
lest season seventy-three were not
heard this; of sixty-seven pianists who
played at recitals last season thirty
four are absent from this years list,
and of sixty-seven violinists nineteen
were locally silent. The significance of
this fact is obvious-the great ma
jority of this years absentees were
fedglngs whose purpose in giving a re-
cital in New York was chiefly, if not
solely, to get the advertisement which
an appearance in the metropolis is sup
posed to give. How large the percent
age of disappointed ones among the as
pirants for fame must be il would be
painful 10 discuss. The proportion of
newcomers this year who will not be
heard from again will probably be the
same, though there must have been
large number of aching hearts. OF
singers our list contains 1871; pianists,
50 (as compared with 81 last year,;
violinists. "a (39 were listed last
spring.; violoncelli,ts, is las against s
last season.. OF organists we make no
mention, though Joseph Bonnet, who
came from France on what was pro-
claimed TO be at least a semi-official
mission, succeeded in giving a number
Of recltals for pay, whereas the rule Is