The sun., 1918-11-10
BOSTON SYMPHONY
HEARD AT MATINEE
Monteux Presents Programme
Combining Old TavoIites
With the New.
DAMROSCH ALSO PLAYS
Evening Concert Presents
Mischa Levitzki as S0lOist in
Saint-Saens Number.

There was time when he who pro-
ceeded from a matinee concert OF the
Boston Symphony Orchestra TO an eve
ming contribution by the Symphony So
ciety Of New York carried a broken
heart and humble spirit. But tho
temper Of the time Is different and, as
they say In "the Street." confidence has
been restored. The Bostonians gave
their FIRST matinee yesterday in Carnegie
Hall and the New Workers. their second
evening CONCERT.
NJ. Monteux presented a programme
of the old and the new. with the elders
sitting on guard at the front and the
rear. Handel ushered in the feast with
his concerto crosse in D, No. 8. and
Beethoven finished It with his symphony
in A. No. Z. Betwixt and between them
were Charles Martin Loeffler's Ia
Bonnie Chanson" and Vincent d'Indy's
"Istar'' variations.
word about Loeffler, about whom
too few are written. This composition
was written In 1901. and since has been
rcmodelled, at least as to its instrumental
ton. 1t is not one of the best works OF
this genuinely important American conf
poser. He is American only by naturali-
cation, like SO many other things mu-
steal; but he is not American In the
fashion of initiating the Teutonic lords
of sound.
He writes like the modern Frenchmen,
but with a clearly d!stinguishable indi-
viduality. la Bonnie Chanson." which
pursues the elusive shadow of Yer
laine fancy, is skilfully made. and it's
orchestral textures are gorgeous. but it's
imagination halts at times and there is
too much method In It's fantasy.
Dance of the Seven Wells.
THE SUMS musical recorder confesses
to an ancient and somewhat shamefaced
weakness for d'1ndy's delineation of the
entry Of Istar into the lower regions OF
course there is something ludicrous in
the attempt to compose the d!srobing
dance of the seven wells by clothing a
theme In variations. stripping them OF
one at time and exposing the theme
unadorned at the end.
But how beautiful the naked theme
when you get down to 1t! One remem-
bers Herods cry, Dance for me,
Salome. All. thou art to dance with
naked feet. 'Tis well. Thy little feet
VIII be like white doves. They will be
like little white flowers that dance upon
tho trees" Yes, there come memories.
But what have they to do with the Bos-
ton Symphony concert?
The orchestra was very luscious in GER
tain parts OF these two modern lyrics
of sense. But. alas. there was much dry
ness in the ingenious and delectable con-
certo OF Mr. Handel. The solo instru-
ments. were particularly PROFESSIONAL in
tone and style and the tutti were rec
-tnngular. The first movement OF the
Beethoven symphony had little Of the
joyous spirit Of the conf Users fancy ex-
cept speed and impetuosity. 1t had
enough and to spare of both.
The slow movement cannot easily be
spoiled. hut 1t was well dome and the
scherao was played admirably. There
was more clarity and there was q finer
adjustment OF tonal balance in the mid
die movements of the symphony than In
anything else the orchestra has done
here under the baton of NJ. MonteuX
He seems TO he happier In the heavier
lights and shadows of opera, where he
will relax his beat and his soul to-mor-
row night.