Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-29
RICH AND KiNDLER
AS JOINT SOLOISTS
Fine Performance Of Brahms's
Double Concerto at Unusually
Good Orchestral Concert

Yesterday afternoons concert of the
Philadelphia Orchestra was attended by
one of the largest crowds that has ever
heard an afternoon concert at the
Academy, every seat in the house being
taken and the audience completely
filling the orchestra pit as we'll. The
crowd was amply repaid, for the con
cert was one of the finest and one of
the best played that the Orchestra has
given for long time.
1t began with the overture to Don
Giovanni of Mozart, n composition
which in its orchestration and develop
ment, is almost in the form of n short
symphonic movement. This was given
with understanding and spirit and then
came the double concerto for violin
and violoncello of Brahms, played by
Thaddeus Rich, concertmaster of the
Orchestra. and Hans Kinder, solo
cellist. This work has been performed
many times in Philadelphia, but never
than by these two artists.
The concerto itself is n rather un-
grateful work, being exceedingly diff
ticult and not especially effective for the
public. 1t requires probably as much
technique for both solo Instruments as
any composition ever composed for
them, either singly or together. 1t is
written rather in the idiom of the piano
than in that of the strings, being full of
arpeggios double stops and long runs
Of great difficulty, with comparatively
little of the free melody which Is so ef-
fective for the string instruments.
However. the manner in which Messrs.
Rich and Kinder played the concerto
was literally faultless. The difficulties
of technique, great as they are, were
overcome with apparent ease and both
players showed the full beauty of tone
which they both possess to an unusual
ly high degree. But it was in the en-
scmbe that they showed the most sur
prisng and delightful results. En-.
semble in solo concerto is an almost
unknown element. and in fact, except in
the violin concertos of Brahms and
Beethoven, it is not greatly needed. But
in double concerto it is a prime ne
cessity and this Mr.. Rich and Mr..
Kinder displayed to an extent that
showed that each player knew the part
of the other as well as he knew his own.
Their long artistic connection doubt
less had much to do with this but their
rendition of the concerto made a new
mark of excellence for the composition
here.
After the Drge from MacDowell's
Indian suite had been played in memory
of the late Major Higginson, founder of
the Boston Symphony the concert con-
cluded with the gorgeous "Schehcra-
zade" symphonic suite of Rimsky Kor.
sakoff. which was played in place of
symphony.
This fine work, Oriental in though.
and sparkling like jewel in the brill
liancy of its orchestration. is favoritc
of Mr.. Stokowski. and there are few
compositions which he gives better. 1t
also showed the amazing virtuosity of
the solo players of the Orchestra, as all
of the leading instruments have very i'm.
portant solo passages of great difficulty,
but all were beautifully played, with
fine tone and fluent technique. The
suite is constructed from a surprisingly
small number of themes which are
worked out with the greatest skill