New-York tribune., 1919-12-03
Vatican Choirs
Sing Farwell at
Metropolitan
Thrilling Moments Of Trans.
porting Euphony Heard
at Concert; Philadelphia
Orchestra at Carnegie Hall

The two months mission of the Vat
lean Choirs having been fulfilled, that
organization gave what was announced
as its farewell American concert in
the Metropolitan Opera House last
night. We have not followed its course
through the country and have no knowl-
edge OF the manner of appreciation
which it has nat. 1t is safe to assume
that the influences which gave it au-
dlences that completely filled such
rooms as the Hippodromo and Opcra
house here accomplished similar
miracles elsewhere. That thousands
who have kept themselves guiltless of
all knowledge of classic church music
IN spite of the efforts Of enthusiastic
patrons whose lovely zeal has kept the
Musical Art Society alive at a sacri-
nee IN this city should flock to these
concerts and listen rcverentlv to pieces
winch have not always been intolli-
gently described on the printed pro-
grams was something to be claimed as
nine days wonder. course. the
niger of the Church was to be de-
scrlcd IN the Phenomenon, and also a
pardonaDle curiosity to see and hear
singers who came with the glamor Of
the Eternal City around them. That
tne VISIT or the singers was also one
OF the effects Of the World War is
obvious enough
The Severest Test
but these matters are inconse-
quentlal. The mission was a beautl
iul one and seems to have been per
formed beautifully ard roventlv. ana
II 1t mas achleved results which shall
appear IN an enlarged interest in tn.
church services in America. and ~
peclally in the patronage of the cor
certs OF the musical Art Society. it viii
have ACCOMPLISHED a real and Great
artistic good. The work Of tn.
chorsters has been varied i'm it's effect
at the different places Carnegie Hail.
the Hippodromc, and the Opera House
The Severest test, we are inclined 20
bellevc. was that endured last night when
the crude quality of the voices Of the
adults frequently forced itself unploas-
antly upon the ears OF the hearers. Bu.
there were thrilling moments caused by
enormous fortcs, and moments Of
transporting euphonv in the soft clos
ing cadences. Detailed comment on
the various numbers in the list is not
called for, and besides would be ditli-
cult, since the program made 10 men-
lon OF the texts, and the words were
only lntelhglole at times
Supreme Beauty
OF such supreme beauty. however
was the Palestrina settinr of an ox-
cerpt from Jeremiah, in which the I'm
clplt Oratrio Hieremai@ Prophet.e.' .
and the first verses were sumo bv
adults, who We're later recruited bv
the boys, that it deserved a particular
word of praise One Of the most vivid
memories which ,he choir viii have
Wili be that of the marvellous freedom
of the singing and the mystery as to
how the singers found their tones at
the beginning OF the pieces, unless. in
deed. they have been trained into thu
possession of absolute pitch.
II. f. K.
The Philadelphia Orchestra gave an
other concert last night at Carnegie
Hall before an audience of caDacitv
SIZE. There were only three numbers
on the program, but no one because
OF this felt any lack of variety. SO
altogether admirable was the plavinp
Of the orchestra. The concert onened
with the overture to Mozart's "par
Giovanni which Mr.. Stokowski gave
with fine feeling and IN which the
orcheStra showed splendid euphonv.
The came the Brahms double con
certo Tor violin. cello and orchestra.
in which the solo parts were
superbly sustained by Thadd us Rich
and Hans Kinder. Mr. Rich in par
tlcular displayed a tone OF remarkable
warmth and unusual sweep and elas-
ticity in his bowinr. The two solo
artists were finely supported by MIR.
Stokowskl and his baud 1t was. IN
deed, one of the most brilliant perform
ances of the double concerto which
New York has heard of recent wears
and even the anti-Brahmz fanatics
must have found themselves stirred,
despite themselves
Concluding Number
The concluding number was Rlmskv-
horsakow s "Scheherazade" SUITE. a
composition in which Mr.. Stokowski :