The Washington times., 1919-11-05
RACHMAN|NOFF IN
A NEW CONCERTO

A new piano concerto by Rach-
maninoff. played with the composer
at the piano. and the first concert of
the season of the Boston Symphony
Orchestra with Pierre Monteux as
conductor, were the two musically
important events that brought a ca
pacity audience to the National The
ater yesterday afternoon for the first
of the FIVE concerts OF this orchestra,
presented by Mrs. wilson-Greene.
IL NJ. Monteux continues to give as
finely built programs, with the spirit
and flneness of his interpretations.
this will prove a significant season
with the Boston players
Seldom is one privileged to hear 3
great creative artist interpret his
own work. And Sergei Rachmaninoff
is doubly great in that his playing
and his creations are both great art.
He grips one with the depth of his
musicianship, the power that is in
him-not in force. but in idea, in all
that genius gives which words can
not express. And he sways and thrills
one with the mastery and the exqui-
site pianism OF his playing.
1t was his third concerto. His sec
ond he played here last season. Racial.
yet universal, there is such a wealth
of Imagination in this composition
that one would like to program il,
rather than say concerto for piano
forte with orchestra. in ID minor, No.
3, Op. 30"
4 romance it Is, not tragedy.
Pure melody he has given. set in an
infinity of enhancing music figures
It'll one marvels at the mind that has
strung them together in such unity.
The orchestra is equally rich in this
hxyt oh
ter. warmth OF color and vibrancy are
in the orchestra. And the piano holds
csdenza passages OF exquisite runs
and trills as of running waters. A
ballet moment-a long crescendo-
fair dynamic force. and tone-painting
OF exquisite hue.
Spirit OF Russia.
The waltz, 1t enters into whims-
cal romance of the second movement
with irresistible Russian spirit, in
tense, capricious. Bacchanale in q
pastoral setting, While the finale
works into a soaring love song as
| sweeping as the love death of iris
tan Six OF more recalls Numbered
approval. Even the orchestra Joined
in enthusiasm for the great master.
q Titan. and artist!
In his program NJ. Monteux added
the exquisite prelude to "The After
noon of a Faun." Of Debussy. giving
in all. a pure classic OF Haydn In the
happy symphony entitled "The Queen
of France" and then in relief. the
great Russian Romance. this myth or
France. and types OF Spain in the
EnesCo suite" 1t revealed analysis
animated by a touch alive and subtle.
with complete mastery OF detail.
"Intermcdc" Fascinating.
The orchestra played superbly. The
prelude in Unison" of Enesco was a
great achievement as this entire huge
body--like one great instrument
wrought out the vibrant. sweeping
color in rich tones and strange tonal-
titles. Fascinating was the Inter
mede" with its four-four rhythm
against a siX-eight.
The rhythmic sway OF the Latin is
as compelling as the Slav. Into the
other worldliness of the "Faun" he
put a life and passion, and an indi-
viduality that made it new. The sym
phony was a series of delicious fig
ures of contrast and delicate caprice
These types stand out strongly
stamped as sheer beauty and charm,
as atmosphere and wonder and again
as Oriental temperament and tone in
counter rhythms that waltzed into a
Bacchanale. that held rich harmony
in massive chords. NJ. Monteux offers
vital and fine interpretations with
that dramatic response that holds his
hearers-expectancy