Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-14
PHILHARMONIC GIVES
ITS SECOND CONCERT
Philadelphia Violinist Has a Hear
ing, as Well as Good Local Or
chestral Composition

The Philharmonic Society of Philadelphia
gave its second Sunday evening symphony
concert before large audience at the shu-
bert Theatre last evening. The orchestra
consisted of about seventy musicians, under
the direction of Walter Pfciffcr
In this concert the organization started
to carry out some of the things in when IL
can be of the greatest possible value to the
music of the city, for it gave talented
young Philadelphia soloist the opportunity
of being heard. and also presented n com
position of one of the representative musi-
clans Of the city.
The concert opened with the Norspiel
from the ''Mcistersinger, played by the or.
chestra with good effect. This was followed
by the f minor New World symphony OF
Dvornk. Of which Mr.. Pfeifcr gave vigor-
Gus reading. The work was credtably per-
formed when the very limited amount of re e
hearsaLis taken into consideration.
The solost of the concert 'was William
Greenberg, young violinist of this city, who
appeared in Sarasatc's well known Gypsy
Airs There is not much in an interpreta-
tive way that can be done with this thor
oughly violinistic composition, as it is writ
ten for the instrument in purely solo
capacity, and the main requirement in its
presentation is a sure and fluent technique.
This Mr.. Greenberg has and, in addition.
played with a poise rare in so young and
with orchestral accompaniment incxpc-
rienced a player. During the finale he broke
a string. but quickly exchanged violins with
the concertmaster. Mr.. Witzemann, and
carried the piece to a successful conclusion,
in spite of the fact that he was playing on
a strange instrument. He was heartily en-
cored and responded by playing the closing
movement of the Sarasatc number again. .
with equal success
The original composition presented was
the introduction and scene from "Aucassin
and Nicolette.' by Mr.. Hedda Van den
Bcemt, member of the Philadelphia Or
chestra and one of the leading musicians Of
the city. The music iD based upon n mcdi =
eval pastoral. but there is none Of the Orien-
tai color which is so frequently used in sim
liar works and generally with II forced cf-
feet. Mr.. Van den Bccmt has wisely re
Trained from this doubtful experiment, and
his work as whole follows the classic
model
1t is melodous. we'll orchestrated. especial
ly in the use of the more unusual instru
ments. such as the English horn. bass clari :
net, ct rctera. and carries out with fidelity
the spirit of the story which was printed on
the program. The composition was written
some years ago and was first given at the
concert which the Manuscript Music So =
ciety gave in conjunction with the Philadel
phia Orchestra. The following season Mr..
Stokowski put in on the program of the reg =
ular symphony concerts. 1t was well per
formed last evening under the baton of the
composer, who conducted with skill and re
straint.
The concert closed with the brilliant and
tunefnl william Tell overture of Rossini,
of which Mr.. Pfeiffer gave another vigorous
reading. taking the closing movement at a
terrific tempo. which some of the members
of the orchestra maintained with some diff
fculty.