New-York tribune., 1920-10-09
Bodanlzl>y yIeads
AT a.
New Orchestra
I'm First Concert
National Symphony Opens
Season in Carnegie Hall
Ahead of Time i'm Order
Not TO Curtail Its Plans
IS Appearances Listed d
Conductor Warmly Greeted
and Compelled to Bow
Acknowledgements Often
By II. f. krehhiel

Inc first of the seasons orchestral
concerts was given by the National
Symphony Orchestra in Carnegie Hall
The managers of the organization have
projected series of seventy-fve con-
certs, and to get them all in between
now and May 3 they found it neces-
sary to enter the field earlier than their
rivals and remain in it longer. Until
October 81 and after March 81 Mr.
Bodanzky and Mr. Mengelberg, his as
sociate in the conductorshjp will have
things their own way without let or
hindrance, unless unexpected visitors
come from the far West or the planet
Mars, a circumstance which would
scarcely be more astonishing than the
magnitude of the prospect which is
already placed before us.
Reorganization Complete
The National Symphony Orchestra OF
this s-.,- rs the New Symphony Orches-
ira OF last season reorganized. The
revamping has been thoroughly done
and to the betterment of the band;
how much so it will be easier to say
after it has played little longer.
Last nights demonstration was not
altogether clear or convincing. Ger
tainly not in the first two movements
of Brahms's pianoforte concerto IN b
fiat, the middle number Of the pro-
gram, the solo part Of which was
played by MIR Gabrilowitsch.
In these movements there were inn
puIities of intonation, d too prevalent
rudeness and so much Lesitancy and
uncertainty Of entrance that great
deal of the freshness, elasticity and
vibrancy of the truly big and noble
composition were lost.
But this effect may have been made
upon us because of the dsappoiy ment
created in us by Mr.. Bodanzky' : read
ing of the Introduction 10 the "Frei-
schultz overture, wtsch preceded the
concerto. It was not 4 new reading,
for we have heard that distressingly
and destructively slow tempo from
other German conductors, the late Nh
Maher, for instance. 1t is probably
become conventional in Germany; but
that does not reconcile us to it. We
do not like the opening phrase drawn
out until it is all but impossible to
recognize the contour Of the theme
We never did and in great Likelihood
never shall.
Bodanzky Well Received
1t is Of piece with the exaggera-
tions for which Wagner set the model,
not only in this overture but also in
the first presentation of the theme of
Beethoven's c minor symphony, though
in this case no one, not even Mr. Paur,
the supreme offender in our memory,
has thundered at the doors of fate so
heavy-footedly as to destroy the sig
niticance of the sequence of tones
But that is because cf Beethoven's
theme. Weber's phrase, brief as it Is,
IS less recognizable when the first tone
is held until not only the players but
the hearers also are breathless. How
ever, there was some atonement in the
manner in which the sinister element
in the overture was brought out and
The joyous swing of the conclusion.
There was no marked beauty or dis
tinction in Mr.. Gabrilowitsch's per-
Torrance of the first half OF the con-
certo, though for this we opine he was
less to blame than the labored accom-
paniment, which sounded as if there
had not been thorough rehearsal.
In the slow movement and finale both
he and the orchestra played as if they
had received mysterious eshment
from the music and the performance
was admirable.
Strauss's symphonic poem, Death
and TRANSPORTATION" brought the con
cert TO close. Mr. Bodanzky was en-
Enthusiastically welcomed and called out
to bow his thanks many times.