New-York tribune., 1921-05-08
BY Fl. f. krehbiel


Somewhat earlier than usual the con-
cert season of 1s2o-,2l has run its
course. For six months it had the ap-
pearance Of a tumultuous stream, but
it has dribbled into the sands of time
and, sinking, has scarcely left wet
spot TO Invite speculation and comment
concerning its artistic results. The
principal facts about it which have
fixed themselves upon the mind of the
serious observer are these: 1t has been
the biggest season that New York has
ever known, financially the most dis
astrous. srtistieally the most barren,
Measuring results by their relation to
expenditure of effort and material -
especially money. In proof OF the first
statement we have the, record made in
our date-book and the columns of The
Tribune: TO Justify the second the ad-
missions Of managers and the action of
the public-spirited citizens from whose
pockets have come the funds which
have made the concerts of the Philhar-
pionie, Symphony and National SYM
phony orchestras possible; as to the
paucity Of achievements really bene-
fetal Go culture in art, appeal need only
be made to the critical history of the
season as IL may be found in the col
umns OF this newspaper or any of its
contemporaries.
We speak of the bigness of the
season rather than of It's magnitude
because the latter word seems to dig
nify unduly the petty concerts which
were ono of its features though not
the outstanding one. To measure that
magnitude let us adduce some figures
obligingly pus at our disposal by Mr..
II. S. Starkey, assistant manager of
Aeolian Hall, and Mr. E. L. Salter,
superintendent of Carnegie Hall.
The Extent of the Concert Season
Between October i, 1920, and May
/ ? 1921, Aeolian Hall gave hearing TO
1fs afternoon concerts, 1873 evening
concerts and 4 morning eoncerts-3l5
concerts in all. Within the same period
21i concerts were given in Carnegie
HaiI, being about equally divided be-
tween afternoons and evenings. This
gives us total of 586 concerts in the
tpo principal mushrooms OF the city.
But concerts were given elsewhere as
well. At the Metropolitan Opera House
there were twenty-three concerts Of
magnitude, employing the opera or
chestra, solo singers, solo instrument
taiists and on occasions a chorus On
season. There were afternoon and
evening concerts on Sundays at the
Hippodrome, concerts at the Madison
Ssuare Garden, the Metropolitan Mu-
scum of Art, the new Town Hall,
several hotels and several theaters.
We shall not attempt to set down the
exact number of musical entertain
ments outside of operas and operettas,
bpt 1t is speaking within moderation
to say that within the 212 days to
which we are confning our observa-
tions the people Of the Borough of
Manhattan were invited to listen to
approximately TOO concerts of high
class music, which is about $50 more
than made UP the list of 1s1e-'20.
Since we are in for statistics, which
can at least serve purpose in guam
titatiye analysis of the musical season,
let US add that Aeolian Hall echoed to
4x,Q Q-xa
negie so ITO (two or three more or less);
Aeoiian Hall TO 102 pianoforte recitals,
Carnegie to twenty-four; Aeolian to
eIghty-three song recitals, Carnegie to
thirty-thrse; Aeoljan to twenty-five vio-
lin recitsls, Carnegie to thirty-six.
There were forty-hve concerts not
easily classified at Aeolian Hall, eight
CHORAL concerts at Carnegie Hall and
five choral concerts at the Manhattan
Opera House in the Oratorio Society's
festival. Concerts to the number of
twenty-seven listed by Mr.. Starkey
under the head of chamber concerts
took place in the room of the Aeolian
Company. Scanning the record made
im the music section of The Tribune's
Sunday issues within the period, we
note the names of 168 singers, 107
pianists and fifty-three violinists who
have given recitals OF sung or played
az concerts of the larger organizations,
rot including the Metropolitan Opera
Company's Sunday night affairs. The
great majority of these singers, pi-
anists and players gave individual re-
citals, and, barring those of dozen
experienced artists Of established fame,
these recitals made as deep and lasting
an impression upon the musical life of
the. city as name 'writ in water
PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINERS