New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-15
Clorihed Moments
Mark Two Concerts
In Carnegie Hall
Nine. Matzenauer Thrills
Audience in Afternoon:
Mengelberg Is Received
Rapturously in Evening
BY H. E. Krehbiel

There was one glorified moment In
each of the two symphony concerts
given in Carnegie Hall yesterday. The
cert of the Philharmonic Society con-
Quoted by Mr.. Stransky when Nine.
Matzenauer and the orchestra per-
formed the music of the final scene
of Wagner's Gotterdammerung" the
Orchestra, responding to- the inspiring
beat Of Mr.. Mengelberg, gave q thrill
ingly eloquent performance Of Richard
Strauss's Don Juan" in the evening.
The program of this concert was a
repetition of that of last Tuesday af-
ternoon by the same organization, but
the music sounds vastly different Also.
the playing Of Mr.. Stransky's men was
very different in the Wagnerian ex-
cerpt from that in the Spring" SYM
phony of Schumann, which opened the
concert. Perhaps it was the spirit Of
Wagner which worked the change.
AS on Tuesday afternoon, Mr.. Men
gelberg omitted from his scheme the
printed Debussy's "LApres-midi dun
Faune," ostensibly because to include
unduly, but the composition was in Mr..
Stransky's list and the fascinating
work had one performance in the day,
instead Of two, which was quite enough
for those who attended both meetings
and spared them the need of making
a comparison which might have proved
to be odious.
We are in the midst of such joust.
ing of conductors that there is danger
of having attention turned away from
the composers music to the gentlemen
who evoke it with their waving arms.
There will be time enough to consider
more curiously some of their doings
after they have "toshivered" their
say) and the field is cleared Of the
dust Of combat.
Before Nine. Matzenauer became the
TRANSPORTED Valkyria proclaiming her
death chant, she repeated the three
songs, with orchestral accompaniment,
composed by Mr.. Stransky, which she
had sung Thursday evening The text
of the first, Beginning "a fragrance
twas from thy soft hair eXhaling," is
a translation of a mildly erotic i'm
pressionistic German poem. "To Soil
tude" and 'Hymnus" were vernacular
poems by Sigmund Spaeth and Henly.
The three are alike in their direct, IN
constrained righteousness and their
expressive orcheStral setting, when
never overtops the bounds of euphony
for the sake Of declamatory color.
They were grateful to the ear, and
the audience, as. its applause testified,
found them so charming that had Mr..
Stransky wished he might have repeat
ed them without laying himself open
to the accusation of immodesty. Nine.
Matzenauer shared the honors gained
b. her singing with the composer-con-
ductor. Her performance of Brynhld's
immolation speech was beautifully
poised. quiet and reposeful, splendidly
distinct and impressive in cnunciation
and diction and sweeping in its final
eXtatic utterance.
Mr.. Mengelberg was obviously dis
appointed IN his band last Tuesday;
and with good cause. Last night, how
ever he was plainly gratifed with their
performance Of Strauss tone-pocm.
He shook the hand Of the concert mas
ter again and again when he returned
to the stage to bow his recognition Of
The temposts Of plaudits which the
music evoked and invited the musi-
clans to share the notable triumphs
with him.
He was even demonstrative in his
signs OF approval and the men seemed
wrought up to kindred excitement.