New-York tribune., 1921-01-12
Rare Musical
Fare Seryedb
2 Conductors
Mengelberg Appears With
National Symphony at
Carnegie Hall; Toscanine
Is Leader at Metropolitan
Hollander Shows Genius
Slip in Concert Program
Almost Results In Fiasco,
i'm Climax of s'Don juan

at its height. There were two orchestral
concerts yesterday with distinguished
director in charge of each--one from
Holland, the other from Italy. There
was rare musical fare and contrast be-
sides.
In the afternoon, William Mengelberg
conducted the National Symphony Or
chestra for the first time at Carnegie
Hall. A few days ago, Mr.. Mengelberg
complained of the scant time for re-
hearsals and said that while he would
like to play five-fnger exercises with
the orchestra, there was barely time
to rush through the music scheduled
for the program.
Incidentally, he remarked that De-
busy was music for sophisticated Or
chestra, not for one in its babyhood. A
slip in yesterdays programs announced
that owing to the length of the concert
the French composers "Afternoon Of a
Faun" would be omitted.
Fisco Narrowly Averted
The need of such drill and the wis
dom of the omission was doubly appar-
ent whe nthe horns went made in the
supreme moment of Strauss's "Don
Juan" Such an inexcusable slip and on
such an occasion should have put the
players to shame, and came near to
creating q fasco which was only pre-
vented by the genius of the man at the
helm, upon whose sturdy shoulders al
most the entire burden of the per-
formance rested.
This orchestra is still Tough, quail
ity not improved by extra players
added yesterday for Seilicz's Fantastic
Symphony. The brass has always been
overblown. But this roughness is in
no way the fault of that accomplished
musician, Arthur Bodanzky 1t is
rather due to the overwhelming num-
Der of concerts planned by the man.
Mr.. Mengelberg's opinion, to INSULT
cient time for preparation.
A clear case Of "for what doth it
profit q man to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?" Better two con-
;erts a month. finely given, than the
achievement of tour de force in
mere musical competition.
Still there were redeeming features
about the concert. The strings, ior
example, were never sweeter or more
euphonious. In the symphony, an old
war horse for conductors, some fine
effects were gained, particularly in the
tn rd movement, and it is worth
wagerin gthat within few weeks, pro-
vided the necessary conditions are
granted, that Mr.. Mengelberg will work
wonders. A change in conductors, like
change in seasons. always works sub
tie disturbances. There must be ac-
ciimatization.
siettle Already Proved
Not on'y. had Mr. Mengelbergs repu-
tation preceded him but his mettle was
ready shown when he conducted the
opening concerts OF the Philharmonic
.ociety in this city some fifteen years
ago. Yesterday he showed himself an
artist Of the first rank, conductor of
dominating will and incisive beat, of
intellectual intensity and emotional fire,
atheticalIy controlled. He is fond of
overpowering climaXes, but the secrets
OF nuances are also open to him. He
has both strength and delicacy.
Strauss's Don Juan" is a fascinating
work Its hero is not the fatuous libcr-
tine OF the opera. In the words of
Le nau. whose poem inspired the com
poser: My Don Juan is no hot
blooded man eternally pursuing women.
II is the longing in him to find a woman
who is TO him ncarnate womanhood
and to enjoy. in the one, all the women
on earth who he cannot as individuals
possess. Because he does not find her,
although he reels from one to another,
at last Disgust seizes hold of him, and
this Disgust is the Devil that fetches
him
The character of the poem. with it's
tortured and unsatistied longing, is
realistically reflected in the music
Doubtless at the repetition of this CON
cert on Friday evening, Mr.. Menge-
berg's admirable reading, which yester-
day was only OWNED, will find fuller
expression. Webers overture toJ
"Oberon," the opening number of
which, by the way, was we'll played,
Immediately revealed Mr.. Mengelbergs
authoritative and inspiring qualities,
which the New York public is to enjoy
for many weeks to come. He was
warmly welcomed by a distinguished
audience and presented with wreaths
from members of the Netherlands
Committee for Arts, Science ANA
Friendly Relations.
His next appearance will be to-mor-
row afternoon, when there viii be
new program and Alexander Schmuller
Russian violinist, will make his first
appearance in America.
In the evening at the Metropolitan
Opera House, Arturo Toscanini and the
La Scala Orchestra gave the second
of three subscription concerts. The
program began with Brahms's SYM
phony No. in d major. Like this con-