Evening journal., 1921-01-11
GABRILOWITSCH
SWAYS AUDIENCE
Guest Conductor Shows
Himself Brilliant Inter-
prefer of Music
PROGRAM, GERMAN,
SHOWS WAR OVER

An al UcTiD1n pfOHTdifl-NloLaTt, |
Mendelssohn and SLrauss-formed the
material and Ossip Gabrilowitsch.
Russian, native OF st. Petersburg, not
Petrograd provided the feature OF
last evenings concert by the Phila-
delphia Orchestra at the Playhouse.
The combination proved as interest
ing as it was entertaining.
Gabrilowitsch showed himself a
thorough master OF orchestral con-
ducting. Indeed, there was much in
his personality remindful OF Leopold
% Stokowsi, whose place he occupied as
guest conductor. There was the same
magic Of the left hand in signaling
the various chOirs; the same delicacy
with the right in handling the baton.
and finally, much the same ability TO
call forth the full powers Of the
trained body OF musicians directed
, by him. II only remains 10 say that
the orchestra responded nObly.
The opening number. overture TO
"lhe Marriage OF Figaro" was given
with strict adherence TO tradition,
except that the tempo possibly was a
triile faster. But II the merry Figaro
married in haste there was time In
plenty for the audience to repent
with him at leisure in the more
measured cadences OF Mendelssohn's
EO-called scotch" symphony, other
wise designated as No. in A minor
Here again Mr.. Gabrilowitsch dis
played his close cleaving 10 tradition,
FOR he read the four movements Of
the work without intermission, some
thing which under less able hands
players and auditors. lie revealed
particularly in the second, OF scherso
assai vivace. a form for which Men
relssohn is particlarly noted, as evil
denced by his Dance OF the Clowns"
in his Midsummer Nights Dream"
music.
Although called scotch" the entire
! symphony is Germanic from its in
j troductiOn 10 its allegro guerrero and
, finale maestosO. fraught with chora.
effects such as are only 10 be found
In Tueton literature. Yet the audi
ence by its applause indicated clearly
4 that the World War, insofar as con
eerns the writings OF the elder Or
4 Hnte-bellum composers, has been for
gotten. A work by Caesar Franck, or
y Massenet, Debussy or any OF the
more modern Frenc hschO0l could not
have received a warmer reception.
= IA can hardly be said the third or
closing number, Richard Strauss tone
= poem, Death and TRANSPORTATION
n won the same esteem or merited Il
Putting Strauss on a program still
savOrs somewhat Of the singing OF
4 Deutschland Uber Allies" In the face
i III Englishmen. Moreover the con
4 luct Of Strauss, prior TO the outbreak
lf war In demanding his last bit
Tor publication rights OF his compO
biiions in America has not been for.
gotten by the music fraternity, II b,
q the public at large. Therefore, whii'
The tome poem was given respectful
attention Il was not surprising m
applause at its termination lasted eX
hctly u seconds by the watch.
Performance Of Death and Trans
ngiiration was OF interest 70 tn
critical however, because after
lapse Of four years il was better pos
sible TO adludge OF its intrinsi
worth. Critics OF highest attainmen
have questioned II Strauss writing
~ are truly musical or only theairic
whether OF no they are not, In pOin
OF fact as are the writings OF Georg
Z Bernard Shaw, possessed or mucl
That may be rated as clap-trap. pur
and simple-a striving for effec
rather than real attalnment-in Oihe
words. an imitation OF Wagner rathe
Than an expression OF an Originalit!
But be these Questionings as the
NAV. GabrilOwitsch and the excellent
L IN trained body OF 80 musicians unde
II him last night got as much out q
II he Strauss work as could be well eA
pected. Those who prefer the blar
m brass TO the singing OF the strine
: had their M. But applause, as sai'
was not there.
Judged in its entirety, the cOncel
II was OF sufficient intensity alone
hold the auditor. while the dominaI
personality OF the guest conductC
III gave a lustre most satisfying. NJ
Eiokowski may feel free TO enwu
Ms orchestra TO the husband Of Mar
Twain's daughter at any time he
nesires. 70 will be in capable hand