New-York tribune., 1921-10-16
4 Prospective Concert
Season in the Metropolis
subscription Lists of Local and Visiting Orchestras
Mutual Concessions Between Cuarantors and
PLAYERS: One Orchestra Less, but Plethora of
Concerts Nevertheless, and Plenty of Novelties

fairs Now Aeolian Hall has received
3 permanent companion as recital
room in the singularly named Town
Hall vet she bookings a. Aeoliau Hall 4
COR the FIRST month Of concerts for
which it and the new room are adapted
do not SCENE to have suffered dimnu-
ton The fact is Indicative Of what
may be expected In this season. There
were indications at the close OF the
season l92O-'21 that the concert-givers
had recognized the indubitable fact
that they had overtaXed the capacity
OF the local public A deficit of $500
COS made by the orchestra organiza-
tions alone seemed to point somewhat
convincingly to that conclusion. SO
the National Symphony Orchestra was
eliminated and il promoters joined
hands with the hackers of the Philhar-
monlc Society. It is q significant fac
tor in the orchestral situation, how
ever. that the philanthropy which man
tains the orchestral societies is not so
much directed 20 the promotion of SYM
nent OF the interests OF orchestral
conductors We shall have one society
less TINS season than last. bu. the same
number of conductors. And lest one OF
the conductors should appear to have
less TO do than his Importance IN the
eyes OF his supporters) demands the
number OF concerts projected By two
organizations has been increased. We
lose the seventy -fve concerts Of last
years National Symphony Orchestra,
but We gain 4 dozen Philharmonic CON
oerts and half dozen concerts b. the
Society OF the Friends Of Music. Last
year the public was asked 70 subscribe
for 1871 concerts OF symphonic charac-
ter; this year the demand is for l62. 4
In place of the concerts given by the
Italian orchestra under Nh Toscanini
we shall have concerts under The d.
lection Of Herr DR.. Richard Strauss,
who comes to promote peace and har-
mony between our people and their late
enemies, and. moro than incidentally,
to relieve the American public of some
Of the dollars of which he is unusually
avid and Of which he has said they ars
in too active pursuit TO give thought to
things artistic,
The season Of f920-'21 closed with
the managers Of the local orchestras at
loegerheads With the musical labor
union and the union itself split into
factions At war With each other. The
situation was one which provided much
embarrassment to the players in those
orchestras az we'll as to the financial
supporters Of the Philharmo onic and
Symphony societies. There has been a
peaceful solution OF the problem so
far as the societies are concerned. and
somewhat of a lull in the battle be
tween the factions contending for tho
control of the Musical Union, though it
has resulted in the expulsion Of the
organization from the American Fed
Grafton Of Musicians and the founding
o. new union. The quarrel in tho
old union WAS OF direct interest to the
public only as il affected the concerts
N the Philharmonic and Symphony So
cietles and the attitude Of the phil
arthropic promoters of those institu-
tions Had the personal equation.
based on the devotion Of few people
OF wealth to few conductors not
entered into the problem Ne should
probably have aeen the Symphony cen-
oerts reduced this year to such mum
ber az might have heen supported. as
simulated and genuinely appreciated by
the public at least in large part But
the spirit of compromise having come
out dominant at the end Of the sum /
: mer's discussions and negotiations, the !
ART will profit only by a small reduc-
ton in the number Of concerts, and
possibly by some improvement in the
character Of the performances The
number of players in the band of the
Philharmonic Society and we have the
assurance Of Mir. Stransky TO that cf-
fect) the quality Of the personnel has
been improved, the reorganized orches-
ira comprising the best element of the
tao orchestras which las. year proved
upon each other. The truly gallant
struggle which Mr. Harry Harkness
Flaglcr and Mr., Walter Damrosch made
ir behalf Of the Symphony Society for
more time for rehesrsals and pre-
s1mably concerts) without increased
expense has been won, and won not
ony for the Symphony Society but
also for the Philharmonic Society and
the national Symphony promoters, now
affiliated with the venerable Philhar-
monic.
An analysis Of the Symphonic Date
Book which has been com piled for this
issue Of The Tribune discloses the fol-
loving details about tho subscriptlon
seasons % the principnl orchestras.
III tnn lLst III he ,ncrnaacd -. q