The New York herald., 1922-10-18
First Orchestral
Concert Given by
Stok0wSki'S Men
Philadelphia Orchestra Gives
Opening Program of Wagner,
Beethoven and Strauss.
BY w. j. HENDERSON.

The trumpets. trombones and horns
OF Wagner sounded the first clarion tones
of the seasons orchestral concerts last
one of the local organizations 20 which
fell the distinction of leading the pro-
cession OF instrumental battalions, but
the Philadelphia Orchestra, arriving like
o true Hippodrore SHOW. bigger and
better than ever" Leopold SteKowsu
continues to ne the only conductor of this
organization. Il takes several TO direct
each of the New York orchestras. but
stobowski. like shakespeare's Cojolanus.
can say, alone l did it boy
The program presented for the delecta-
tion Of New Workers by the visiting
musicians consisted of the prelude to
die Meistersinger." Beethoven's fourth
symphony, and Richard Strauss tone
poem, "a Hero's Life" Mr.. Stokowski
made his Wagnerian exordium sono-
rous and glowing proclamation of the
splendors OF his orchestra. sometimes a
trifle cloudy perhaps, but flled with vi
tality and the communicative eloquence
OF the great masterpiece.
Beethoven's fourth symphony is not
often played and music lovers are reg
ularlT invited to discover the reason IN
its unfortunate situation between the
heroic third and the mighty fifth. But
SINCE these two works are not performed
i'm the same program as the fourth the
familiar description OF the Il flat as "a
slender Greek maiden between tw"
Morse giants" loses It's Importance.
1t is more credible that the compara-
tive neglect of the fourth Is attributable
to its calm refusal olend itself to the
stormy dramatization or shifting pano-
rama of surprises which the prima
donna conductor calls a reading de-
signed to arouse the incurious mob and
the Chorus of indoent reviewers.
Herein may one, indeed, perceive the
Grecianism Of the fourth symphony.
Mr.. Strokowski made no attempt 10
astonish his audience. lie did try 10
play the work through without pause
between the movements. n proceeding
which was hampered by the determined
efforts of small body of anxious ap-
p!auders. He took the first movement
at q brisk tempo. not too brisk, and the
finale at a speed high enough to tax the
virtuosity of his orchestra. But the slow
movement was performed with ravishing
beauty and the menuetto-which is
done. Mr.. StokowslIi had plainly ex-
pended his rehearsals on the develop
ment of highly finished technical de-
livery He sought eagerly for clear
utterance Of every significant voice part.
for polish Of phrase. for infinite elas-
ticity of nuance.
His orchestra gave him what he de-
sired Technically it was most ad-
mirable performance. and 1t left the
hearer satisfied that the fourth SYM
phony was not In the least In need of
apologies or explanations. 1t is quite
true that it was none of the Jovian ut
terance of the third or the fifth. but it
has a grace and a beauty altogether its
own. If any symphonist of this time
should produce such a work he would
be acclaimed the world over
1t remains only to record the fact
that this first concert Of the Phila-
delphians was attended by a large au-
dience of representative music lovers.
who signifed their pleasure in unmis-
taxable terms.