New-York tribune., 1922-05-21


with both arms extended, his orchestr,
or the condemned, but when, with I,
homicidal gesture, he cuts off at thu
same timo the tail Of "l'Idce fxe" ant
the head of the unhappy one, we find
ourselves anguished from the marrow
of our bones to the hypochondrium ant
frozen to the very depths Of ou1
visceral organs. That Mr. Vein
gartner should aim at over-refinement
in presenting to US his Symphony in G
only awakens our gratitude for the
consideration he shows in enlivenins
our lassitude. That in directing the
"March to Execution" it should amuse
him to impersonate at the same time
a Deiblcr and San Malato, appearing
to hesitate long time between the
choice Of torture. between implement
and decapttation-well, all this turmoil
is venial. In spite Of the discomfort
or the impationce we confusedly expert
ence we are obliged to acknowledge that
Berlioz is receiving only his due and
that he reaps what he sowed. But that
Mr.. Weingartner should dandle him
self before Beethoven, that he should
play windmill or make wheel Of HIM
self at the expense Of Mozart and the
gentle Schubert, that he and his like
should shamelessly place tho screen Of
their affectations before the sun of
genius, this is moro than enough to
change a smile into nausea. The i'm
pcrtinence then borders upon sacrilege
and is increased by ridicule. that pit
fall of the virtuoso. No other biped
displays himself SO totally lacking in
the faculty Of forgetting himself and
especially of allowing others to forget
him. Would it not seem, however, that
this last feature should be the essen
tial duty of conductor, the merit and
honor OF any artist, who, in default
of respect for his audience, has re-
tained at least reverence for the mas
terpieces? This respect for the work
of art, this self f-effacement full of love,
in the presence of genius, there are
some virtuosi, nevertheless, whose
pride it has been. These ennoble their
profes sion-the world is unworthy of
their art. They think neither Of parad-
ing their talents nor of displaying their
graces. Thus was always Hans Richter,
compatriot or quasi-compatriot of Mr..
Weingartner, who will not challenge
this ilustrious testimony The sobriety
of his beat never impaired its efficiency
or power. He obtained admirable re-
suits with perfect simplicity of
manner. But Richter conducts for his
orchestra and not for the audience.
while this recently imported virtuosity,
elegant, fantastic or surly according to
the versatility Of its exponent. seems
first of all to aim at dumfounding the
spectator. The work Of art becomes
the means to an end. Beethoven and
Mozart are mere numbers on the pro.
gram of the exercises. And If, in spite
OF appearances, all this epilepsy were
sincere, if these acrobatics emanated
from naturally incontinent vibratil-
lty, exasperated by contact with the
beautiful, then at least let the virtuoso
have the modesty of an invalid and
hide his attacks from us by USING a
screen, or else let him be hidden from
US, as at Bayreuth; let Che lights be
extlnguished while he is carving on
and perspiring. As much as tho Trilopv.
1t Is to be hoped. the "Eroica.. tha
Ninth" or any other has a rieht to
the inviolability Of silence and of dark
ness.
Neighborly intercourse with m,.;-
clans Of diverse countries is ,,.;.a-
worthy in principle, assuredlv. hut
these invitations to exotic ar+;s+.
would possess more evident advar.
tage If with the pleasingness of their
persons and the unexpectedness Of
'ne'r ways, our guests offered US thu
surprise and interest OF indieenons
productions unknown to US. When NJ
k1chard Strauss brings US "Tone
Poem" Of his own, we are inclined "a
tolerate in him subsidiary fancy for
vi1secting the Symphony In A. all the
more that we are at liberty to leave
the spot before the end Of tho oners.
tlon. The "Abode of the Blessed" ever
OF Mr. Weingartner, was formerly an
acceptable rather than a soporifc ex-
cuse for an exhibition of the authnr
and his capers; and that he. too
shouid have selected the identical and
irresponsible Seventh" to manhanal.
In his excess Of bounding nervousness,
might be considered an Academia, ~.
currence. But if from all corners and
quarters Of Germany yarieoa+sd
swarm OF "Kapell' or "Hofkanel,m.,.
ters" comes to repeat to as. each in ri.
turn and In his own manner ~.
same pieces, the most thoueht,e.s
oraln' the most simple Partisan id,or
can only recognize that this is an j.,
vasion of virtuosi, the adyantae. -
one necessity of which appears noth;ns
iess than peremptory. Have ws not
neard enough, in barely three Or fonr
years, Of Symphonies in A and .eraold.,.
Deatns"? And since then, soma fron,