New-York tribune., 1922-01-08
The Late Camille Saint-Saens
And His Visit to United States
Missions of German and French Composers Strauss
and Failure in Propagandism; Incidents of Saint
Saens's Sojourn Here; His Genius and Career
BY H. E. Krehbicl

living composers and one OF the tore
most representatives, if not the fore
most. of contemporary French musi
.;.ns. Richard Strauss created more
,,s stir than did Vincent dlndy, but
lar this there was one obvious reason
in addition to the greater genius and
oopularity Of the former. Despite the
fact that we were disinclincd to think
a. at the outset, there was q large
Measure OF political propagandism in
the visit Of the German, if not in the
purpose Of his manager, at least in
their expectation and hope. The fact
became obvious as soon as it was seen
that only the spectacular appearances
Of the composer were witnessed by
,erre audiences, which had been Sc
cured by advanced subscriptions, and
hat these audiences were composed
nent in our population and showed lit
lie IL any discrimination in their dem
,nstrations of appreciation. The "int-
nate" concerts which might have been
expected to attract the admirers of his
nusic-those devoted to his chamber
music and songs-did not fill even so
small q room as Town Hall; and the
one concert with orchestra given in tho
METROPOLITAN Opera House, COR which
,e was engaged to aid in introducing
an operatlc singer. will probably go
down in the record books Of the mana
gers as the most costly experiment of
the season. Yet DR.. Strauss conducted.
ton and the singer had been cxtcn-
s:vely advertised. Artistically, the
visit added nothing TO our knowledge
Of the musicians art; commercially it
was one Of those individual financial
,rumphs whicl, he has been able to
compel better than any composer that
ever lived. Its aftermath Of anccdotc
will long be food for gossirs.
The Visit of Saint-Sacns
Fifteen Years Ago
As the story Of these visits was
closing came the intelligence Of the
death Of Camille Saint-Saens on De-
cember 16-Beeth ovens birthday and
quite naturally there was an awaken
ing Of memories Of the visit which
that truly great musician paid us
fifteen years ago. The most surpris-
ing thing about that visit was its tar
diness. Saint-Saens was fond of
travel and We had been led to expect
visit from him as far back as 1893.
When he came We were made to feel
regret that he had abandoned his
earlier resolution, for though it was
pleasant to look upon the face of the
greatest musician which France has
produced since Berlioz, it was not
Vouchsafed US to observe him when he
was IN the plenitude> of his powers
as creative and recreative musician
lrue we heard his music but all that
mad significance was old and familiar
and we would gladly have dispensed
with the novelties which he offered
tor they were ttifes and spoke only
OF the decay of his powers. We heard
him play the pianoforte and the organ
and a few days before his departure
we saw him at the head of an orches
\ IRA conducting some Of his compost
& tions; but the sight was uninspiring
p For Us his first and last perform
ances ION November 3 and Decembe,
co. lSoo) were disappointing. After
MIS- Introductory appearance at a con
cert OF the Symphony Society at which
40 played his fantasia "Africa," ar
allegro sppassionato" and trihine
vase caprice burdened with tn,
strange device, "Wedding Cake" w,
were moved to remark:
Ihreescore years and ten hav
passed over him and left his finger
a'mole and flexible. The ability to pro
0oce tone sufficiently sonorous t.
ssseft Itself against an. orchestra ha
sepasted, but crisp and dainty toucl
ass remained and an obvious content
@ens with pretty and playful dallianc
WIN the keyboard That is ALL"
1ne heetness and f1exibility o
Aaser remained with him to the en-,
VI n's days. In letter to this write
'asee months ago Mr.. Walter Dam
'0'ca' speaking ofs his recent expert
.aces IN France, said: "Saint-Saen
- sshty-three years and still of a.
~a1'ng vitality. 1t is amusing to Sc
s way IN which the French musician
.aS's and fondle him to-day, as if h
Wv something between q beloved in
;.,. .' ana patron saint. Widor, VIII
- n'msel' seventy-two, if he is a day
's around Saint-Saens much in tn
.''''ade of very youthful an
,H'sa'iy disciple toward his OIL
d s; .''ef' heard Saint-Saens play tn
..sao part in his septet with the trum
~ a. musicale given by Widor, an
~ l'ttle fingers ran 80 nimbl
b1so the scales and passages tina
"ts, was alwass ahead of the othe
ss. he is certainly a maratho