The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-10-27
Philharmonic off
to a Fine Start
With Nep Music
KOrng0ld's 'Sursum COrda' on
Program With Beethoven's
Seventh Symphony.
ny w. j. HENDERSON.

The Philharmonic Society began its
negie Hall. The concert was the 1,676th
OF the famous Old organization, the
Oldest orchestral body in this country
and one of the oldest in the world. Its
history is not only long but honorable,
and the place which it occupies in the
musical activities of this city is proud.
The audience was representative in
many respects, II contained those OF
eminence in music letters and the arts
and persons of the most distinguished
social position.
The entertainment was conducted by
Josef Stransky. who has cntrenched
himself firmly In the affections of Phil
harmonic patrons In accordance with
the custom OF the organizations later
years the program was both conservative
and progressive. The first number was
Beethoven's seventh symphony one of
the most spirited and joyous of the
masters creations, fitting prelude TO a
season rich in promise.
The other numbers were the symphonic
overture entitled ''Sursum Corda," COM
posed by young Erich Korngold (who is
best known TO New York music lovers
as the writer of die Tote Stadt," the
opera associated with the local debut OF
Nine. Jeritza) Debussys two nocturnes
"Nuages" and "Fetes." and the dance
from Richard Strausss opera "Salome."
Mr.. Korngold's overture was COM
posed In 1919 when the musician was
% years old and was first played I'M
der his direction in Vienna in January,
1921 The title is from the communion
service and in English is Lift up
Your Hearts" The composer has fur
Rished in detail the plan of his work.
which is fashioned after all according
to venerable formulate and is archi-
tecturally constructed so as to COM
mand the approval of musical patri-
archs and even more youthful conserv-
ators of traditions.
Perhaps only in the elaborate treat.
ment OF the orchestration can 1t be
dubbed quite modern There are
measures upon measures which sound
like quotations from Die Tote S.adt,
but there is less of the continuity of
Inelodic thought than the music lover
finds in some of the more excellent
parts OF that opera. IL is thing of
thematic shreds and patches. mar
shalled with instrumental pomp and
circumstance.
But II Is hardly worth while to pro-
long consideration of this decrepit young
mans baffled efforts When Verdi gave
us "Falstaff'' we were all lost in wonder
that an aged man could write music so
full of the fire and enthusiasm and
freshness of youth. Korngold's music
sounds like that OF a tired man of many
years. disillusioned weary Of the futile
struggle OF life and vainly seeking to
stir his sinking spirit with a turmoil OF
shapes and sounds end IN impotent
changing OF tints.
1t took more musicians 10 play the
overture than II did 60 play the Bee
thoven symphony. but it was the first
work on the list that lifted up the hearts
OF its hearers, not the second. Mr..
Stransky led his men through an eager,
searching, sometimes impetuous perform
ance of Beethoven's composition. There
was no dilatoriness in ,ae delivery.
The conductor wasted no time in try
ing TO gid refined gold. nor did he en-
deavor 10 paint any lilies lie sped
onward. driving the sonorous tones bo-
fore him like flying clouds before a
northwestern but in every riff the sun
OF Beethoven's genius shone brightly
and the earth grew warm and glad under
IL. The first concert of the Philhar-
monte was decidedly interesting and the
audience gave IL plenty OF applause.