New-York tribune., 1922-11-06
.Chaliapill and
C.alve Heard as
Concert Stars
Erstwhile Favorite Carmen
OF Metropolitan Is Solo,
list With New York SYM
phony Under Damrosch
Counod's s'Sapho'' Sung
Russian Basso Dramatizes
Lyrics and Distorts Mel
ody, Rhythm and Phrasing
By II. <. krehbiel

by II. r. krehbiel
OF course an erstwhile darling of
the Metropolitan Opera, smiling a
well-preaerved relic of an old smile
Of witchery, struggling her shoulders,
swapping her fingers like castanets
giving an inimitable twist to arm,
and wrist TO suggest Irritation with 8
fan, and singing the while a humor-
GUS Spanish song, ought not TO have
marked the climax of Symphony Or
ehestra's concert. But equally, OF
course, 1t did In Aeolian Hall yester-
day afternoon. Nine. Emma Calve
being the purveyor of the solo fea-
lures Of the program, it was inevitable
with so many old people in the house
who remembered the Carmen who set
New York agog nearly thirty years
ago, and SO many young people VINO
had heard Of her charms from their
elders. We do not think that it was
because Of the anomalous character of
the incident, which might have been
foreseen, however, that Mr.. Damrosch
put q piece in the program designed
to illustrate some of the stupendous
visions which presented themselves
to the eyes OF the seer when he was
in the spirit in the Isle of Patmos !;
nevertheless the piece was there,
though incorrectly described on the
house bill as novelty. Liadoff's SYM
was not played for the first time in
New York, but at least for the third.
The indefatigable Russian propagan-
dist Altschuler brought it forward
soon after its publication in February
1914, and just year later played
it again to commemorate the death of
the composer, which occurred in
August of the former year. The fac |
is not particularly significant, because
the music isn't; but so long as it is
easy to do so the verities Of history
might as we'll be preserved.
There are hundreds of uggestions
for highly imaginative music in the
Book of Revelation, and it may be
that one or two of the seals will be
broken when the Oratorio Society pro-
duces Mr.. Gallico's oratorio later in
the season. We hope they will. We
want something better than crashings
and rumblings of the kettle drums to
make us think of the seven thunders,
something more suggestive of the
mighty angel clothed with cloud, with
rainbow on his head face as it
were of the sun and feet like pillars
of fire, than Mr.. Liadoff permitted us
to fancy, something more like harpers
harping on their harps, the voices of
many waters and choiring of angelic
phalanxes, than the composers imita-
ton of canticles of the Greek Church.
What John saw and described is quite
beyond the liturgical language of any
ecclesiastical organization. Yet Liza
doff's music was worth hearing even a
third time, and we should like to know
what 1T was that filled his mind when
he planned the work of which this
fragment has been published.
Solemn Mood in Symphony
The reading of Beethoven SYM
phony was the one orchestral piece in
the list which reflected solemn mood,
BEFORE it came Beethoven's Eighth
symphony, which is all frolic and mer-
riment. gushing over with the humor
which sometimes found expression in
uncouth jokes, mad puns and uproari-
Gus laughter. Having enjoyed some in
struction in conducting many years
ago from DR.. Hans Won Bulow, Mr..
Damrosch might have been expected to
follow some of that irrascible musi-
clans whims touching the interpreta-
tion of the symphony. But he didn't,
Or. Won Bulow conceived the Allegretto
Scherzando as the lively one of the two
middle movements, and wanted the
Tempo di Menuetto to stand as the
Andante. Mr.. Damrosch in agreement
with Seidl and Safonof played the first
section one-tenth faster than DR.. Won
Buiow, but unlike the latter gentleman
took" the Trio much slower. This
made the melody rather sluggish and
left the task Of the players Of the vio-
loncellos ("the caterwauling knee-fid-
dies" as the witty doctor called them
when The Tribune's reviewer indulged
in the diverting luxury of a contro-
versy with hin) an easy one 1t never
was difficult but Won Bulow said il was
just for the sake of argument. In his
tempo MIR. Damrosch seemed, however
to be in agreement with Seidle and DR.,
Muck. Slight disagreements among the
doctors, however, cannot mar the IRE.
pressible gayety of the gayest OF all
symphonies.
Mime. Calva was erratic in con.
duct, as usual. She sang 80 ma lyre
immorselle," from Gcunod's "Sapho. .
with the orchestra, but did not sing the
sallad of the King of Thule, from
La Damnation de Faust" which
serlioz calls "Chanson gothiaue. .
She sang iii she adhered to the pro.
gram) two songs by Gretchaninoff
but in English instead of Russian, fo1
Nhich there is good cause for rejoicing,
They were somewhat labored perform
rnces and contrasted sharply with her
sat and added Spanish songs and with
erlioa's exquisitely moody and poetic
setting of Isl ie n'etait Captive"
Chaliapin Dramatizes Lyrics
Like Chaliapin, who gave concert
n Carnegie Hall in the evening, Mime.
Caivs is primarily dramatic singer.
but she can and does sing lyrics
$ if they were lyrics, which Mr..
Hhaliapin does not if he can. Both
rtists seem "cabin'd, cribb'd, con-
ned" unless they can walk about q bit
2hile singing and call in the aid of
ecsture to emphasize the emotions
which poet and composer put into their
sorg. Nine. Calve respects the
nelodic line and intonation even when
giving expression to the most poignant
Nrnotions. Mr. Gbol;onsp carn, a. ,;441.