Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-09
ORCHESTRA PLAYS
TSCHAIKOWSKY MUSIC
Symphony Pathetique. Nut
cracker Suite and 1912 Over.
ture Get Cordial Reception

Yesterday afternoons concert of the
Philadelphia Orchestra was the greatest
success of the season thus far, MS might
have been expected when a Tschaikow.
sky program was the bill. II opened
with the ever popular symphony
Pathetique.' probably the greatest rem
derer Of heart strings in the literature
of the orchestra. Mr.. Stokowski does
nothing better than Tschaikowsky, but
yesterdays reading Of Ts"hnikowsky
most popular work was comparatively
now ono in n number OF respects.
The conductor seemed TO aim at the
partial elimination Of the intense emo
tional element which in the past has
been the symphony's most potent factor.
The tempo of the first movement. ex-
cept in super emotional spots. was SEN
sibly decreased and the pnuscs between
the various phrases were roticeably
heightened, sometimes TO the point
where they invited indiscriminate ap-
p'ause (Which fortunately did not oc-
cur). There were also changes in the
Instrumentation. such as the addition
OF n solo contra bass in the initiative
figure of the Cellos in the minor rcpeti-
tion of the second theme at the close
OF the last movement, n beautiful effect
which might have been more convincing
had the cellos and bases been seated
more closely together and the sound
come from the same side of the stage.
But the whole reading was one in
which emotion and musical intelligence
were beautifully shown. Tho symphony
is unquestionablv one Of the greatest
in the orchestral literature and never
fails to produce its effect. Its manifest
emotional elements react In pretty
much the same manner upon performers
and audience alike. and when this oc-
ours there is sure TO be Il successful
Interpretation.
The beautiful Nutcrnckpr Suite was
the second number. This is one OF the
great composer erdeavors in Joyous
mood and formed strong contrast to
the epic of grief which preceded il. It
is true that. analyzed from the stand.
point Of the musical technician. tho
thematlC mnterial does not measure very
high. but the Orchestration. the gowns
in which the ideas are dressed and the
sentimental ideas which arc carried out
in the work max" it rank with the best
OF the lighter compositions for orches-
ira. II was superbly performed and
the various solo performers were giveu
due recognition by Mr.. Stokowskl.
The concert closed with one of tho
most massive Of all orchestral works,
the "lSl2' overture. In this the Or
ch"Stra was augmented TO eight trum-
pets and eight trOmbOnes. which pro.
GuCed stupPndous effect in the Rus.
sian Hymn at the close. even if some-
what trying on the car by reason of the
volume of sound. Another innovation,
and an excellent one, was the substi-
tuition of the playing Of the chimes in
II descending octave instead of the mis-
relaneous striking of them. which has
been the case too often in the past. II
gave a clarity which was very pleasing.
although il also showed the inability
Of the Orchestra to compete with the
Instruments of percussion when played
with moderate vigor. The whole pro-
gram was one which made an Intense
appeal, as every work of Tschaikowsky
must.