Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-10
PHILHARMONIC CLOSES ITS
MOST BRILLIANT SEASON
casaIs as SoIoist and stokowskl as
Guest Conductor Score Successes

Guest Conductor Score Successes
Pablo Casals, undoubtedly the great
est cell!st Of his day, and Leopold Sto-
kowski, conductor Of the Philadelphia
Orchestra, were the heroes Of last eve
ning's concert of the Philharmonic So
clety, the closing one Of the most bril-
liant season, that the organization has
ever known. The concert in itself was
not only the best that has ever been
given under the auspices Of the Phil
harmonic Society, but also one of the
best that has been heard in this city
this season.
Mr.. Casals gave mastery rendi-
ton Of the Saint Saens' concerto for
cello and orchestra. His tone was at
once brilliant and beautiful in quality,
his execution wonderfully clear, as was
to be expected. and his Interpretation
exceedingly refined. The concerto Is,
perhaps, the best of all the small list
Of available cello concertos. as 1t gives
ample opportunity for technical display
without degenerating into mere virtu-
osity, while it also affords many chances
| for topal beauty in the many melodic
passage. OF these it is difficult to say
in which Mr. Casals excclled, but he
! created a tremendous impression by his
wonderful playing He was vigorously
| applauded and responded with the first
movement Of the Bach G major suite.
To the credit Of the discrimination OF
the audience. Bach. who is popularly
supposed to be sealed book, created
| an even greater impression than the
composition with orchestra, but this is
not TO be wondered Mt when the beauty
which is assumed under Mr.. Casals'
reading Is considered AS another en-
core he played Schumanns Abend-
lied and gave another example Of n
totally different kind Of playing. but
no less beautiful and effective.
Mr.. Stokowski as guest conductor
led the orchestra in TOD und Eerk
larung" and gave superb reading. II
may have been that Mr.. Stokowski was
in particularly fine fettle last evening
or 1t may have been from the orthodox
seating of the orchestra. but at any
rate there was much detail apparent
that was not heard in the concert when
the same work was played two weeks
ago. Mr.. Stokowski was recalled so
many times that most persons in the
audience lost count and finally he an.
nounced that he could do better with
my own orchestra. " After three or
! four more recalls he was allowed to
retire.
! John Barclay. the other soloist. gave
n fine reading of the vision Fugitif,"
popular but somewhat dreary aria
from Massenet' "Herodiade' and re-
sponded with a genuine baritone aria,
the "Toreador" from Carmen. which,
as was to be expected, was his real per-
formance.
But in this galaxy OF so.oists. the
performances of the orchestra under
Mr.. Pasternack must not be forgotten.
The program opened with the Rus
Ian and Ludmila" overture of Glinka
given for the first time in this city,
work which might be said to SAVIOR
strongly of the "Bartercd Bride" over
ture Of Smetana if it had not been
composed twenty -four years earlier.
Mr.. Pasternack also conducted the
"Preludes" Of Liszt. gave superb
accompaniment to Mr.. Casals "a the
concerto and led the orchestra in the
closing number. the "Tannhauscr
overture.