Evening star., 1937-10-30

case; and secondly that the very self
commiseration which for a long while
made him popular with large part
of the public became. because OF its
occasional exaggerstion, sentimental
ism or, in other words, second-rate
quality.
This particular lachrymose attitude
is completely lacking in the Fourth
Symphony" 1t is dramatic, yes, but
not so as to become melodramatic. 1t
is full of feeling, of melodic invention.
straight from the Russian soil. But
even in the more melancholy tunes he
never becomes lachrymose. In fact.
1t is curious to consider how contrast
ing this treatment Of his inspiration
is with that of the Fifth" and Sixth
Symphonies 1t seems TO me person.
ally a finer, nobler. more artis-
tic one, especially inasmuch as it does
not for a moment sacrifice the direct
ness, the go" the irresistible sweep
of the inspiration and of the music.
THE first movement, starting with its
so-called "fate" theme, develops
after its introduction two decided
moods-one of languor, the other of
a slightly more dramatic quality. These
two themes, so to speak, battle" with
each other, to be followed by singing
melodies of the woodwinds. These in
turn are, after subsequent develop
ments, interrupted by the initial fate"
theme. Undoubtedly, from a SYM
phonic point of view. this is the great
est movement of the four.
The second movement is Russian
throughout in its melodic inspiration,
in its melancholy, in its folk tune
quality But it Is treated as only an
artist of Tschsikowsky's caliber and
do. Often it is said that Tschaikowsky
is not really Russian, that he wss too
much influenced by Western music.
This movement is certainly q COM
plete proof to the contrary.
The third movement in turn is q
pIOOl w tllC LOilti vi bl4G ldCt blld Y
Tschaikowsky is always sad" 1t is
one Of those superb pieces such as no
one until then had dared to attempt.
1t is called pizZicato estimate. In 1t
the strings are never played by bow
ing, but only by plucking We can
only imagine what the effect must
have been when this brilliant and in
spired piece was played for the first
time, when it must have surprised
everybody with the novelty Of the
treatment. 1t Is treated throughout
as scherso, with the initial theme
coming back after an interludium for
the winds. in which we hear once more
good, slightly inebriated Russian
peasant songs. The end disappears
trippingly in the plucked strings, as
lightly and as Willingly as it entered.
THE finale warrants the saying,
Scratch Russian and you will
find a Tartar" It is as savage and
barbaric, has again two contrasting
themes-one of tremendous exuber-
ance and the second one more q quiet
sadness. Here again the contrasts be-
come more intense throughout the
development of these themes, until at
the climax suddenly the initial theme
of the first movement, the fate"
theme, is heard. But where in his
other works the tendency is definitely
toward either a denial of life or an
effort to forget its misery in a certain
vulgarity, here everything is turned
into an animation of the force of life
itself. Tschaikowsky himself has in
dicated this. But even without this
written indication we cannot help but
realize this.
The second half of the program will
consist of some of the finest and most
familiar Wagnerian excerpts. which
need little or no comment. But it
may be of interest to the hearer TO
know that three of the five singers
who constitute the Wagnerian Festival
Singers have sung major roles under
the baton Of Toscanini during this
past summer in Salzburg.
1t also gives me great pleasure to
have most of these excerpts conducted
by Richard Hageman of the Metro
politan Opera Company and the dis
tinguished composer Of numerous and
well-known vocal and instrumental
compositions. The second half will
start with the prelude to Act 3" Of
"Lohengrin," and will be followed by
excerpts from the second act Of
"Tannhauser-"The Evening Star"
"Dich Teure Halle 20 Furstin," !"
'Blick ich umber," every one Of which
is an universal favorite, to be fol-
lowed by two Of wagner's songs; they,
in turn, to be followed by excerpts
from 1.-THE Meistersingers," which Mr..
Mort sang this summer with the great
Arturo. The program will finish with
the irresistihly rapturous finale Of the
nrst act Of Die Walkure."