Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
nity for little more. I regretted his choice,
and would have wished to hear him in any-
thing else. The Schubert symphony of the
evening concert was something never to be
forgotten. When the last concert has been
given in New York I always wish that I
might emigrate to Boston until the close of
the season, that I might follow the orchestra
around, like the little boys after a circus in
the good old-fashioned days; but people may
never follow their desires nor the orchestras
—therefore, Boston Symphony, au revoir.
K. LL good things must come to an end, so
the opera season closed in a blaze of
glory, but this blaze occurred on Friday
night when "Lohengrin" was given with Jean
de Reszke as the particular glory. There
were two subsequent performances but "what
is opera without De Reszke ?" seems to be the
sentiment expressed by the New Yorkers.
It must be said, however, that the season has
been a good one, there have been new artists
who have made friends among New York's
music lovers, and there have been those that
no one was the better for hearing and who
certainly need not come back in service of
art. The old standbys such as Campanari,
Bauermeister, Bispham, Planqon, Schumann-
Heink, are the ones that can not be replaced.
Ternina was fine, and as an actress she was'
superb. Fritzi Scheff is really delightful.
Scotti will take his place in the front rank
of anything, and one can not help asking of
what value was Margaret Macintyre or
Carrie Bridewell to the company? America
is running over with singers equally capable.
The company gave a superb presentation of
Reyer's "Salammbo" but important concerts
prevented me from hearing the novelty.
LEIPSIC PHILHARMONIC.
At this late date it is unnecessary to de-
scribe the playing of the Leipsic Philharmon-
ic. Suffice it to say that Hans Winderstein
is a conductor of unquestionable musician-
ship, skill, individuality and vim, and given
a body of men with good instruments to play
upon he could challenge comparison with
most of the first-class organizations in the
country, always excepting the Boston Sym-
phony.
Slivinski, who accompanied the orchestra
as solo pianist, is an artist of fine ability, and
played with excellent technique, and poetical
charm. He has the fire and emotion of the
Slav and won much admiration and interest
wherever he has been heard.
BOSTON SYMPHONY.
The latest concerts of the Boston Sympho-
ny season were given last week, and as usual
there is nothing that can be said to add to
what has been said by every critic both on
and off the press.
Gericke is a conductor of supreme power,
in whom one sees new points to be admired
at every hearing. The honor of being the
conductor of one of the world's very greatest
(I want to say the greatest) orchestras sits
upon him admirably, and his dignity and
modesty withal would make him unique in
themselves. The soloist at the last concert
was Godowsky, who played the A major
Liszt concerto. Godowsky fulfilled all ex-
pectations as far as technic was concerned,
and this particular concerto offers opportu-
KNEISEL QUARTET.
The superb program of this noted quartet
had the presence of Godowsky, whose ex-
quisite work in the Dvorak quintet in A
major made it one of the most perfectly fin-
ished works ever heard in this city. Godow-
sky's perfect control over his enormous forces
shows the immensity of his art. Of the quar-
tet there can, indeed, be found no more
words wherewith to describe the beauty, the
finish, and the art of these musicians. I ex-
hausted my vocabulary long ago. Shortly
after the next concert, to occur April 9, the
Kneisel quartet will go on a tour which will
extend to Portland, Oregon, where they are
sure of a royal welcome and houses over-
flowing with people and with enthusiasm.
cents to one dollar. That there was not one
empty seat in the house is proof enough that
this caught the fancy of the people. That
Bispham was the artist to be heard was also
a large factor in the success, and he sang
with that rich sonorous voice, that full ar-
tistic finish, and that inimitable style which
makes him more valuable to students than a
dozen lessons would be. Upon the program
were the four Serious Songs of Brahms, the
music of which seems as much inspired as
was the sacred book from whence the text
was taken. The way they were sung pre-
cludes criticism, and one would not wish to
speak of anything else at the same time, yet
one word must be said of Cornelius' Ein
Ton, which, sung upon one note gave Bisp-
ham opportunity to run the gamut of color-
ings, which he did, as he does everything else,
exquisitely.
JOSEF HOFMANN.
Following the gigantic array of pianists
who have appeared in New York this winter,
it took a gigantic pianist, making so late an
appearance, to fill so completely Carnegie
Hall., and to arouse such genuine enthu-
siasm as did Josef Hofmann, than whom
there is no better known pianist. Hofmann
occupies his own position in the firmament of
BENDIX QUARTET.
musical stars, just as does Jupiter, whose
The Bendix quartet with the assistance of splendor is not increased or diminished by
Ulysse Buhler gave the last concert of the comparison with anything else. So Hofmann
season at the Waldorf-Astoria.
is not challenging comparison with anyone,
The quartet showed gain in ensemble and but in himself, by himself, and from himself,
gave an enjoyable presentation of their pro- there is genius enough to delight the most
gram, the first number of which was a Sgam- critical. Hofmann's playing has the quality
bati quartet in D flat. I particularly like of being accomplished with such ease that un-
Sgambati, but 1 should have to hear this less his hearers have struggled with the in-
quartet a good many times before I could be tense difficulties themselves, they have no con-
induced to say that I enjoyed it. The Ben-
dix quartet played in Boston, assisted by
Mrs. H. H. A. Beach, and a]so assisted Lud-
wig Breitner at a concert which I regret not
Fifty years of success prove these
having been able to attend.
troches the simplest and best remedy
BROWN'S S T
SOUSA.
Sousa and his band again delighted an au-
dience that tested the capacity of the Metro-
politan Opera House. As usual with this
great organization there is little to say, for
Sousa has reached a standard with his band
that is not easily surpassed. This has been
heralded far and wide for a very long time.
The band has just returned from a tour which
extended to the Pacific coast, and conse-
quently was in excellent form. Applause was
generous and Sousa, not to be outdone in any
particular, was equally generous.
Miss Blanche Duffield has gained much
in poise, which is the invariable criticism
upon every young artist who returns after a
tour under the baton of this skilful conduc-
tor which shows excellent schooling. She is,
by the way, a pupil of Mme. Devine. Miss
Bucklin, the young violinist, acquitted herself
with much credit, and also shows a growth
of breadth, tone and technic. Arthur Pryor
is, as always, a finished artist upon his instru-
ment.
DAVID BISPHAM.
Credit is due H. M. Hirschberg for at-
tempting a colossal thing and having it suc-
ceed beyond anyone's expectation. The en-
terprise was to give a song recital in Car-
negie Hall by David Bispham at popular
prices, which means, of course, twenty-five
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