Scan 32
Musical Courier 1902-02-26: Vol 44 Iss 1144, 1902
25 lines. Read by computer on 22 September 2026. Printed page 33. See the scan on archive.org.
1HOTEL CECIL, LONDON.
2February 8, 1902.
4DURING last week Mr. Wood's career as conductor at Queen's Hall seemed to be entering upon a new phase. Hitherto we in England have had but scanty opportunities of hearing the work of that much discussed composer, Richard Strauss. Though he is undoubtedly the composer of the hour, the man to whom we look to carry music past the point at which it has remained since the death of Wagner and Brahms, his work is almost unrecognized here, and beyond a very occasional performance of one of his poems we hear little from his pen. Mr. Wood, however, appears to be turning his attention Straussward at last. Last week two compositions by that most modern of all composers were down for performance at Queen's Hall, and though in the end "Don Juan" could not be given, owing to the fact that it was found impossible to rehearse it thoroughly, the love scene from "Feuersnoth," his latest opera, was duly played at Saturday's Symphony concert.
6Of the wonderful imagination and power displayed in this piece of music it is unnecessary for me to speak, for it is only a month or two ago that Mr. Huneker discussed the opera thoroughly in THE MUSICAL COURIER. Strauss is a writer who "grows," and this love scene is an advance on anything that he has ever done before. His extraordinary power of telling a story in music has never been displayed to better advantage, and his brilliant orchestration is more effective than ever. Of the rest of the long program it is not necessary to speak at length. Ysaye played the solo part of Bruch's second violin Concerto splendidly and the Symphony was Tchaikowsky's fifth.
8On Monday evening the Bohemian Quartet gave their second and, unfortunately, their last concert at Bechstein Hall. One has, I suppose, to be thankful for small mercies, and it is something to get a visit from so fine a quartet at all. One cannot help regretting, however, that the programs which they gave did not include something new. When they paid their last visit to London the Bohemians introduced some most attractive novelties, including, if I remember right, one from the pen of Josef Suk, their second violin. This time they have played nothing that has not been heard before often, and though they gave wonderfully powerful readings of quartets by Tchaikowsky, Schumann and Dvorák on Monday last, one could hardly help regretting that they confined themselves so exclusively to old friends.
10On Monday, too, Mr. Hayden Coffin gave a concert at Steinway Hall.
12On Tuesday evening Miss Susan Strong, a singer well known at the Opera, gave an interesting vocal recital at Bechstein Hall, at which she sang some eighteen songs. Her performances were somewhat uneven. Richard Strauss' "Winterwetter," for instance, she sang charmingly, while of the same composer's "Ständchen" she gave a most unsatisfactory account. The concert, however, was pleasant on the whole, though it is difficult to understand her total neglect of English songs. In a program containing eighteen songs she might surely have found room for a few by native composers. The only apology for them was three compositions by F. Korbay, and these were more Hungarian in character than English.
14In the evening a new violinist calling himself Bonarius gave a recital at the Kensington Town Hall. He is evidently an aspirant to fame of the Kubelik order, but he is certainly far from being a Kubelik. He has a good execution enough, and he played a set of Variations of Paganini neatly and accurately. But there his attainments end. Of artistic power he scarcely displayed the vestige of a sign, and his playing possesses about as much romance as does that of a barrel organ.
16Miss Polyxena Hatcher gave a piano recital at Bechstein Hall on the same evening. She was assisted by Denis O'Sullivan.
18The great event of Wednesday was the first smoking concert of the Royal Amateur Orchestral Society. The concert was a most brilliant affair, and Queen's Hall was crowded. King Edward VII., who is the society's patron, was there, and so was the Prince of Wales, who is its president. Probably no London concert room has ever contained such an audience. Besides the King and the Prince of Wales there were present Prince Alexander of Teck, Lord Pembroke, the Earl of Kilmorey, the Marquis de Soveral and the Lord Chief Justice. Music was represented by Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Sir Walter Parratt, Sir Hubert Parry and Sir Frederick Bridge; art by the president of the Royal Academy, and the city by the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs. Such patronage has probably been extended to no other musical society that has ever existed. But the Royal Amateur Orchestral Society is quite unique. Its members are drawn from the highest ranks of English society, and they are, though amateurs, fine performers. Their clever conductor, Ernest Ford, has worked up the orchestra to a pitch of excellence that has probably been reached by few amateur societies, and their playing would do credit to a body of professionals.
20The program on Wednesday was drawn avowedly from light music, but the light music was of the best. No one can quarrel with Tchaikowsky's "Casse Noisette" Suite, the ballet music from Gounod's "Faust" or Elgar's fine Military March on the score of musicianship, and it was from music such as that that the program was drawn.
22The performances of the orchestral music were as fine as could be, and the soloists were quite as good. Madame Clara Butt and Kennerley Rumford sang duets and solos, Denis O'Sullivan sang English, German and American songs with inimitable humor, being particularly successful in the Vicar's Song from Sullivan's "Sorcerer." Miss Anna Hegner played violin solos in perfect style, and Miss Helen Mar told some of her very best American stories. One of the greatest successes of the evening was scored by Kennerley Rumford, who sang "Here's a Health Unto His Majesty" as an encore to Cowen's "Border Ballad" as well as it could be sung, Madame Clara Butt accompanying him.
24Altogether the concert was an enormous success, and Henry M. Morris, the popular and energetic honorary secretary of the society, has good reason to be proud of the result of his efforts and organization. To music lovers it is particularly gratifying that the reigning sovereign should display an interest in their art. The late Queen Victoria was, of course, an enthusiastic musician. Naturally enough, however, she did not attend concerts, but, so to speak, caused concerts to attend her. By setting such an excellent example to his subjects the King may do an incalculable amount of good. This was the second occasion in a single week in which he has
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.