The first of the series of ten concerts by the Symphony Orchestra was given Thursday night in Sanders Theatre before a large audience. Mr. Nikisch was enthusiastically received, as was also the soloist Mr. Busoni. The programme for the concert was made up entirely of works by Beethoven, so the enthusiasts over "classical music" had no cause for complaint.

The first number was Beethoven's overture No. 3, Leonore. From the very beginning the orchestra and leader were thoroughly in sympathy and the rendering given this beautiful work was in every way masterly. For the second number, Mr. Busoni played Beethoven's Concerto for pianoforte in G minor. His work was of course excellent.

The most serious undertaking of the evening was the Symphony No. 3, "Eroica." This great work was composed in the first decade of the present century and the first two movements were inspired by the deeds of the hero Napoleon. The second movement which Beethoven called "Marcia funebre" commemorated the death of Napoleon. In the last two movements the composer seems to have lost sight of his one hero and to have brought out the ideas of heroism in the abstract. Writers on the subject however do not agree as to just what qualities these ideas are meant to express and there is a possibility that Beethoven abandoned himself to the simple composition of artistic music in these movements. Cambridge can have no fault to find if the standard of this first concert is kept up through the year.