For once Mr. Monteux's genius as program-maker seemed to desert him, when, yesterday afternoon, he piled Franck upon Franck to the extent of boredom. The hundredth anniversary of Franck's birth must, I suppose, be celebrated in some way; it would seem however, as if a finer impression of Franck's genius would result from a program in which he was not so overworked.

Heard separately, either of the symphonic poems played yesterday would please, perhaps thrill. En masse, as they were heard, they seemed a little too much. The ever beautiful D minor symphony began the program. It is a work of marvellous vitality, rich in harmonic structure and solidly if not exotically orchestrated. It is a piece in which great pains must be taken to avoid sentimentality; these Mr. Monteux took, at the expense, perhaps, of some of the beauty of the second movement. Four years ago, when the symphony was last heard in Boston, the tempo of this second movement was slower, therein evidently different from the composer's conception (the movement is marked allegretto), but, it seemed, richer and finer. The beauty of that movement can afford to be lingered over. Playing it up to the time indicated, Mr. Monteux kept close to the composer and pleased his audience. To some however, something lacked.

To compensate, Mme, Samaroff played the Schumann A minor concerto. This concerto has been played often at Boston symphony concerts, and deservedly; every hearing renews the impression that it is one of the most beautiful things in piano literature. Two years ago Mr. Moiseiwitsch played it wonderfully; MM, Samaroff equalled his performance yesterday. The first movement as she gave it was fine as silk thread, warm, clear, lustrous; the remarkably fine execution of that very difficult syncopation in the last movement would alone have justified Mme, Samaroff's claim to the first rank of, musicianship. She is a superb artist, and played like one.

Next week the program includes Sibelius' virile fifth symphony, a Ballet suite of Lully, "November Woods" by Bax, modern Englishman deservedly popular with Mr. Monteux, and Chadwick's Anniversary Overture.