New-York tribune., 1876-11-23
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE EssIPOFF CONCERTS.

Nine. EssipOff's concert last night. though 1t
was In some respects the least interesting Of the SERIES
only furnished another instance Of the power OF this ex
traordnary pianist. Her share Of the programme IN
cluded Fantasia by Chopin, Barcarole by Rubnsein
q Minuet by Schubert schumanp's "Voge ais Prophet"
O Seherzo by Chopin and Lszts Parapbrase on themes
from Rigoletto."
The Chopin Fantasia was played with all the dramatic
power and sentiment which she always shows in render
ing works of this composer Her Interpretation was
marked by exquisite delieacy and by perfect command
OF the OF the instrument, well as by those
higher qualities of intellect and feeling which so es-
sential to any proper rendering of Chopns music and
showed once more as has already been abundanty
shown what thorough student she Is OF bis works ana
how completely she is in sympathy with them The Rn-
binsten Barcarole good tOo though there was not
all the swing and vouptuous fire in that marked the
composers performance of it, The beautiful Scht-
bert Mnuet was taken rather fast, as Nine Essipof
often shows tendency do in her playing yet 1t can
hardly said that it lost from this perfect was IL In
other respects The weird mysterious character or the
Schumann "Vogel ais Prophet" was brought out In
wonderful way, and the Chopin "Seherzo was nothihg
short perfection To mention only one OF the myriad
striking points it, she gave some instances OF mar
veous control over her left hand, especially in rapid
octave passages The Liszt Paraphrase gave room Tor
great brilliancy of playing, and Nine Esslpou aVaeu
herself of the opportunity in the most complete manner
NJ. vivien played the Leonard Concerto, IN which ne
has already been ncaru, anu u Lcecuuo "! A' fo'"
nand Quicken. The latter is work not especially
strong or Characteristic in respect yet pleasing
enough Mrs. Louise Oliver sang Governs ballad, 1t
was a Dream" song by Robert Franz, the words OF
which quito unin elligble and Ganzs The Night
ingale's Trl," in her rendering OF which there was
nothing which in the fanest degree rcsembed the song
of that estimabe bird She has nice soprano voice ana
some cultivation but she did not prove herself on TINS
occasion one of concert Singers to say the
least
There is one about the OF these con-
cert which ought corrected In scarcely any case
has the "opus" number OF work been given on the
programme after the title Admitting that in the case OF
Chopins music, where much does undoubtedly depend
on the mood of the performer is not pleasant to be re-
strcted TO any particular piece but the player hses
to select the waltz for instance. which he shall feel In
the humor for playing when he comes on the staga
Other pieces which do not fall under this category,
should have their numbers given In every possible In
stance. 1t not only enhances the pleasure OF the
audience large part Of which like TO take their music
to the concert for the sake of following the performer
but by giving opportunity for studying the music
over before the 1t greatly enhances its educa
tiona value Ii also makes the programmes valuable 10
preserve as record OF the work accomplished during the
season. which respect they are almost useless now