New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-17
MAURICE DENGREMoNT.

| Inc wOnuer1ul young Vlounlst VINO made his a.
but at Roster and Biaps Concert Garden in Twsnty.
tbird-st. on Tuesday, and who has been playins
there through the week. has with each succeedms
performance confirmed the high opinion that WA b
first formed of his talents and increased the wond,
that such amazing technical perfection and such Is
tellectual maturity should be found in boy baralv
fourteen years old. His debut was not made unds,
favorable circumstances. He arrived here uusv
| pectedly and unannounced and as the course q
preliminary advertising of one sort another yh,eh
seems to be essential to the of an artist IN
this country at the outset had been neglected in HE
case very few people knew of the high reputation
| which he enjoys in Europe, and the warm praisa
| which has been accorded to him by the Highest
authorities so that his arrival was almost unnotcsd
| The time originally set for his debut had 10 \.
postponed on account of his illness fancy a ereat
artist catching cold at snow balling and the Ian
guild interest which the first announcements OF biz
coming created had almost died out when be al.
peared. But his playing quickly changed all that
He had not played five bars OF De Beriots Seventh
Concerto before he had riveted the attention and
captivated the interest of his audience and befors
he had finished the first movement it clear that
here we had an artist who. from his intelligence, bis
musical feeling and his technical attachments
deserved to rank among the great masters Of his In
strument.
None of the great compositions for the VIOLA
those which form the final test of artists powers
have been found among the Collections in which he
has as yet been heard. but those which
lie has played, aud which number
among them the De Beriot Concerto
Sarasates transcription of one of the
Chopin Nocturnes, Corell's /" La Folia." Leonards
Souvenir de Haydn" romance by Beethoven
Vleuxtemps's Fantastic Caprice" and some other
less important compositions have been sufficient for
the ample display of his powers, both mechanical
and intellectual That they are of the highest ORDER
there will be no question. His playing belongs to
the modern French school, strong. dashng and full
Of brilliant execution. His bowling is free, his tone
broad, full and rich, delightfully."- clear and remark
ably true and his command of the fnger-boardn
extraordinary. His arpeggios are brilliant, his stac-
cato notes pure, his runs clean and his embelllsh-
ments executed with the most perfect taste. He
plays the most difficult harmOnies with the exactes
purity of intonatioD, and rapid involved passages
are executed with faultess neatness and elegance.
So far as technical attainments alone are concerned
he ranks already among the great violiniss, and his
intellectual qualities are to the full as remarkable
He has shown in his work comprehensive grasp Of
his music, poetic feeling, tenderness, sentiment.
lively fancy and decided individuality. His play
ing has not the strength and bodness which will
perhaps with greater maturity for he is essen
TALLY young in hisfeeIing, though by omeans trivial
or childish and he is sometimes lacking in dash,
which may perhaps come merely from the want OF
muscular force His style Is rather pensive and
tender than brilliant and dazzling, and his tendency
is rather toward expressiveuess than passion. HIS
graceful sentiment and refined expression have been
very marked In much that he has done, especially
in the Beethoven Romance and Vieuxtempss " Fan
taise Caprice" aud in the latter piece his originality
and individuality were very strongly exempllfed
II was O totally original rendering, taken much
slower than we are accustomed to hearing It, and
given with much more poetry aud feeling, and with
less of dash and brilliancy.
Young Dengremont, then. appeals TO one not as an
infant phenomenon, or q clever boy whose pieco-
cious talents we are called upon TO admire and wen-
der at while we are compelled to make all sorts OF
alowa noes for his crudeness and lack of finish. He
is thoroughly equipped, intelligent artist VINO VIII
undoubtedly improve as years go on ana Dis talents
ripen and he gains in experience, Out VINO nowH
deservedy ranked among the great vollnlsts OF the
try except Wilhelmi. Not the least charm that 10
exerts is his perfect boyishness his freedom nom
atfectatOn, and the entire enjoyment that he mas
playing He has trim. slight figure always Gao
IN black velvet Knickerbockers. and he wears aDous
his neck one OF the various orders that have Deen
conferred upon him. He has a fine, interesting face.
with clean-cut, delicate features. handsome eyes,
sensitive mouth and q broad, high forehead, Iom
which is brushed back great mass OF wavy oiack
HAIR He has a thoroughly boyish look, ana nas
bow of his age save the bright, thoughtful and IN
telligent expression of his face. Certainly no Ooy
ever gave less outward indication OF extreme pre-
cocity.