Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-02-17
THE JOsEFFY CONCERT.

The Dramatic and the Concert stage.
The citizens of New Haven had an oppor-
tunity last night to enjoy two entertainments
of totally diversified nature. At Carll's
Opera House Mr.. Edwin Booth appeared in
drama, while at the Atheneum Mr.. Joseffy
| performed on the piano. Mr.. Booth achieved
his success with the assistance of his fellow
actors. They all represented dramatically
before our view scenes and incidents of hu
man life and thus succeeded in engaging the
attention of the audience.
The drama in it's greatest perfection is de-
pendent on the cooperation of ali the fine
arts. 1t requires the architectural beauty of
the temple of art, the plastic art, painting,
poetry and even music. The recital merely
of the work of the poet without the broad
stage, decorations, costumes and music be-
tween the acts would be barren perform
ance and would not excite the imagination OF
| the listener. The greatness of the actor does
not consist in his excellent defamation only
He must call to his aid the plastic art in Or
| der to personify and represent incidents
| which dazzle the eye and crafty the ear.
| Natures rights have to give way to artificial
| processes, when even the actors face is dis
guised. The success of the drama therefore
depends on the completeness of all the other
| fine arts and can only move by its power
when perfect in all it's branches.
The performance of Josefy at the Athe-
neum is of an entirely different character.
Here we find no broad stage on which the
play is acted. Only standing room for one
instrument is required, decorations are total
ly out of place The artist himself must not
disguise himself He must appear naturally.
In fact the costume of the performer is of no
consequence. No poem text book is
quired. To the art work of Joseffy all those
concomitants which are necessary to the sue
cess of Booth would be injurious. The
listener comes to the concert with one OBJ
iect, that is to hear the artist play on his in
strument While it is the object ofthe
drama to portray on the stage the actions and
deeds of men and women and to represent to
US the histories of the past and present, and
thereby dealing with the outer world only,
Joseffys work appeals to the highest emo
tions of our soul life and thus affects our in
her world.
This is the explanation for the devout at
tention with which the audience listened to
the performance of Josefy. Their minds
thoughts were absorbed into another world
where they worshipped with the high priest
at the shrine of his art temple. In per-
Torrance of this kind there is no necessity
for any delusion anything artificial. Nature
here reigns supreme and no disguise can
enter the sanctum of pure and true art.
Last nights programme was arranged in
chronological order It commenced with an
old fashioned overture by Bach, and was fol-
lowed by Gluck's Arieta and sonata by
Beethoven He tarried not long in the anti
quarian realms of the old classics, but at
once attacked Schumann's poetical Warum
Toccata and the popular Traunierei, until he
drank at his own fresh spring and brought
US to light-hearted Vienna's musician. Doleful
Chopin, the everlasting friend of every
pianist possessing a vivid Imagination,
was beautifully recited to us, and
when Pagan1ni's Campanella was brought
forth in Master LISTS dressing, we were re-
minded that both are the founders of modern
nirtuosity on violin and piano. The last
section of the programme consisted of two
compositions of the concert-giver and of the
Spinning Song of tender MendnBsohn and
fantasia on his Midsummer Nights Dream.
Mr.. Joseffy played with the skill of great
pianist, with technique which can hardly be
attained by natural practice and IN his con-
ception of delivery he met our fullest appre
citation. The audience were all delighted
and unanimously expressed wish to hear
him again.
The piano used by Joseffy was one of Stein
ways concert grand, and much of his success
is due to this magnificent instrument. Its
tone rang out with clearness and its re
sonance soothed the ear. 1t is wonderful to
conceive an action capable of producing such
a powerful effect, and at the same time ton
ing down tho great power of the musical |
giant. The sustaining quality and the |
variety of tone and color which |
were noticeable in some of |
the pieces played are special qualifications |
of he mis- Str n+11ra
perfection of the instrument used enabled |
JeseffJ to carry through without assistance a |
programme of such magnitude, and when the |
concert was over we paid our admiration to |
the skill and endurance of the great pianist |
and the perfection of his beloved grand piano |