The Portland daily press., 1892-04-29
MUSIC. AND DRAMA.
D,Albert.

Portland few weeks ago was
charmed by Paderewski. Last night
she was delighted with D'Albert The
appearance of two planists of the highest
rank in the same season in small city
OF this size is exceptional, and it is to
Mr.. Stockbridge the thanks of the pub
lie are due for the opportunity. "Fresh-
ness, vitality and sincerity are the three
great points in D'Albert's playing" At
times his magnetic power and at others
his exquisite delicacy are remarkable.
Last evening his programme embraced
Bach's prelude and fugue in D major;
Beethoven's sonata, G major, opus So; a
group of six compositions by Chopin;
Rubinstein's bdrcaroue in A minor; and
the Strauss ausig waltz ''Man tebt nur
ei1onool.n
1t will be seen from this programme
that it was in the first two numbers the
opportunity was afforded to hear DIAL
bert at his best. The fugue is especially
adapted to display the virtuosity of the
pianist It is work of exceeding bril-
liancy and showed the enormous staying
power Of D'Albert, and his tremendous
technique. But it was in the Beethoven
sonata that the artist captivated and en-
thralled his hearers. In it he showed all
the depth of thought and sympathy of
feeling of which it is capable. 1t has
been claimed for him that he is the
greatest living exponent of Beethoven
and we must admit his reading was in
stinct with vitality and permea ted with
the highest intelligence. Especially did
he deserve the soubriquet he has OBJ
tanned of s'little giant in the rendering
OF the f1atrodazione rondo. 1t was SUI
perb and he reused the audience to great
enthusiasm.
AS performer of Chopin's beautiful
dream pictures we must confess that to
our taste this artist does not charm like
Paderewski. His rendering of the
berceuse was admirable and brought a
storm of applause, and the valse was re-
ceived equally well. But that magnif
cent tone, that liquid touch that Pader-
ewski possesses were too recent in the
remembrance to be easily forgotten.
His rendering of the last i'm
promptu, however, was magnificent
in its force and power. 1t was like the
resistless, onward sweep of mighty
army The audience broke forth in
whirlwind of applause, and the persist
ent encore produced LISTS Uatse ins-
promptu The melody of the Rubin
stein barcaroHe was delicious, and the
Interpretation of the number showed
D'Albert's mastery of the key board.
The concert fifty closed with the Strauss
Tausig waltz
What D. Albert lacks is the poesy of
Paderewski. Te his own wonderful
technique if he had joined that sensuous
charm, that grace of action, that thor
ough absorption of himself in his piano,
that marks the Polish player, we should
have combination that would be as near
perfect as such things can be in thi
world.
Stockbridge Entertainments.
Primrose & West will give matinee
for ladies and children May 7th. They
will also be at City Hall May 9th, Arbor
Day, and Saturday evening. They will
bring an orchestra, brass band, vocal
quartette, fine soloists and a host of
burnt cork artists
Besides his band of so musicians and
10 instrumental soloists, Nh. Gilmore
will have the following Eoealists with
him May 14th: Miss Emma Schneelock,