New-York tribune., 1893-12-01
VI USIC.
MIR. SIIXINSKI. PIANIST.

Mr.. Josef Slivinski pianist Of whom We have
been told several times a week during the last
two months that he is Pole, a friend of Paderew-
ski and a pupil Of Paderewskis teacher. gave his
first concert i'm America in the Concert Hall OF
the Madison Square Garden last night. All the
qualifications which we have enumerated are doubt
less greatly TO his credit yet We conceive 1t poss-
bic for a TO possess them all and still fall
short of being a great pianist. This being so, 1t
would perhaps, have been wiser II less had been
said about his nationality, his friendships and his
training and the public had been permitted TO think
of him only in his artistic capacity. Also it would
have been wiser If he had not been asked to put
two concerts into one. At haf-past 10 O'Clock he
had lust finished two-ihirds Of his programme, and
there remained Rubinstein's concerto In p minor
still to be played. The work he had accomplished
consisted in a performance of Schumanns concerto
and eleven solos by Beethoven Chopin Field.
Mendelssohn. Schubert and List little piano
forte music goes a great way on Thanksgiving
Day, and a large portion Of the audience seemed
TO have concluded that its curiosity touching ms
merits was amply satisfied. for it left the hall
without waiting for the Rubinstein concerto. The
incident was unfortunate. for 1t seemed TO Imply
criticism which we cannot believe to have beeh
intended In such trials OF endurance. however
the listener is fortunately circumstanced than
the performer, and reviewer would have TO he
endued with an abnormal capacity for enjoymentt
(not TO say endurance), and not a little want OF
consideration for the comfort OF Others, VINO wouio @
upbraid audience for being content WIN W.
hours Of music chiefly of the pianoforte variety;
Besides it IS undeniabe that the concert conveyea
the impression that its purpose was 70 snow now
long how fast and how loud Mr. Slivinski could
play. and for this again the programmes seemed
to be quite as much responsible as the performer
Concerning the nature and extent of Mr.. Slivin-
skis gifts and graces. there VIII be opportuhIaeess
TO speak with more deliberation ana fuiness
hereafter He is beyond peradventure an artist
Of high rank. He has remarkable nmolehess E
and strength OF finger: he has d fine sense Oh me
value of ryhthms; he has command OF super6,ly
sonorous tone: ne has manly ana vlflie style'
and he has musical Intelligence OF a high order;
He may also have sufficient degree OF poe pori'SSd. S
charm to make the public anxious 10 near his
readings of the many pieces In his list Dut OF
this last nights performance ara not svs oUs
yincing proof. He is not puling sehtiiheu,td
In Chopn's music. which Is a cause Tor grau,uue.
The audience which heard him was wen ape P a., 10
judge Of its merits, and IL was generous, ~ ~
applause, IL SO large portion OF II ueSlineu
20 hear all the compositions he had set uo~l,'
The reason was Obvious. and was no dsparaie-
ment OF his talents. He will play again al the
same place on Saturday afternoon. ana VIII nave
the capable help of Mr.. SeIdl and his orchestra
a. he had last night.