The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-01
MKlSCH AT THE PIANO.
me Great Conductor shows His Power
Over the Keyboard.

over the hey board.
The second Star course entertainment.
given in Infan ry Hall last evening, con-
sisted OF "A piano recital by Arthur
Nikisch, the conductor Of the Boston
symphony Orchestra. Mr.. Nikisch has
been known TO the musical public as the
leader or one OF the finest musical organi-
cations IN the world, and he now chal-
lehges attention as a concert pianist. The
program wa rs folio VS.:
rfGEca.a ana tngpe. ...".."."..,... Bach Tauslg
NNocIinnnnhhss ~ - major ...","..... 80 'Paderewski
Nocturne In y major ......... chant,
nchcfIl, Is Hat mtnor. ~
Ioioh"lse herolque, A fat...."..J
EiSinns IS hnhc:rrti ''.."'."'"'
Vase l~mpromptu, A Nat. ......... Lisz''
i"''i'h hhapsouie. ..............J
This is said TO be Mr.. Nkisch's first
recital, AT least In the Uuited States; and
those VINO are familiar with ~piHnoforte
music VIII appreciate his boldness in
piayln2 "A program made up of selections
pave constantly by all the great plan
ISIS who have visited us
The Polouaise of Chopin, for instance.
Is a veritable war-horse Of pianists. and
mas been played in this city time and
time again by such artists as Rubin-
stein, DIR. Mas, Sherwood, D'Albert,
aid humnel. The same thing may be
- "S o'her pTllcIpal nuHhoers on
the program.
Whether the musical public will ac-
cord TO the talented Boston capellmeister
the hlgh rank for which his program
may be regarded as a gauntlet thrown
may he "A question. There can be no
douot however, that the large audience
IN lniantry hail last evening enjoyed Mr..
Nlkisch's playing and recognized in him
a Well-equipped pianist. showing IA fist
rate technique, especially in chords and
octave Work, "a striking individuality in
MS conceptions of the various pieces and
a great Of color and light and
shade.
III IS not reasonable TO suppose that a
man at the head OF so larze a body as the
orchestra which Mr.. Nlkisch cJnducts
with such s%uperlative skill should be
able 10 drop the baton at a moments no.
tlce' SO 10 speak, and show the same
command or keyboard and audience
which is gained by men like Rumnel,
~ Albert an Paderewski after the con
tlnuons practice of years. Keeping this
IN view, Mr.. Nikish's attainments as a
pianist are indeed surprising. and his
versatllity worthy of all praise.
IL seems strange to the ordinary must
elan that concert pianists will play the
1isarrangenents by Tausig and List, OF
Bach's organ works. There is enough
good.and interesting music written for the
p ano TO make SUCH selections unneces-
sary. 10 the student these so called Ear
rangelnents have no doubt "A certain
value; but the public should b, spared.
III makes no diff renee who offends in
this way. The principle is bad.
Having ventilated a grievance it is
pleasant TO say that the program was
very interesting and we'll constructed.
The Etudes Symphoniques, especially
tue Finale, We're splendidly played. n
the octayes IN the Chopin polDnaise were
clearer tn IN is usual The Liszt pieces
were played with more magnetism
and snap than any other part of the
evenings playing. Those who were
familiar with D'Albert's and others
rendering OF the Valse Impromptu
thought Mr.. Nikisch's tempo too slow;
but that is a gus ion of taste.
Mr.. Niklsch was recalled after each
group of pieces aud at the close OF the
recital there was hearty applause.