Omaha daily bee., 1895-06-09
lSfrE Ar THE ROTD,

Truly there was a great artist amongst us
at Boyd's last night. No matter from what
standard of excellence he may be judged, or
from what standard point of criticism, com,
parative or otherwise Mr.. Eugene Ysaye the
Belgian vlrtuoso. as an artist must be ac-
counted one Of the masterfu spirits Of his
time. The violin in his hands almost becomes
sentient being, so much Of soul is vouch-
safed 1t, and so wonderful is II played upon
by the artist, who, but little while ago, was
known only to travelled foreigners, and these
in very small numbers. Now the world Is
talking about him and marveling much at
the greatness Of this singer on the violin.
His playing has every good quality that
makes II beautiful and loveabe to the lis
tener. His tones are pure liquid in quality
with a golden finish that appeal to the auditor
who breathless sits in expectancy for the new
flights along the finger board which are sure
to come, and which seem fuller, Completer
than those preceding. No matter how COM
plicated are the rythmical figures, they are
but Insignificant barriers erected by the great
ones Of earth for this Titan to encompass
and to claim as his own. In addition to the
brlliancy and transparency forever seen, his
tones never suggest Curtalment or small
ness, even though muted or stopped down
They are entirely adequate, and with the
piano laundering out a bravura passage, the
violin in Gsaye's hands accepts the lingering
tone Of the orchestra substitute, and alone
takes up the theme even on a single string
the audience forgetting entirely in the Won
derutl quality of the violin string the clash
of the piano wires but a moment before This
is art, and its eXemplifcation as seen last
night at Boyds by an audience large, in
tensely enthusiastic and representative in
character.
NJ Ysaye possesses in remarkable degree
the secret of the bel canto. He has a superb
staccato particularly dscernibe in the down
bow and so sure is his ntonation that one
sits and listens entranced to the master. who
more than justified all the laudatory utter
ances which the west, as well as east, have
showered upon him. In the delicacy and fine
shading Of his notes, he suggests femininity,
but coupled with this refn sment of expression
was forceful strength intensely masculine,
and so he played upon the senses as he
willed, never descending to the theatrc, al
ways the artist imbued with profound love
| for those whose compositions he chose to
make known to his public. And these COM
| positions ranged from Grieg to Saint Saens,
from Sarasate, his only great rival, to the
! greatest of all tone poets, Richard Wagner
The Grieg number was brilliantly played
with an artistic finish that won for the
vrtuoso instantaneous favor. Particularly
was he heard at his very best in the allegro
| tranquilo blending finely with the allegro an
| imato, the central theme being as predom-
| nant throughout as IL two complete pictures
were being exposed on the same canvas, one
minor concerto, by Saint Scans, was a revela-
| tion to the audience, a well spring Of Joy
| to the violinists, and there were many in front
who heard him. Had this Belgian searched
| through the entire world of violin music he
could not have found two nober works for
| Interpretation than the ones referred to. A
| Bach and Wagner number came next, "Paise-
| fol- being played with consummate art, and
| so enthusiastic was the audience that Ysaye
granted the demand by playing the "Meister-
singer Won Numberg," by Wagner para
phrase by A. Wilhelmj. Herein were dis
played the leading motives Of the opera
singly and in combination with picturesque
effect and striking art so wonderfully wrought
out in major and minor chords by Wagner.
Ysaye seemed to breathe the influences sur
sounding Wagner when writing this work
and he played the number as only the true
artist can. For his closing he gave the
sprightly composition by Sarasate, "Ziguener
| Wessn."
But the honors were not all Ysaye's
| by any means. A better accomp2nist than
NJ Lachaume has not been heard in Omaha
| He is a finished pianist, in sympathy with
the violin and the virtuoso, end the audience
was not slow to accord the pianist warm ap-
plause. His soil were splenddly played
showing fine and broad technique, the whole
concert being in consequence, educational tc
|