St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-19
AT THE THEATERS.

II is neeuleSS TO say that an audience repre-
senting much of the musical culture of the
city greeted the famous artist. 1t cannot be
said, however, that it was as large as the
rare quality Of M. Paderewski's achievements
merited. The rear rows of the parquette cir
Gle contained several conspicuously vacant
chairs, and scarcely half of the proscenium
boxes were occupied. Those devotees of
music who did not attend the recital simply
missed the opportunity of hearing the great
est pianist in the world.
That PaderewskI bears this lofty distinc-
ton cannot be doubted in the light of the
opinion of the ablest musical critics of the
old and the new world. Reginald de Koven,
the composer, once characterized Paderewski
as 'the Napoleon Of the piano forte" 1t is
difficult to conceive who can deny him this
sovereign title. Surely such power and brill
fancy, such intensity and sentiment such
breadth and delicacy as characterize the play
ing Of this genius have never been united in
any of the great pianists heretofore heard
here. When one hears a grand artist draw
forth rich and heavenly tones from a musical
instrument, the spontaneous exclamation OF
praise Is: "Why, he makes it fairly speak. u
This trite expression is Inadequate to de-
scribe the sublime eloquence OF the
piano forte under the magic touch
of Paderewski. piano in a large hall
or theater gives but cold response to the
efforts Of lesser artists. yet there is much
music, excellent voice. in this instrument.
that like the water from the rock which
Moses smote, will pour forth in beautiful
and refreshing fountain at the command of
the master. No word more fully character
ICES than master" His command over the
pianoforte is absolute. In response to his
bidding 1t "speaks universal language"
Like nature, too, it sounds the deepest thun-
dor f6a How
voices chime in with their pretty choruses,
melting away in the distance. until no sound
save that of the rippling brook disturbs the
air. '"The rest is silence" Indeed, the
last note Of tender theme is but breath,
so delicate and sympathetic is the touch
Of this wonderful man.
When NJ. Paderewski walked forth from
the wings to play his first number, the au-
dience beheld a slender man of medium
height pale countenance, aquiline features
and a well-shaped head crowned with a
profusion of fluffy hair Of auburn tint.
Standing by the side Of the high-backed and
cushioned piano-stool, Paderewsk acknowl-
edged the welcoming applause with three
stiff bows. Without further ado, he sat
him down, ran his fingers over the keyboard
once or twice, and then sounded the first
note Of Beethoven's G major sonata.
During the first half of this composition the
audience seemed to be more absorbed in study
ing Paderewski rather than his performance.
This was but natural. The people were
watching his department at the piano. They
were waiting until he reached the stormy and
dramatic passages to see how he would carry
himself. Those, if any, who looked for eX-
travagant motions Of the head and body and
an athletic exhibition were disappointed.
For M. Paderewski's athletic accomplish
In executing the most difficult movements and
exacting passages there was no swaying of
the body to and fro, no distracting motion of
the head in fact, no ostentatious fourishes of
any kind whatsoever. Considering the phys-
cal effort demanded of him. he maintained
remarkable repose and dignity of demeanor.
His hands alone were in action, and such
rapid action in the allegro passages. 1t is a
waste OF words to attempt a description of
PaderewskPs Interpretation of the Beethoven
Sonata the fantasie on Mendelssohn's Wed
ding March," Chopin's nocturnes, waltzes
and etudes, and LISTS Hungarian RHAPSODY
No. 2. Paderewski's technical mastery ia
nothing short of marvellous. His touch is as
nrm as rock and as soft as velvet Sim
cerlty, breadth and repose, intensity. deli
cacy and poetry are all shining qualities
tnat illuminate and inspire his playing. His
Interpretation Of Chopin's nocturne G. major
was marked by refined sentiment. and the
most exquisite fancy. The two etudes by
Chopin, Nos. and 9. were revelations Of
technical skill. and the Chopin waltzes fairly
dlzzied the heads of all. One of the sweetest
NUMBERS contributed by the pianist was the
'Minuet, op. Ia, his own welI-known cornno.
sition In response to an enthusiastic encore
he repeated it, as he did a number of other SO.
lectlons. But the two grandest achievements
were the fantase on the wedding march
which was so brilliantly interpreted that the
pianist was interrupted with applause while
playing, and the Hungarian Rhapsody which
was rendered with thrilling effect. This last
number closed the programme but the people
wanted more, whereupon Paderewski gener-
ously added to the programme dashing ma.
zurka that set the blood a tingiing in every
human system in the house. The recital over
Paderewskfs name was on the lips of every
body from the time they started to leave the
theater until they reached home
Paderewski will give a special matinee re-
cital at the Metropolitan opera house, Mime
apolis, this afternoon at o'clock The pro-
gramme to be given is entirely different from
that which Mr.. Paderewski rendered at the
Lyceum Tuesday evening, at the Metropoli-
tan, this city, last night. The prices have also
seats selling at $3.50, the parquet circle and
first eight rows balcony 50, and the rear section
of the balcony $3.50. The price of the upper
gallery was placed at 81, and all the seats were
disposed Of before noon yesterday. The pro-
gramme is follows:
Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue. .... Bach
Serena; Serenade p "Hark Hark the Iart. Beethoven
Soiree de Vienne; Erlking Schubert Iiszt
Nccturne, B major op. 81, No. /; So
nata B hat minor, op. 80, with fu-
neral neral march sht B.erceuse, oop. s.; Ma
Valse, c sharp minor, op. Ga, No. g. Chopin
Legende, A major. or............... Paderewski
Spinning Song, Flying Dutchman"-
Wagner-Liszt
Rhapsodie, Hongrose, No. 10. List
This special concert at the Metropolitan will
be Mr.. Paderewskis last appearance in the
state of Minnesota the present season.
Tonight at the Metropolitan opera house
Miss Marie Wainwright will begin an engage
ment of three nights and Saturday matinee
in her new play, Daughters of Eve writ
ten expressly for her by A. E. Lancaster and
Julian Julian Magn9s. agin Daughters Of Eve" is a
is not intricate or involved. the story is said
to be vivid and the play repete with strong
situations. Miss Wainwright will repeat
night she will appear in The Love Chase, ''
and for the Saturday matinee she will pre-
sent Camille"
"The Goth Century Girl'' continues to do
big business at the Grand where the
bright satire is now playing. There are any
amount Of novel features to be seen in the
performance. Manager Hallen has staged the
production with lavish hand, and employed
unusually fine cast, who give a funny
and spirited entertainment. Both perform
ances yesterday were we'll attended.
SOME THINGS Personal.