The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-12
PADEREWSKPS RECITAL.
Indianapolis People Hear the Great
Musician with Delight.


Musician with Delight.
The musician and the man of affairs, the
woman who dabbles in literature and sthe
ethereal creature whose soul harmonizes
with Schumann's "Carnaval," the lawyer
the student and the poet, the pretty blonde
now struggling with Gottschalks Last
Hope" and the elderly matron whose men,
Dry of 'Traumerei'' days whets her musi-
cal appetite-all these and others touched
elbows at Paderewskrs recital at Eng
lish's last night Some people who couldn't
tell Chopin nocturne from a Brahm sym
phony, perhaps not even a German ballad
from the Sac Waltz" heard the great
Polish performer and left the theater with
out knowing what it was all about One
could see it in their faces and hear it in
their conversation afterwards. Those filled
with rapture came out with eyes glistening
and fearful. In front and behind them
were men with dull faces or women looking
as serious as If they had been listening to
a lecture on diatoms. There was no STAN
pede for the stage. no climbing over the
orchestra rail by music-maddened idolaters
to pet and caress the great Paderewski; in
fact, the sensational feature of the players
concerts, which one reads about, did not
materialze. Had some one started it, there
is no telling what might have been the
result. Until the last number of the pro-
gramme, which has been called the Titanic
Twelfth Hungarian Rhapsody, no sign had
been given by the audience that it was
more than ordinarily affected. But after
three recalls, each answered only by three
Paderewski bows the people stood up and
shouted and stamped until English's Thea
ter echoed like when Schumacher put Hale's
shoulders on the mat. This was the. music
which Paderewski had been waiting two
hours to hear and he stepped lightly from
glanced questioningly toward the piano.
Yes, yes, that was what they meant. The
uproar could not be misinterpreted. Through
the shadows on the half-darkened stage
he felt his way to the instrument and
played whsr some declared was an impro-
visation on the theme of his own "MeiOdie-
OPP. 49, but which others thought partOok of
the character of one of Chopin's Polish
songs which List arranged for the piano.
But no matter, it was something and those
who had shouted loudest went home con-
WINGED that they had really experienced the
Paderewski sensation as far as the deco
rous Indianapolis surroundings would per-
NIT.
The opening number on the programme,
Beethoven's 'Sonato, OPP. S. was not we'll
appreciated, although its slow movement
and mastery execution, bringing forth the
beauty of tone that appeals to musicians
of all grades. should have made 1t popular.
The Mendelssohn songs that followed. es-
pecially the spinning song, being more Ia
miiar resulted in an outburst OF applause
that was hearty and clearly appreciative.
Then the great performer plunged into the the
ends with the victorious march of the
Philstines Even without deep knowledge of
music a mixed audience can feel this music
when interpreted in the thrilling, poetical
fashion of Paderewski and there was re-
call.
Perhaps not until the Chopin selections,
did the audience begin to feel really COM
Portable. All had thoroughly accustomed
themselves TO the music; Their attention
slender.
misunderstanding master at the keys. His
famous hair had become wierdly harmonic
Gus with the melodies The unlighted stage
on which he insists with the unerring SYM
bolism of continental gen!uses, by this time
had helped to hypnotic the devotees, and
they felt, unconsciously. that the dim shad-
ows which enveloped the strange figure on
the stage like man in a fog. had rolled out
over the auditorium and now embraced the
entire audience. At first Paderewski had
seemed to be great distance away. Now
all were in the same atmosphere, the same
room, crowded around the instrument, as ii
were. Thus IT was when the Chopin music
came. The different numbers were warmly
appreciated and henceforth, 1t is safe to
say Chopin will be played by ten people
where only one played him before. The ten
der "Melodie," Paderewskfs own compost
ton, came next, and when IL was over the
applause was SO long that the slight man
stood up and bowed three times. and then
List ''Rhapsodie." powerfully played. was
the closing number. The technical skill with
which this was rendered is beyond the INTEL
pid tone, the modulat.ons, the thrilling or
chestra effects so difficult and so rare in
a single instrument. were Enthusiastically APP
to the critical ears OF the audience.
Great is Paderewski. How truly great
those who were there will tell those who
Paderewskis share of the receipts was
nearly 81 900. The galleries were filled. but
the downstairs part of the house was lone