The herald., 1896-12-27

geles, but in the light of late experien.
ces it will be bold manager who brings
MIN here. But it is very probable thai
Mr.. Rosenthal will spend some time ir
Southern California for the benefit oi
his health.
E. Irenaeus Stevenson, the musical
critic Of Harper's Weekly, devoted two
columns to Rosenthal in recent issue OF
that paper, in which he said:
An excited Italian once swore that
he saw Satan standing behind Paga-
mini to guide his bow through superhu-
man difficulties Of violinism. Vague ideas
of this kind we'll may cross the imagi-
nation of the hearer of Rosenthal when
this comfortable-lookin stolid, sur
passing demoniac conquerer of the key
board, this virtuoso of virtuoisi, is busy
before us with Ludwig Schytte's Con-
certo in C-sharp minor-with his own
study Of Chopins waltz in D-flat major
where thirds and sixths and octaves
take the place of single notes, and the
second subject of the pretty triie Is
turned to a contrapuntal terror-with
the gossamer Strauss waltz -potpourri
aforesaid, beyond which can no human
hands go, as far as concerns difficulty
and the effect of eight hands, not two
He is mucian of superior in
tellectuality; in much he is one of due
ScHtlHicAt, anu oil interpreter DIS well
as an executant. Few pianists play
Mozart more purely and with more OF
what the Germans call innig quality. He
is a serious and interesting Beethoven
ist. He has great tone-though some
how that element is not essentially mov-
ing. In the more modern and romantic
composers he shows high appreciative-
ness. But it is eminently in the demesne
of the great technicists in piano. forte
<,tk IL.
summate deXterity is an integral bust
ness, that Rosenthal impresses.''
And another more enthusiastic, if less
discriminating, critic writes
IAN unassuming modest little man
took his seat at the piano. At the end of
the first movement of the Schytte con-
certo l knew that had never heard his
equal as far as technique is concerned
then surprise followed upon surprise
Cne impossibility succeeded another--all
without the least apparent effort on the
part of the performer. The elimination
was the rendering of Liszt's tarantella
from Masaniello. Rosenthars control
over his instrument is perfect his abso-
lutte certainty astounding, his strength
colossal In the heaviest fortissimo he
never hammered; in the softest pianis-
simo each note came out distinct. The
program had evidently been chosen to
display the artists phenomenal tech
nique. The program annouced for his
recitals will leave no doubt whether this
wizard has as much soul as technique. If
this be the case. Rosenthal is not only
the greatest pianist living. but will even
rank with Liszt and Tausig. His unfail-
ing certainty and accuracy of detail al
ready establish his superiority over
Rubenstein. Even now there is no doubt
that Rosenthal is the greatest pianist
ever heard in America"
The eastern musical papers "have IL
in" for our California lark, Ellen Beach
Yaw, because she has ceased to adver-
tise extensively in their columns. The
Musical Courier is after a little bill OF
over $1,000 against Miss Yaw for adver-
tising, and now entirely ignores her
The Musical Age is foolish enough to be
as spiteful as follows:
To those who have been afflicted by
the so-called vocalism of Miss Ellen
Beach Yaw, it would be most entertain
ing to visit the Herald Square theater
and hear Miss Josephine Hall sing the
popular melody, Sister Mary Jane $
Top Note Miss Hall deserves special
credit for giving her audience one of the
best caricature creations that have been
witnessed on the New York stage in
many day."
The program of the choir of the First
Presbyterian church this morning Will