The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-08
This Evenings Concert.

The opportunity which will. be af-
dents and admirers of good music
to hear Martinus Sieveking, the
Dutch pianist, is one that they should
not permit to be neglected When this
great Yrtuoso first appeared before
the people of Scranton some months
ago, he was welcomed by a select
and delighted audience, but not by
the number of auditors which his mer-
its as an artist deserved. At that
time, it is true, he was not nearly
so well known to the great multitude
of Americans as We're such thoroughly
advertised pianists as Paderewski,
for Instance, or ROsenthal. But in
Scranton, at least, this excuse can
not hereafter be offered. The extra
ordinary quality of his achievements,
as made known through his introduc-
tory visit, has been thoroughly dis
cussed among all in this city who
take interest in such things, and Mr.
Sieveking will return, star of meas
ured radiance.
SieVekngs relative position among
the great pianists of his time, but it
is conceded that he must be included
IN any group, however restricted,
which represents the pinnacle Of pres
ent day achievement on the piano.
forte. Perhaps not by natural en-
dowment the equal of the seemingly
Ca IA la lit
be less an absolute master of tech
nique than the incredibly deXtrous
Rosenthal, he is nevertheless an art
list whose playing is superior to that
OF either for students of the piano,
since it more fairly gauges the COM
poser's meaning and represents a
facility of manipulation which is
more nearly within their own reach.
The student who hears Paderewski
is likely TO be swept away from all
chance to observe the mans manner
OF producing his inspired effects, and
the student who sits within sound of
Rosenthals electric technique is in
peril of being astounded into utter dis
couragement at his own manual aWk-
Wardness. In other words. each of
these marvellous Virtuosi represents an
extreme in pianufurte playing-Pader-
eWski, the extreme of temperament
Rosenthal, the very last limit of tech
nical eXpertness Between these ex-
tremes stands the young man Sieve
king-more loyal than either to the
composer in hand and showing an
artistic personality saner and more
evenly balanced.
An evening of SieVeking means an
evening Of mastery Interpretation of
the recognized composers by a player
who brings from the piano its entire
capabilities as required by the score
before him, and who does not seek
to project his own personality upon
his auditors in such manner as might
SAVIOR of presumption. He is indi-
Vidual in a legitimate manner: YOU
viii especially hear in his playing q
certain lyric quality that is peculiar
to 1t, and you will marvel that the
piano can be made to sound so like
human voice. Again, if you are a
student of music with head full OF
classifcatIons and labels, you will fine
a. Hollander who plays according tC
no school in the catalogue, least OF
all the Dutch, but is nationally eclec.
tic TO fit the circumstances. And fin.
ally, if you are just a plain person
with taste for any delight that come.
along you will experience in the worl
of this artist a pleasure such as MAY
not come within reach again fol
years.
The educated portion of this com,
munity owes to Mrs, Balentine a deb
Of gratitude for enabling it to re,
trieve its error of omission upon the
occasion of the first Sieveking concert
We truS. that her confidence in thC