El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-04-21
A MINERVA AT THE PIANO.
Miss Neatly Stevens Brilliant Piano
Recital Monday Night in JuareZ.

"A MlNChF "A n 111I l. AaANO'
Miss Neatly Stevens Brilliant Piano
Recital Monday Night in Juarez.
Miss Neatly Stevens, the pianiste,
gave piano recital Monday night at
the Juarez residence of Mr. and Mrs.
Sauer that may be considered as the
most brilliant performance of the kind
ever given in this part of the country.
The fair artistic was in Der happicst
vein, the piano was just suited for bril-
liant performance, aud the au-
dience from both sides of theriver that
filled the pleasant parlors Of the Sauer
residence were heart and soul WITH the
performer. The instrument is Steck
Baby grand, selected by Mr.. Steck
himself before his death, from dozen
of his choicest pianos of the same
class, for Mrs. Sauer, SO Miss Stevens
was ''at home" with it, and found it a
source.of inspiration to her, as her pre-
sentation of the program showed:
The artistic gave the following choice
and very classical program: Gavotts
major, Beethoven; Nocturne in G sharp
minor, Chopin; Etude in G minor,
Chopin; Baccarole in A minor, Mosz-
kowski; Caprice Espagnole, opus 81,
Moszkowski, aud dedicated to Mis-.
Stevens by the composer; three music
al character sketches (A) Scarf Dance,
(B) La Lisjonera, (C) La Zingara
Chaminade; Humoresque, Kreoger;
Valse Caprice, Rubinstein; Etude
Barrili; Humoresque, Bird: Loves
Dreaman encore: two prescriptions
by List; .Intermezzo, Won Beulow; Des
Attends, Schumann.
To the above program were
added in the way of relief for Miss
Stevens, q soprano solo, Autumn
Story" by Mrs. w. w. Rose, with Mrs.
Z. G. Roberts as accompanies; also, a
violin solo, Moszkowski's La Serenata
upheld the reputation she has hither-
to sustained, that of being one Of the
greatest of women pianists. She show
ed herself not only List player,
which calls at times for the most mas
sive of dyuamical effort in tum ultuous,
yet strictly harmonious and impress
sive crashing of magnificent chords
sometimes for the length of the key
board; but also in the quieter and more
subdued schools of performance with
soft lyric expression and a delicate
succession of legatos suggestive of the
refined lights and shadows in land
scape scene by some famous painter.
Miss Stevens is great in staccato and
pizzicato; but seems equally great in
legato expression as her work in the
NOcturne and more subdued compost
lions evidenced. This facile adoption
to both the lyric and the dramatic, the
robusto, was made the more artistic
and graced as it were. by the fair per-
formers equally faeile treatment of all
the diversities of rymth known to the
more difficult phases OF score, includ-
ing lightning changes in tempo, ford
cadenzas, 'pearhug arpeggios" phras-
ings and independent finger movements
demanding nerve, power, and COM
prehension of the most intricate forms
of expression and Interpretation.
Miss Stevens made a speciality of left
hand work that would have delighted
Godowski, that great apostle of left
hand work, could he have been pre-
sent. This part of the performance
was marvellous; and in fact the same
might be said of her wrist staccato;
and the most complicated movements
and the most prolonged effort appeared
to have no terrors for her. Mss Stew
ems is graceful player; she also under
stands what tone painting means, so
that her audiences very cultivated
one by the way, easily found eompar,,
isons between the lights and shades of
piano tones and the arrangement of
Corresponding lights and shades upon
the canvas. Every work of
the great masters appeals to
certain sentiments, feelings, pas
sions, or groups of the same; and the
performer of Wednesday was happy in
depicting, phrasing these on the piano
so that her audience could readily en-
ter in to the spirit of the composition,
and partake with her the enthusiasm
and inspiration that seemed to actuate
her efforts. Yes. it was a great treat,
and Miss Stevens can continue her
journey today eastward with the salts
faction Of knowing that she has left in
Ell Paso not few friends and admirers
whose love of the divine art she has
fired into greater enthusiasm than ever
by her visit here. She left yesterday
points along the line of that road where
she will further concertize. She has
enjoyed her rest in this city very
much, and feels ready now for renew
ed effort along the line Of higher
musical endeavOr. In closing, attention
may be well called to the fact that the
entire piano program was given with
out score or memorandum OF any
kind being laid before the performer.
Every bar had been memorized, and
was played without hesitancy.
The solo by Mrs. w. w. Rose was
one of that lady's most enjoyable eff
forts. She sang in beautiful, clear,
strong and melodious tone that was
highly gratifying to her listeners.
Then the violin solo by Herr Plesseug
was rich in sympathetic utterance and
happy in prasing and general interpre-
tation. Both the vocal and violin
numbers were deservedly well receiv-
ed.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sauer did everything
possible to make it pleasant for those
present, Eleppapt lemonade WAS serv-
ed in dainty glass ware, and every body
m ade'to feel at home. 1t was indeed a
cosy social occasion as we'll as marked
occasion in local musical experience
Through the courtesy of the street rail-
way management car was in readiness
to carry the Ell Paso part of the au-
dience home.
Holden's ositive Pile Cure