Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-19
THE MUSICAL SEASON
1t Has Commenced Most Brilliantly in New
York
Secret of Paderewskrs Hold Upon His
Audiences-The OPERATIVE
Ari0n Concert.


NEW YORK, December Is. 1899.
When Paderewski comes to town all the
other pianists leave. Pachman has already
started across the continent; Hamburg,
the muscular young Siegfried, made his last
appearance here for some time last night,
and the rest have either given up coming
or are scattered elsewhere. Paderewski
gave his second recital Saturday afternoon
in Carnegie Hall before an audience num-
berng probably 1900, and calculated to
represent over 5000. a grand piano alone
occupied the stage, and presently the sole
performer appeared, who was, unassisted,
to hold the audience spellbound for over
two hours. 1t needed but few minutes to
weave the spell, and then every one sat in
rapt attention until he finished His program
included Brahms, Beethoven Schumann.
Chopin, Rubinstein and Liszt-sureIy a
wide enough range to test the comprehen-
sion of any player; yet in all of these his
pre-eminent genius was plainly shown
After the tension of listening is over you
ask what are the sources of his power
Why is it that he can arouse an intensity
OF enthusiasm experienced, even stated,
listeners and rea. interest in piano playing
among the unmusical which not one of the
other pianistic visitors, talented though
they are, can begin to excite? There are
many reasons to be assigned, but one is
most obvious-his absolute understanding
or the composers Utmost musical thoughts
and his complete ability to portray them
through his entire mastery of the technical
possibilities of the piano. Surely no work
more capricious more Illustrative of the
varying intensities of mood of a great
musical genius can be found than Schu-
mann's Carnival" Here he made a set
OF pictures of what he saw and what he
tnougnt.au MS most intimate reflections
on carnival day; the glittering outward
show, the somber undercurrent of varied
human life. And as the composer painted if
SO Paderewski disclosed it to his audience
His cornpleteSt enchantment his means of
producing the greatest personal triumph in
his rejecting auditors was because he put
the composer first, and never in the least
degree obtruded Paderewsk and his ac-
compiishments on his hearers His lovely
singing tone, the one thing needful in piano
playing; his use of the pedals; his varieties
OF touch; his massive fortes; his whisper-
ing pianisSimos-in short, his entire ma ster-
~ technique, to which all difficulties seem
easy, are at the service of the composers,
that their thoughts may most clearly and
most POLITICALLY reach the hearers ears
II is noble triumph of the highest art
Nothing but the opera can compete with
PadereWsk in interest, and that begins to-
t.n me Improvements for the week,
hauser,' Faust and '1.ohengrin," do not
indicate any revolutionary purposes on the
part of the management. The personal in
terest is in the temperance of Calve in
carmen and 1t is rumored with some
changes in her conception of the part-and
the first appearance in New York of Al
varez. the great French tenor. The old
favorites. except Jean de Reszke are all
there-Nordica. Games. Schumann- Heink
Saieza, Van Dyck, Plancon and Eduard de
Reszke The advance subscription is the
largest ever known, the entire first floor
Is sold out for the season, and the pros
pect Of Jean de Reszke will only come
later) Is for the most brilliant opera season
New York has ever known.
The Arion Society gave its second con-
cert of the season for members only in It's
elegant club house last night The members
have an auditorium seating about LOCO. 4
male chorus of 100. and import their own
conductor, Herr Julius I.orenz, from Ger
many, to take charge of their musical In
terests. The voices are of fine quality and
thorough training has resulted in great eff