New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-18
MUSIC.
Mr.. VLADIMIR DE PAcHMASN's CONCERT.

MIR VLADIMIR DE PAcHMANNs CONCERT.
MT Vladimir de Pachmann took an early oppor-
'uhity at his concert IN Mendelssohn Hall las,
evening OF opening the musical season this year
anticipating thus several other distinguished plan
ISIS who Will help 10 Ill the with conflicting
interests He thus made sure OF an audience and
Kind OF attention that might not have been forth
coming later in the rush OF music that Is ,mpend-
ing II Is well on several accounts that he did so.
MT dc Pachmann = an artist OF supere tive
powers within the strongly marked limitations tha;
MS Individuality sets up for him His revelation
or the beauty that belongs TO the higher walks Of
panoforte playing is unlike that OF any other per-
former now 10 be heard. His Illumination Of the
music that comes under the witchery OF his fingers
Is full Of lights md shadows Of It's own and In
the field that he has appropriated TO himself he IS
an absolute master. That field is generally &C.
knowiedged to be Chopin's music. in which Mr.. de
Paohmann has .ong been known as specialist
His programme last night and his announcement
for next Saturday indicate that he Is seeking to
give his powers ampler play in music Of a differ
ent spirit. but hts attempts In this line did not
bear very promising fruit.
MI de Pachmann has played Weber's Sonata in
fat before in New-York. bu, he has apparently
modified his reading OF Il 10 a considerable degree
he TOOK It In moderate. almost a deliberate
tempo all through that sacrificed much OF the
brilliant kniehtly. sometimes famboyant swing OF
the music Yet in It's way. and granting the rele
vance Of the mood IN which Mr.. de Pachmann took
IT, his playing very beautiful and showed in
their best Hight some Of the qualities that irrad-
ated most OF what he did last evening II was ex-
qulste In quality OF tone and in the subtlety and
variety OF color that he got within the narrow
range OF dynamic power that he uses; in the deli
cacy and distnctness Of his half lights and shad-
o"s. in the unfaiing clearness and articulation Of
every middle voice and the nice adjustment Of
parts. His pearling runs and fluent arpeggios are
as captivating as ever. The Sonata however. as a
whole. lacked the distinctive spirit that belongs 10
It. Its somewhat old-fashioned matter needs a
more incisive treatment.
Mr.. de Pschmann's Chopin playing IL still his
chief merit for which many things are 70 be for
given him Il reached It's height in the first num-
Der from that composers works that appeared on
the programme the Second Impromptu. The mean
ing OF this composition could be eloquently
expressed. It's color more accurately reproduced
somewhat sober. but rich in significant nuance in
delicate tint!ngs The three preludes and the three
etudes were equally effective in different manner
the last OF the etudes. in the double thirds. being
one OF Mr.. de Pachmann's most ravishing achieve
fnents in the way OF polish and refinement OF tech
nique In the more muscular music OF Schumann
the artist Is less at home. though O. the
pieces ne played such as the 'Vogel ais Prophet"
and the "Abschied" admit OF being viewed through
his medium with delightful effect. So. too does
Mendelssohns ''Rondo Caprccoso" though some
OF the liberties taken with the tempo would doubt
less have been far from winning that masters ap-
probation.
The audience an overlooking one. that took
delight IN the more obviously agreeable features OF
Mr.. de Pachmann's playing. and prepared 10
encourage and be amused AZ his eccentricities Of
facial play and gesture. But Il is pleasant 70 say
that ne INDUCED In much less Of this sort OF child
ishness than In gone by. and the possibility
Of nationally enjoying the excellences OF his per-
Torrance were by much increased