The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-25
~THE PLAYS
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Joseph H. Denck, the phenomenal piano
player, was perhaps never in better form
than he was last night at Seals hall. His
audience was large and representative.
Miss Houston, the popular contralto was
on the bill for two songs, but she was i'll
and could not leave her room. Up to a late
hour in the afternoon she had hoped to ap-
pear, but by the advice of her physician she
was compelled to send note of regrets.
This was disappointment to the audience
of course, but the following programme
rendered by Mr.. Denck gave unbounded de-
light:
Sonata, op. 27, No. 2, Moonlight. Bee
thoven.
Presto, OPP. 5, No. 7.-Mendelssohn.
Scherzo op. 16 No. 2.-Menhelsshon.
Octave Study, No. 7.-Kullak.
Valse, 1mpromptu.-Raff.
Fairy Story.-Raff.
Polka de la Reine.-Raff.
Bird Study" (for left hand alone"-
Henselt-Denck.
1.-THE BANJO (for left hand alone)--
Gottschalk-De
Valse, op A.-Moszkawski.
Ballade, op. 3S.-Chopin.
Paraphrase on Rigoletto-Liszt.
Rhapsodie, No. 2.-Liszt
1t would have been difficult to have ar
ranged a more varied and more brilliant
list for piano recital or one demanding
greater amount of technique. And a fine
test of the performers wonderful vlrtuos-
fty was the fact that the critics who COM
pared notes after the entertainment could
not see which piece he played best Every
thing was played in a style so masterful
that the question of which was the gem of
the evening simply resolved itself into the
composition one liked best From Bee
thoven down to the end of the programme
mia rtNNrr
numbers probably provoked the most tu-
multuous applause, although the octave
etude and the two left-hand pieces were
marvels of brilliance and beauty and were
applauded loudly. The piano has absolute
ly no difficulties for Denck. He picked 10
handsful of keys with a facility and veloc-
1ty that only great yirtuose could. his
runs were as clean and clear as the imag-
nation could demand. In strong passages
his passion was tremendous. In velvety
| passages his playing was as soft as down.
In soul-stirrfng melodies he revealed
depth of feeling that moved to tears.
When Mr.. Denck struck the last note of
the familiar Liszt "Rhapsodie"-the last
number-no one started to leave The aud
| fence seemed glued to their seats The ap-
| plause amounted to ovation and the
artist was fored to continue the PERFORM
ance. He rendered a brilliant waltz Mr..
Denck has played to larger halls and to
larger crowds, but never to a more appre-
ciative audience.
That very peculiar creation of the play
wright, the man with stony heart and pet
rified emotions who desires to marry every
woman who comes within shot of his viii
| famous eyes and who disposes of them in
| some thrilling fashion just as fast as he
| gets them to make a place for the next I'M
| fortunate, was at O'Briens last night
! Rentfrow's Jolly Pathfinders' brought
| him in THE Lightning Express" 1t re-
| minded one of the sensational melodramas
| when women spoiled the powder on their
cheeks with tears at the cruel acts of tho
very bad william, and the gallery gods made
the night hideous with their bowls when
the leading funny man Cat other times sup
posed to be block-head) rushed in at the
. critical moment and rescued the heroine
from some horrible death. They howled
last night and the women shed countless
little tear drops, which all gave proof that
melodramas are yet popular when we'll
staged and well acted. 1.-THE Pathfnders'
were all good and 1.-The Lightning Express
did not suffer. 1t is a case of good acting
even If melodramatic acting, at reduced
prices. If there was no melodrama, the
specialties would be more than worth the
price. Between the acts there are illus
trated songs, songs not illustrated and an
mated pictures. "On the Banks of Ha-
vana," sung to the tune of ION the Banks
of the Wabash made a hit. 1t was ac-
companied with realistic pictures of the
Maine and its destruction. The best of the
| animated pictures were two scenes of the
| Cuban war, one showing the Rough Riders
| fordng San Juan river and another show
ing the charge on a block house. There will
be a matinee this afternoon and the bill to-
night will be 1.-THE Devils Gold Mine"
THE ATHLETES