The Indianapolis journal., 1902-04-27
C0NCERT0F WIDE VARIETY
HOFFMAN,, GERARDY, KREIsLER
AND AMPHION CLUB AT ENGLIsH's.
Each i'm an Individual Number, and
the Visiting InstrumentIists in a
Rubenstein Trio.

Though the concert given at English's
Opera House last night by Josef Hof-
mann, pianist; Fritz Kreisler. violin
ist; Jean Gerardy. cellist. and the
Amphion Club was all good, Mr.. Hofmann's
part was distinctly best. Besides playing
with Mr. Gerardy and Mr. Kreisler in the
Rubenstein Z major trio, he had a group
of three compositions. Moszkowski's Span
ish Caprice" Rubensteins F minor barca-
role and Liszt's sixth Hungarian Rhap-
sody," at the end of the programme. He
played the Spanish Caprice on. his pre-
vious visit this season.
Mr. Hofmann improves on acquaintance.
He has. it seemed last night. the qualities
that make a musician regularly admirable
balance, ineisiveness, frankness and
breadth. The aloofness that at first appears
as curtness turns out honest modesty and
cultured sensibility. The Rubenstein bar
carOlle that Mr.. Hofmann played has a
meditative depth that suggests Chopin at
his best, and the pianist gave it gracefully
ard delicately. The MoszkowsH number, too,
was beautifully played, and the Hungarian
rhapsodys melodies were developed with
nicely and freshness. The audience which
had been greatly pleased all evening, re-
doubled its applause and Mr.. HOfmann
played Wagner's magic fire" music with
enough of mystic suggeStiveneSs TO relieve
somewhat the dryness of the picture.
The trio was a rare opportunity. Cham
Der music is seldom available, especially
furthest refinements of musical form and
il demands not only serious and fine tact
from the players. but a judicious audience
also. Last nights audience was properly
receptive, but Mr.. Kreisler and Mr.. Gerar-
dy seemed TO lack the pOise that they
should have. Mr.. kreisler was in distract
ingly merry humor. The audience, of
course did not know on whom the joke
was. Perhaps il was on RubenStein. The
trio started loosely and did not find unity
until the close of the first movement. Mr.
Kreisler shattered some of his tones. He
played finely the lifting phrases OF the sec
Ond movement; indeed they seemed more to
his manner than the rest. The trio, though
without the desired serenity, was very in
teresting, and when the audience asked for
an encore the players gave the Ave Maria"
of GOunOd. Here Mr.. Kreisler settled down
and played earnestly and with full, clear
tone, which was complemented by Mr..
GeTardy. Mr.. Hofmanns 5 part was richly
zone.
Mr. Kreisler had not played in this city
before. His individual portion of the con-
cert was a concerto in d minor by NieuX-
temps. The scherzO, with muted strings,
he played delightfully."- He has an easy,
complacent, somewhat dashing manner
that pleaseS many, and his skill and
strength of tone make one wish to hear
him in important compositions when he
feels some responsibility.
Mr.. Gerardy, in two movements, andante
and alegrettO, written by BOccherini. and
a Schubert lullaby as an encore, did nothing
to which comment made on his work in his
recital last fall will not apply. He is intent
on clear tone and exact execution, and is
exceptionally successful, but his cello gives
out little of Interpretation that other skill
ful mems 'cellOs do not Mr.. HOfmann, ac-
cording TO the advance information. was 10
play the piano parts for his companions,
but instead an accompanist whose name
not on the printed programme ap-
peared. He was entirely satisfactory
The Amphion Club had two numbers
Mitterers THE Death of Mighty Pam
first, and a Spanish serenade by .Joubert-
Spicker and G.. Il. Nevin's ''Vesper Stars
second The club, under Mr.. ErnestinOm's s
direction, had been working hard and
showed Improvement in dramatic sense and
delivery. 1t is fortunate i'm its accompa-
mist. Paul Teichert. for he produces an un-
usually large. ringing tone and has sympa-
thetic accuracy.
The audience was not large enough TO be
profitable and il was said after the concert
that the AmphiOn Club had lost a cOnsid-
cradle sum in the venture. This rather
takes the point off the compliment that the
enterprise was highly cOmmendable. and
that the concert was one of the most en-
joyable musical events of the season.
Messrs. Gerardy, Kreisler and Hofmann
played before 400 persons in Milwaukee on
Friday evening, and to-day they Will give
two recitalS in Chicago.