New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-16
MUSIC.
NJ. PUGNo'S RECITAL

For a reason which no one seems VET n have
stated, probably because the proceeding admits Of
much pounding OF drums and blowing Of trur1pets.
both literally and metaPhorically when foreign
artists Vist these shores they are introduced at
concerts in which they the cooperation OF an
orchestra. The thing has come TO be traditional
hall which holds four thousand people is hired
and II possible four thousand are persuaded by
hook or by crook 10 attend the Introductory
solemnities. miscellaneous programme is scam
pered through the audience recognizing lis outv
toward the management. pays for its free seats by
applauding everything good, bad and indifferent
and the musical element goes home to wait for an
opportunity TO judge OF the newcomer under proper
conditions. This opportunity comes when he or
she the case may be. gives a recital in a room
the dimensions OF which favor that synpathetic re-
latonship between performer and nearer which is
essential both 10 the performance and the enjoy
nlent OF music, and the programme is made up of
compositions varied in style and sentiment Now
the audience is generally of a different order and
il only onetenth numerous as the first il Is often
ten times intelligent.
" Raoul Pugno submitted himself TO this fest AT
Mendelssohn Hail yesterday afternoon. II was
the first time that he had done so though he is
no stranger TO our concert rooms, and though he
had won the respect and admiration of our must
cal amateurs. he added many els to his artistic
stature in their opinion. His programme was
somewhat out of the ordinary run though omen to
the comment that has been made upon his NAV
Ing. namely, OF being somewhat pedagogic in
character. 1t began with Bach of course: the
modern pianist is convinced that Bach is the be-
ginning Of his art. Thsn there was some Bee
thOVen-Iot the 'Waldstein'' or the "Appassionata"
or the 'Pathetique,' but the sharp minor So
nata-the so-called Moonlight" which might glad
g have been spared. so far as any new or striking
proclamation in its performance was concerned
Then came q group of Schumann pieces which in
yied 10 reflection and afterward there were pieces
by Chopin. II. Pugno himself, Grieg and List
customary rhapsodic termination. NJ Pugno Is
as unconventional in his playing as in his appear
ance. lie is big and neutrality-suspicious. misses
viii not sigh for his glances; men and women win
rot md poppy and seductive poison in his play
ing, and he afford 10 administer Bach and
Beethoven. which Niecks prescribes as anti
6otes for Chopin LONG before he reaches
the !angulshing Pole. True he seems fond Of
hutteTings anS murmurings, but even fonder of
volume and vigor, and when he has asked and
received amazed admiration for the agile play of
his fingers. their deftness feetness daintiness of
touch, their responsiveness in the production OF
'n.urmurs made &c bless he likes 70 bring them
down thundeTously upon the keyboard and play
the physical and emotional Titan. Sentimentality
is not in him There is nothing tawdTy or mawkisn
even in his beloved pianissimos In the other ex-
IRENE he sometimes forgets himself, but on the
whole there is plability and reserve in his crash
ing fortissimos. His gamut Of nuances is not as
extended, as gradual, il might be. but he has
color and fine sentiment. AS original as anything
that he did yesterday his reading of the
0ehuhlahh pieces, especially the 'Grillen' and
'Ende Lied" from the ''Phantasie stucke" and
The 'Intermezzo" from the 'Faschngsschwank aus
Wien Marvellously whimsical the rapidly
changing moods Of the first and when he reached
the close OF the second he gave eloquent illustra-
ton TO Schumana's own comment it: when
] was composing il I must confess that thought,
Well, the end Of il all will be a jolly wedding
but toward the end my sorrow about you came over
me again. that wedding and funeral bells all
ringing together" Schumann was a dreamer. a
fantastic poet. but not morbid and like Mr..
Pugno's healthy conception OF his music.