The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-14
|IHF.TpIcAL9
81

St. Paul music lovers have been able,
TO certain extent, to follow rather
closely the growth of an artist who, al
ready great, reveals by his work that
his greatest height has not been reach
ed. Many people in this city heard
Josef Hofmann when he was of an age
that permitted his manager to advertise
him as q child prodigy" Hofmann
never deserved that decidedly question
able title, and nothing has proved this
so copclusiYely as the substantial sue
cess that has come TO him with manhood
To be prodigy is to be abnormal; but
to be an artist-using this much abused
word in its finest sense-is TO be excep-
1onany normal. 1t needed maturity to
prove eonclusively how well deserving OF
the title, artist, Mr.. Holman is. Still
in the early twenties, it is natural that
his splendid. capabilities as an artist
should lack the roundness and tie sub
tile finish that comes with age and eX-
perience, but Mr.. Hofmanns playing
possesses now a charm that age and
experience are all too apt to take away
That naivete which is the result of a
combination of youth and genius-genius
is not always young, alas!-gives a de-
licious flavor to his playing. His interpre-
tations are the interpretations of an
idealist. He has studied, he has work
ed, and he has thought, but he has not
lived enough Of life to put the darker
shadows into his music. His playing
Is like mountain stream, clear as q.
crystal, sparkling, exulting in JOY Of
life, with all the long journey to the
river before it.
fair sized audience heard the young
man play last night at the Peoples
church One inclined to be selfish
might have congratulated himself that
the audience was no larger for it COM
no al
city, and doubtless it was partly due to
the sympathetic bond which held to-
gether himself and his hearers that
drew from the pianist what was so ap-
parently his best. In dynamic power
Hoffman, is a younger Rosenthal, but
he is something better than Rosenthal,
too. He has not sacrificed soul to sound,
nor tenderness to technique. In some
Of his numbers last night, noticeably
the Chopin waltz, and another Chopin
composition that he played for an en-
core, the caressing quality of his tones,
the warm humanness of his interpreta-
lions, We're revelation. They seemed
curiously unlike the rather stoIid faced
boy whose serious young face bent over
and whose thoughtful eyes directed the
swiftly moving hands. In the "Tann-
hauser" overture a marvellous orchestral
effect was obtained. This tremendous
composition revealed more than any
number played Hofmanns thorough mu-
| steamship. Its many demands were
more than satisfactorily met. An I'M
mense bunch of violets presented to the
modest young musician when he had
finished playing the composition, and the
tremendous applause, induced him to
| respond to an encore. He played a Cho-
pin nocturne.
Walker Whiteside, in his romantic COM
coy, Heart and Sword is pleasing the
patrons of the Metropolitan this week.
Mr.. Whiteside's name has been SO long
associated with Hamlet and other
| Shakespearean productions that Lis sue
| cess in a lighter role comes rather as a
surprise. Three more performances of
Heart and Sword" will be given, includ-
ing a popular matinee tomorrow after
noon.
Primrose & Dockstader's Ministries coma
to the Metropolitan opera house Thurs
day night for an engagement of three
| nights and Saturday matinee. The sale
| of seats is now open.
''Lost in the, Desert" Owen Davis
melodram, opened a weeks engagement
at the Grand Sunday evening. The story
is one Of thrilling interest, and during the
working out Of the plot there are evolved
a number Of strong situations. ScenicaIly
the production is elaborate, the scenes
on the Sahara desert being specially
praiseworthy.
The May Howard Burlesquers are win
ming the plaudits Of the patrons Of the
Star this week and are being greeted with
audiences that test the capacity Of the
theater. Two good burlettas and an cx-
eellent olio make up the performance.