Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-18
MUSIC ANO MUSICIANS
GaBrnowitsch piano Recital.

lhh httANaAs
Ossip Gabrilowitsch the Russian pianist,
in a recital at kounze Memorial church.
Program:
Bach-Tausig. .Toccato and Fugue ID MINOR
Allegro. Andante, Scherzo, Rondo.
Chopin 1m rAHn ~ F Sharp Major,
Etude &C Major
Prelude % Flat Major)
PART III.
Gabrilowitsch-Op. 2 .......,..... Gavotte
Arensky...""..."Pres de la Mer' esguisse
Henselt ..........."...... 81 oiseau Jetais
ossip Gabrilowitsch, the Russian pianist,
came very close to the hearts Of the 400 mu-
sic lovers who heard his recital at Kountze
Memorial church last night. Though 1t
was his first appearance here, and despite
the fact that he risked all by departing
emphatically from the usual and expected
array Of recital selections, his work so
thrilled the soul of the man that Garbril-
owitsch won immediate aDd fervent COM
mendation. His all-pervading individuality
was not to be resisted.
1t was by no means the stereotyped pro-
gram OF the vlrtuoso that Gabrilowitsch
played. There was no tim~e-honored Sc
quence OF LIT, %Schumann, Mozart and
CnOplu. III IdCl, only Tue ldlIeT u ln6Sb
was represented. The program throughout
was a series OF bold sallies from the con-
ventional. Its chief feature was that 1t
was intensely classical. Gabrilowitsch off,
cred numbers that Pa%derewski or Hoffman
have never played on American tours, He
even tempted fate to the uttermost by open
ing his program with a number by Bach,
that real test Of a pianist, yet a composer
to whom the American public has never
taken kindly.
Technique is subordinate to melody with
Gab~rilowitsch. He is fundamentally lyric
in all his work. Yet he possesses the I'M
usual combination OF fire and temperament
with delicacy Of touch. The tone ~coloring
Of the man is perhaps the most remark
able detail Of all. His is a subtle touch,
capable OF az endless number of variations,
from the caress to the hammer stroke. In
the Beethoven selection was this most APP
parent. as the pianist used fully twenty
different ways OF striking the keys in that
rendition, yet retained the form OF the
sonati with remarkable perfection through
out. The number was we'll calculated tc
exhibit his great versatility and also his
comprehensive Interpretation.
Many European masters consider this
youthful pianist the greatest of al Chopin
renderers. This opinion is understood
after hearing Part II Of last nights pro.
gram. The Chorin selections embraced ad.
mirably the scope OF that author. and her,
again is G~abrilowitsch the pioneer. Veal
and eliminate in feature and body, Chopin
yet had the soul Of a lion, and this plan.
list put that into the numbers he played
From a remarkable portrayal OF delicac!
in the impromptu be swerved to a roYa
dash and FIRE in the scherZo. This Chopin
group was the gem of the program.
G~abrilowitsch's motto would seem to b.
mo mannerisms; no e%ncores,' for he sedu
lousy avoids both. His athletic figure 1
held at easy yet dignihed poise at the piano
and he plays distinctively with his hands
Four times was he recalled to the platform
after each OF his earlier numbers, yet h
refused to play an encore till repeated call
following the Chopin compelled it. The
he gave Schumann's Romance in f ShaTl
Major No. q"
: The p~ianist's own gavotte was bubblinI
with youth and enthusiasm, and remindeI
one much of the hinuets of Beethoven
The Arensky number was marked chief,
in bringing out his lyric tendencies. TIL
Henselt was a delicate breath, the zephy
OF the evening. The soloist closed witt
the stupendous Rubenstein valse, where hi
great strength and FIRE came into full play
Though but 25 years OF age. this plants
is already capable OF vast depth, as wa
shown in the tremendous Bach number tina
led the program. 1t is easy to sympathizt
at least. with the many predictions as to hi
final pre-eminence in his work.