The San Francisco call., 1904-02-22
GODDARD SHOWS
UNUSUAL SKILL
Yesterdays Programme at
Lyric Hall Proves He Is More
Than a Merely Clever Writer
KOPTA CONCERT PLEASES
Treatment of Various Num-
bers Wins Full Approval
of the Large Audience

Probably If Mr.. Kopta had thought
longer he would have put the Beetho-
ven andante still further from the God
ard quartet than it was on yesterday
afternoons novelty concert pro-
gramme NJ. GODDARD would doubtless
have preferred it that way himself;
he is a conspicuously clever person.
Comparisons apart, yesterday after
moons programme proves M. GODDARD
to be a good deal more than a merely
clever writer. We are indebted to Mr..
Kopta and his associates for introduc-
ton to the work, op. 126, that opened,
and was the novelty Of the concert.
OF its four movements much the most
musical is the graceful adagio, in
which the composer. in finely melodi
Gus mood, achieves also distinguished
simplicity. Most characteristic, how
ever, is the finale, a dashing and pic
turesque movement, with the fault of
it's school Of an almost impertinent
cleverness, yet with an abandon and
cocksureness that carried it hand
somely. To this number the Kopta
quartet gave a quick and spirited
treatment that brought out its best. 1t
should be said also that NJ. GODDARD
had every reason to be grateful for the
playing of the adagio. The third
movement, a minuetto, was encored. If
one were in cynical mood one would
say obviously" as it is the worst.
But NJ GODDARD sins here only in being
too gallically gay for the form. The
opening allegro, again, is most pleas
ing movement, classical in feeling, well
made and well played.
AS before said the Beethoven andante
con variazione (op. Is, No. 81, followed
1t was played lovingly by the quar-
tet at times also with the almost i'm
possible hneness it demands. Yet here
the youth of the Kopta quartet was
most in evidence, the want of that ut
ter singleness of feeling that is the es-
sence of ensemble playing. the result
only of long association. Yet again
there is evidence of the existence Of
this instinct to an unusual degree in
the Kopta quartet. Most valuable in
this regard, too, is Mrs. Oscar Mans
feldt's work at the piano. Both by tenn
perament and education Mrs. Mans
feldt has shown herself admirably
fitted for ensemble work. Her rhythmic
and dynamic sympathy is almost uner-
ring, and she has, too, exceptional tonal
and technical qualifications. Yester-
days piano number was the Schumann
piano quintet, op. A. with its loveliest
Of slow movements. This was given
with exquisite sympathy by the play
ers. They were less successful-tech-
nically-in the exacting scherzo, but
gave the finale with convincing spirit
and freedom.
A pleasant adjunct of the programme
was Mrs. Lille Birmingham's group of
songs, that included two by Albert Ell
kus, the young Californian composer
Mrs. Birmingham gave sympathetic
kus songs, "Haroun al Raschid" and
lode to Spring" that show both ample
imagination (hardly yet in harness)
and technical resource. Mr.. Elkus was
at the piano, and accompanied in
graceful fashion. The songs were re-
ceived in distinctly friendly manner by
the audience. Mrs. Birmingham other
songs were "Kennst du das Land"
Liszt) and the Schubert "Geheimes"-
charmingly sung.
The next concert is dated for Sunday
afternoon, March 13, Lyric Hall, as
usual, and Richard Strauss piano quar-
tet op. 13. for novelty.
BLANCHE PARTINGTON