The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-02
TWO CONCERTS BY WOMEN.
NINE. RICARDO STNGS-AUGUSTA
COTTLOW AT TIE PIANO.
The Singer Lacks Roth Voice and Art Miss
COttIOw. nee an infant Prodigy. Has
Learned Much with plays
Beethoven and s~chunan with skill.

The Singer Lacks Roth Voice and Art Miss
COttIOw. Once an infant Prodigy. Has
Learned Much with Years Play
Beethoven and S%chuniann with Skill.
Mendelssohn Hall threw open its doors
yesterday for the first Of the long series
OF concerts which will take place there
in the course Of the musical season now
under way. What ia described in rural
programmes as vocal and Instrumental
music was offered for the entertainment
OF two audiences. In the afternoon Nine.
Gracia Ricardo gave a o recital, aided
and abetted by that hardened accom-
PIANIST Victor Harris. In the evening
Augusta Cottlow, who was once upon a
time a juvenile prodigy, but who subse-
ouently recovered from the attack, gave a
piano recital.
OF Nine. Ricardo the record shall be
short. OF voice she displayed little, OF
art even less. She In one Of that throng that
comes and goes with every season. No
censure can deter them, no apathy on
the part OF the public discourage them.
They will sing or play their way out OF the
mystic abyss of somewhere into the bottom
less Dit of nowhere. They come, they are
heard, they are slaughtered, and Men,
0eISEOIn I1dl hllONb AO hSAO' NN
1t is a pity that they will persist and that
their false friends will continue to tell them
that they have genuine merit.
Miss Cottlow as an adult pianist is not
new to New York. She has been heard
before, and it must be admitted that she
attracted little attention. Her technic when
last she played here was crude, unfinished,
inaccurate. Her tone was raw and her
-t..;-- ,uaa alroAef Iaynih Of ANYTHING
which could be called style. Miss Cottlow,
however. was not of those who come and
20 and return no more. She has been in
Europe, where she has both studied and
performed, greatly to her own benefit. She
disclosed herself last night as a pianist
with a claim to critical consideration.
h has made large strides in technical
solidity, smoothness, accuracy and fuency.
She has grown wonderfully in the depart
ment of tone. She has learned many OF
the secrets Of the pedals. She has acquired
an interesting range OF color and a scale
Of power which impart a larger breadth
and dignity as well as an agreeable variety
to her playing. Furthermore, she has been
taking thought about the content Of the
works under her fingers, n through this
she has advanced to a far higher level OF
art than she ever before attained.
In her performance Of B~eethoven's varia-
tons in c minor and Schumann's "Papilons'
she had opportunity TO show herself TO adj
vantage in two different styles Of piano
music. In both she acquitted herself with
credit n gave pleasure to the Judicious,
Her reading OF the Beethoven number had
style and color and dignity, while in the
Schumann music she displayed taste and
insight, though in one or two places her
readings were questionable.
There was much beauty of tone in her
Chopin numbers, but here she erred in a
deliberate attack Of each bar. which inter-
fered with the rhythmic smoothness OF
her playing. Miss Cottlow brought for
ward once again Mr.. McDowell's Sonat
Tragica," a piece OF ideals tic composition
which has suffered from over praise, but
which IL altogether worthy Of the attention
of ~pianists and music lovers. II is one
Of the most ambitious and musical piano
works ever produced by native composer.
and it IL a pity that it is not heard OF tener.