New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-29
MUSIC.
A RUSSIAN PIANIST.

At the concert OF tho Russian Symphony Society
IN Carnegie Hail last Saturday evening the au-
ulence made the acquaintance of a remarkably hne
pianist in the person OF Josef Lhevinne. young
Russian, note on whose career printed In this
Journal eight days ago. Mr.. Lhevnne is a pupil Of
VASTLY Safonon. who did him the honor at this
concert Of conducting the orchestral accompani-
ment 10 Rubinsten's concerto in f fat The COM
position has not habtated itself upon American
programmes. nor is It likely that it ever will Mt
dAIbert played il at Of his concerts on his rst
visit to America, in December. 1889 Mr.. Walter
Damrosch conducting the orchestral but Il does not
seem to have had performance after that until last
saturday night II contains great deal OF piano
forte bravura. and bristes with difficulties but It's
musical contents shallow and there evil
dences In II OF that lack Of self-crtclsm which was
Rubinstein's besetting artistic sin. II plain
that Mr.. Lhevinne has made It his battle horse
He played it with great briHiancy, yet with a dig
nihed and intelligent purpose. and in the slow
movement with all possible appreciation Of its pos
sibilities in the way Of poetical expression Here
his large singing tone made deeper impression
than did the dash Of his bravura In the first move
ment. and first awakened the instructed among his
listeners to a consciousness OF the fact that they
were in the presence Of pianist who was not only
virtuoso, with amazing skill In octave playing
especially, but also something more. When
he had done with the concerto his conquest
OF the audience was complete, and he
twice called to supplement the set piece
with solos. He played Chopin study and a.
nocturne for the left hand alone by Scriabine
We shall desire the better acquaintance OF Mr..
Lhevnne. He came TO America expecting TO be
heard in several cities with the Russian Symphony
Society under the direction Of Mr.. Safonon In
this he was doomed to disappointment the pro-
jected peripatetics Of the organization have been
abandoned for reasons that were obvious 20 all
familiar with musical affairs IN America when
the enterprise first planned. 1t is not too little
music that the centres Of population in America
are suffering from, but too much. Boston, Cincin-
natl Chicago, Philadelphia and Pittsburg have all
they DO to take OF their own organizations.
and they are not consumed with large curiosity
about the organizations which at homo IN the
city or which they speak with commiseration be-
cause Il has permanent orchestra" Doubt
less Mr.. Lhevinne will take advantage OF his en-
forced stay in New-YorS and let US learn more OF
his quality by giving recital or two.
The concert falling on the 15Oth anniversary OF
Mozarts birth. Mr. Modest Altschuler conductor
OF the Russian Symphony Society. departed from
his rule and set aside Russian composition in
favor OF a work by Mozart He chose the bright
and winsome symphony in A tNo. 20. in KOChels
catalogue, which seems to have been of the
favOrite pieces OF music with the composer If II is
true, as the story goes, that he used to carry
II with him his travels for the purposes Of per-
Torrance. Thrice before, and thrice only had It
been heard in -YOrk-twiCe at Mr.. sam
Frauko's Concerts of Old Music IN 1897 and 1903,
and once in a concert by II. II. Wetzler, IN Men
delssohn Hall, IN 1895. Ii was played with spirit
and grace by Mr., Altschuler's men, but much Of
its charm evaporated I'm the vast spaces OF Car
negie Hall The concluding number Of the scheme
was Tschaikowsky's first symphony. H. z. X