Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-04
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS

At the Lyric theater last night the ia
nous French violinist Henri Marteau,
played a most scholarly and beautiful pro-
gram to a handful of about fifty music
lovers who were familiar with his name
and reputation. 1t is a sad comment upon
Omaha culture that such a master must
clan should be passed by without interest
or patronage. When he plays in the great
cities Of Europe Il lie difficult at the last
moment to obtain even standing room, and
here in America his tour mas been one Of
triumph. Yet in Omaha ne played to an
almost empty house. Do people in this
town read any good journals upon topics
of general interest and information Why,
then. should they be ignorant of the fame
OF Henri Marteau? "The Gingerbread
Man" can pack Boyd's theater to the doors
"a master like Marteau goes begging for
an audience. However, what the house
lacked in numbers it made up in enthu-
siasm The great volinist seemed to re-
alize the sympathetic quality of his audi
ence and played as II thousands were
listening. He was conscientious and grs-
cious to a degree, giving two encores in
the course of the evening and altogether
behaving in marked contrast to certain
celebrities who have lately visited our city
and not found il worth while TO give us of
their best
The program opened with that most beau
tiful and profound of all Beethoven's SON
atlas for the piano and violin. THE Kreut-
ger" Mr. Marteau gave 1t a mastery in
depreciation. His technique is marvellous
and crystal clear He plays with round
deep and noble tone To poetic tempera-
ment he adds the scholars balance. The
combination is neutrality-suspicious. sat
isfying.
In the Bach air his tone took on the
depth and beauty OF the cello. Such
sorority! Such classic and dgnified beauty
of style! The Brahms Hungarian dances
were in complete contrast to the air and
given with a swing and dash which
reused the greatest delight The Goddard
number, "Adagio Pathetique" was
changed, Mr.. Marteau playing instead the
lovely and familiar "Legende" of wienia
sky and giving it a dreamy enchanting
reading. Saurets "Farfalla" sparklod
with life and showed still another phase
Of Mr.. Marteau's genius
The final offering was Vieuxtemps' colos-
sal firth concerto in \ minor It was
difficult for the audience to control its
enthusiasm until the close Of the number.
The concerto bristles with terriheally diff
ficult passages Marteau conquered them
without seeming effort, carrying his lis
teners along with him at a dizzy pace.
At the end only another appearance would
satisfy them. He finally. after Ave or
six recalls, came out and played
Paganinis Etude opus T.
oh, music devotees Of Omaha what you
missed! The opportunity will not come
again right to your door
NJ. Goellner is a splendid pianist and
worthy accompanist of NJ, Marteau. His
solo numbers, Chopin's nocturne in G and
the ''Polanaise" in A FIAT. created mitch
enthusiasm. One could wish for a little
more poetry and sentiment in his interpre-
tations. perhaps, but why seek the flaw
when the whole was so good, I'm agraid
NJ. Marteau will not include Omaha in
his itinerary again. We who went to the
recital were ashamed OF our town and
felt like hiding our heads Mr.. Marteau
practically presented us with his genius.
That he came out smiling and played
his best showed the kind OF stun he is
made Ola gentleman az well as a mas
ter. Good luck to hime
MARY LEARNED.