New-York tribune., 1907-11-03
MUSIC.
MR.. PADEREWsKTs RECITAL.

IAOEoL GAL MUTUAL.
The same extraordinary scenes that have at
tended Mr.. Paderewskis recitaIs of pianoforte
music for years were repeated at Carnegie Hall
yesterday afternoon. The audience was one that
filled all the chairs on the main floor and in the
galleries. and had the law (Which is obeyed in con-
cert rooms and blinked at in theatres and opera
houses) permitted, hundred or more would have
heard the music standing in the rear of the seats
Also. had not Mr. Paderewsli's wishes in the mat
ter been considered there would have been a stage
run OF listeners besides. Then there was the IA
hllar' unnecessary but unobjectionabIe because
restfuD dim. religious light on the stage also the
enthusiasm, rising like oceans tide as the recital
wore on and also growing more and more enthu-
sidstc win the subsdence of real musical value
In the programme. At the last came the old
tuSh toward the stage of a multitude who
knew not how TO distinguish between artistic
appreciation and silly alteration and help along
one OF the cheapest devices ever adopted by
managers to give the semOlance of success
~ mediocre performers. When it began at
49, ''ueTeWskIS recitalS, years ago, il was
spontaneous and unaffected. 1t was doubtless
50 yesterday; but 1T has been so abused by man
ueers VINO NIL halls by Il process analogous to that
P"cuseo by the ancient Grecian politicians (who
sent chalked line through the streets to compel
'''eHuahce In the agora under penalty for dis
obedience) that every lover of good music and de-
cent behavior must long for its discontinuance.
Ought it 70 be necessary after these many years
TO tell the patrons of concerts in Carnegie Hall
that the farther sits from the stage the better
the music sounds? But the old comedy was en-
acted yesterday and a beautifully balanced pro-
gramme spoiled by the addition of half dozen
pieces-the Liszt transcription of the Spinning
Chorus from Wagner's Flying DutChman," Rubin
STEMS "Valse Caprice" Chopin waltz and on
until the expiring sigh of delight doated off the
wings Of Mr.. Paderewsk's own mnuet.
Only two of the pieces in Mr. Paderewskrs pro-
gramme had held place in his earlier schemes; they
were Liszts transcription of two of Schubert's
waltzes entitled 'Soiree dc Vienne" CNo. in A
major). and the wizards Instrumental transa-
tons OF Schuberts song 1.-The Erlking." New
and unfamiliar were the concert-givers variations
and fugue of an original theme Op %. and Mr.
Stojowski's Chant d'Amour." though both had
been heard at of the recitals which Mr.. Sto-
jowsld. friend and pupil of Mr.. Paderewsli. gave
in Mendelssohn Hall last season. Familiar TO
Beethoven students. though strange to the pro-
grammes of vrtuosi. was Beethoven's Sonata quasi
fantasia in fiat, Op. o. No. l: and familiar to all
lovers OF Chopin in their letter, II not in their
spirit bodied forth by Mr.. Paderswsk in his
performance. We're Chopin's Nocturue IN F. sharp,
Op. Is, the Etudes in n fiat and G fiat from Op. 10
and the scherzo in b fat minor c'rnajor' on the
house BID Op 81 Besides these Mr.. Paderewski
played Liszt's transcription of Schubert's ravshing
vocal barcarolle "Auf dem Wasser zu singen' and
the thirteenth Of the Hungarian rhapsodies.
The season has only opened and we are In a whirl
Of pIanoforte concerts. Nr Hofrnann has disclosed
10 US the cool. calculating vrtuOso whose horizon
seemed Cat his first rectaD 10 be bounded by the
printed page and the instrument upon which ne
played. Mr. Hamburg has bethumped and be-
thwacked the pianoforte and with its steely sinews
has scanned the faces of Beethoven and Brahms
with bloody stripes. Now comes Mr.. Paderewski
Who shall inquire with curiosity how he
PLAYED? lie has been heard again and again; yet
there IS loss OF interest in his playing, for here
il is not the virtuoso not the instrument alono
the composers music that exerts the charm. 1t is
the marvellous and indescrbabe blending of all the
clements implied IN the wOrds-the perfection OF
technical execution which must nowadays, be-
long TO the virtuoso; the tonal charm which Won
drous gifts can evoke out Of the jansling wire and
vibrating wood OF the planoforte; logicalness and
er,otionalitv and sensuous beauty in the music it
self. Mr.. Padercwskl has grieved many Of his old
admirers OF late by exhibiting desire TO play
in what may be called tho orchestral style
to forget that the voice Of a pianotorte
IS not apocalyptic nor that or many waters
and mighty thUuderlngs. but even in his excesses
he carries the fancy captive and strs the depths
Of the imagination. And when he asks the piano.
forte 10 sing It is chorus OF ecstatic hallelujahs
and harpinE symphonies. So yesterday. AdTnira-
ton has been expressed in these columns for his
splendid variations Kaleidoscope IN color and
outlines rich In display OF tonal devices. but love-
Hest IN their sweet and strong artistic sanity.
The final fuEue is superby effective. Such things
make a pIanoforte recital a worthy theme Of dis
course They are worth thinking; about and talk
ing abouts So. IN yesterdays scheme was the
beethoven Sonata-a poetical episode OF the COM
poscr's soul-Iife prattled out in part in the In
genuous idloms Of tho early Haydn Mozart.
and yet again full OF the prophet and who
called the things that not though they
were" and bodied forth the form of things un-
known" So also Mr., Paderewskrs playing
OF the Chopin Scherzo. with its cadaveroUs and
grisy underCurrent OF feeling and its multicoOred
texture above. Here. fancy. the climax
Of Mr.. Paderewskrs achievements. though he
caused greater general delight with dozen pieces
of X