The San Francisco call., 1908-03-02

Lynn Pratt who was faithful to the
type drawn by Ibsen. Jacob Eng
strand. the carpenter who wanted his
(supposed) daughter TO tread the scar
let way. was the most respectfully viii
famous character in the cast He was
just a hypocrite who would be taken
out BY sane people and shot Regina
Ehgstrand, who was his daughter and
was not at the same time, was fair. II
would have required genius TO have
been more.
Candida" which should be better,
will be played tonight
PADEREWsKI CASTS SPELL
You may explain the spell that Pad
erewski weaves about his hearers by
the dim light in which he plays; his
aureole of silky hair; by his magnetic
individuality and poetic pose at the
keyboard, but you will still have to
account for his wonderful playing at
Dreamland rink yesterday afternoon.
There viii be about $500 persons TO
make the explanation to besides for
the great pavilion was full, galleries
and all.
hypnotic influence cast by the
player may account for the punches OF
violets thrown TO the artist at the con-
clusion of his last encore number-his
minuet-by a shouting throng of men,
women and children who stood around
the big platform. But who was hypno-
tiled when he played the Schubert
List "Erlking" and swaying barcarolIe,
"Auf Dem Wasser Zu Singen"? Or the
mighty and military scherzo in B fat
minor? Or the two Hungarian rhap-
sodies No. Is and No. 2? Perhaps
Paderewski mesmerized the big piano.
At any rate IL did his bidding, and
never did piano behave better, give
up more tone or>murmur more sweetIy.
For his novelty Paderewski played
his own Variations and Fugue, op. 23, in
fiat minor, which unusual key is
also the mode in which his sonata
played in Oakland was written. II is
something Of the same spirit, a kind
OF Z fat minor mood, one would say
for It lacks at first hearing a certain
defniteness OF the homogeneity which
makes Beethoven's variations for in
stance, perfect. There were 2I varia-
tions, II I kept count correctly, closing
with a fugue. which was IL seemed 10
me, the best part of the work-more
spontaneous. concrete and satisfying.
Neither the variations nor the sonata
viii prove popular They both are tre-
mendously difficult. You might almost
imagine Paderewski fixed" them SO
that no one but he and few chosen
ones could play them. Musically, neith-
er struck me as worth the enormous
task of Interpretation.
Beethooven's lovely sonata in E fiat.
op. %, No. l, with Schubertian opening.
was next Paderewskis sensitiveness
tc form was beautifully displayed In its
presentation. A Chant d'Amour" by
Stojowski revealed an intimacy of con-
tent which was lost in the great
stretches of Dreamland rink. and scat
tered by occasional echoes from the
band next door. which might at least
have played ia the same key.
Indeed II Paderewski's powers of
concentration and energy ever were
tested during his long career as virtu
oso they were yesterday afternoon.
when he had the great, barn like build
ing 70 diffuse with his rich art and q
band near by and passing vehicles out
side the thin walls 10 disturb his hear
ers. However. San Francisco will re-
member the visit. and thank Green
baum for Turing the Pole here even
though il was necessary to place him
in tho one hall large enough to pro-
duce the honorarium which Paderewski
exacts as price to hear him play. Pad
erewsk leaves today for Los Angeles.
where he viii concertize.